The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-04
GRAY IN THE FIRE BOARD.
tORREsPONDENCE THAT PRECEDED
lHE COMMISsIONFR,S REsIGNL TON

Tie Nsw Con mIs.ionsr Was SURE that Ne
HAD Dissovesed Frauds, but he Gould
No, Convince the Other Comnissioaer-.
Henry Winthrop Grsy's reasons for resign
tg as n Fire Commissioner were made public
Yesterday by Mayor Gllroy. They were told In
. voiuminous correspondence between the
Mayor. Mr.. Gray. and the other Commissioners
Of the Fire Department, John J. Scannell and
Anthony Eiekhoff. The first is a communica-
ton from Mr.. Gray to the Mayor containing
elaborate charges and Specifications against
tho administration OF the department and his
fellow Commissioners. who. he alleges. treated
him with discourtesy because OF his efforts to
reform the department msthodA This letter
Wa dated Jan. 9. and