New-York tribune., 1891-09-18
BRENNAN, THE NEW BROOM.
aIE PROMISES TO SWEEP CLEAN, OF COURSE.
E1rE ExcHAR1nEs COMMISSIONERS SUCCEEDS
HANS S. BEATTIn


the public with surprises in his appointments when
e announced yesterday that he had selected Thomas s.
Brennan for Commissioner Of Street Cleaning with
THE approval OF the noaTd Of Health. in place OF
Mans s. Beattie removed. Nobody had been heard 10
mention Mr. Brennan's among the possibilities
for the Office and Of the Tsmnsny leaders were
much astonished as tho outside world when the
Mayors determination was ascerta'ned.
There wns q good deal of c0rnm09dn about the CltS
uIan during the fore part Of yesterday. Among r1oso
who held consultations with the Mayor weTc foico
Commissioner James J. Martin, President Barker, OF
the Tax Department. Corporation Counsel Clark,
John d. Crmmin. Police Justice Daniel f. McMsoh'
Under sheriff John 4. Sexton, ex-senator PfunRlt1
ex-Assernbiymau e. P. ragan, supervisor W. j. n
Kenny and other wcIIknown Tsmmany pen' shorDN
after noon II became known that the Mayor hao pre-
pared the papers for sending Thomas g. Bronhnsis
nomination 70 the Doard Of HEALTH When received
st eeas unanimously confirmed BY that body ana an
hour afterward the new Commissioner Appest'oo 81
tho Mayors Office and was duly s"orh III W 'i'
Grant
M, Rrennan was warmly congratulated by small
crowd O, politicians gathered about the City Hail. ana
tutkins his commission safely away IN an tiisiuo
pocket Mr. Brennan went Immediately 20 the oihoe
Of tho stgoet Cleaning Commissioner III the Soe"sr'
building where Deputy Commissioner Dalpon re-
oc,ved him. Mr. Brennan then assumed cifiree
Of the Department fle aid: 81 am rot here 10 III
dulsc in any hoastng have promised The Mayor that
the streets Of Newly H sh lie eieaued, ana ihenu
leep my word" .....
c,nmiss,opcr Brennan was born in this city forty
eight years ago and beenn his education IN fuonc
school No o. lie afterward attended st. Francs
xaveyss College, in West SiNieenthSi., ana shDSe-
o,eDtr was student OF 81. feresa's College, near
Montreal At the age OF sixteen he was MADE hSno
watclrman OF Bellevue Hospital lie was pf0lno'ou "
captain Of the watch and aferward to night svI0 s
keeper He was transferred TO the Charity Hosll'"i
on Rlachgelps Island as steward, and soon oecaIue
deputy warden On August J. 1866, he was mace
warden q place he filled until June 7, 1s75. when nc
was appointed Commissioner of ChaI4tes ana Oor
reotiOn By Mayor WicIham. lie was twice re'ppo'"v
once by Mayor Ely and next by Mayor bdsoh ms
last term expired Nay 1, 1889, when he ~as sue
ceeded by Edward G. Sheehy, one Of The present N'i
lssioners having served Sor nearly 0fteen years ln
that capacity much Of the other time being pfe'ueV
OF the board. Mayor Grant was inclined TO roappoi'O
Jim Charities Commissioner, but Just before 'oe e
plraton OF Mr. Brennans LOST term scandal arose III
The Department relation to contract for erID-"oA
built on Hart's Island IN the years 15e1'S2's3 FIhe
contract was glvcn TO John +. Dawson undcr crc"nF
sances which suggested favOritism The tsV'iony
taken before the Commissioners of Accounts IN uno
spring of 1882 while 1t did not mpeach C0mnlssioher
Br~nnsns integrity, reflected upon Ids official meou"uS'
and the Mayor decided not to reappoint MN.
But Mr., Brennan had always been q faithful I'lu'-
many man. and he continued TO be tue 10 uhe "is"o
sfter his exclusion from Office. He BELONGED 10 the
Mayors own district-the X1Xtlahd his political SEP
-
1egcd Shortcomings Of ten yenrs ago.
Biz Toms Brennan as he Is Known from the Bat
aery TO the Westchester line, is several inches oOoVe
six feet 10 height and as goodnstured as he Is TALL
He lives with his family ut No. 353 West ElftSlNthso
uie belongs TO the Church OF the Fas Fathers ana Is
devoted Catholic, and is reputcG 10 enjoy the con-
aldence of Archbishop CorTfgan in marked cegree'
Elk Commissioner Beattle did not appear OF the
steetC Cleaning Department yesterday, but his private
secretary Miss Westover, gave out his farewell mes
ages to the press aud to his former associates Inc
dNt one cancelled his pTetenslons to legal Ilgh 10
hold on TO lbs Office and aimed DloW at ble heN" Vi
The Mayor. 1t said;
am advised by my counsel that the Commissioner Of
Street Cleaning Is subject to removal by the Mayor VIII"
the Concurrence Of Board Of HEALTH ana tat III ue
case Of the Street Commissioner in the case OF no o1e
head Of department tho Mayor not bound TO give reasons
or 70 permit the officer explain Defend but may act
arbisarily.
am also advised that my right to hearing in
this case Is moral and statutory and that the Mayor
10y directing take charge Of Che Street Clean
Ing once substantially declared that he viii give no
hearing. This indeed grossly inconsistent with the
statement made by Mayor 10 me Tuesday morning,
when be asked for my resignation In order to ife him.
self from political embarrassment"
He then said that II did resign he should be COM
poled charges against and replied, in sub
stance that the very why did not resign in
response his invitation that charges might be made
for charges would enable eTectuay to vindleate my
administration and 10 the real nature Of the
relations between city administration and myself
conclude that it will be dlgnined and less OBJ
structive TO tho .dml sratioh Of public affairs to
content with TIC request that made for hearing
The motives Mayor in reversing the emphatic tribute
he paid -four months 20 MY efficiency. and IN now re-
fusng hearing and his rial attitude toward the reforms
proposed by the Advisory Committee may safely be left to
the judgment Of thinking citizens
Mr. Beate's valedictory 70 his "assOclates Of the
streetClcanng Department, and especially TO the labor
force" follows:
thank you hard and honest work done by YOU
during my of Office your shef and especially for
the done by you since the 1st Of JanuOy last De
assured viii make strong effort in private rs
have n public life 10 SECURE for yOu-nOt the pay Of
Jaupcrs-but fair days wages for fair days work,
such methods Of employing will secure for
YOU permanent employment as other subodnates Of the
city government have.
DO not understand as objectng TO the principle Of
rotation onee. The trouble your is that you
experience pretty pueh oil the rotation urge
you organize yourselves under the guidance your
interest and commonsense that you commend
yourselves 10 the public that when II has understood the
incoasderate treatment c which you subjected, 1t
viii your help and place you and your department
upon standing will command much respect and
commentator the Police end Fire departpents now
receive.
Five eminent citizens, the Advisory Com
mttee Street Cleaning have made recommendations
the Mayor which, II carried out win greatly benefit you
and your families, and make IL possible for citizens to
refer Department Street Cleaning with respect
These recommendations much In your favor that
pssy provide brigade of LOO men, against
Of $50 employed at the present time and for
years past
1hey provide cartdfivers in number sufficient
10 feduee days from haul oi eleven loads 70
seven. They were ma6e by who had your welfare
At heart without personal political motive and ought
10 bo put In force
estimate submitted by me and now In the nands
n tA Mayor provides the adoption Of every recommen
sation Of the committee you ought 70 influence your friends
10 do al they to secure their adoption
As 10 my while Commissioner TO inspect the
the force during all hours Of the day and night
al streets " the city avail myself OF the
tdnisy such times OF inspection found
with worry exceptions, every at work, ana that
know employees the ety who discharge their duties
h0no1sby and faithfully than those OF Lle Depart
nent of BtreetClcanins.
rst-. "a a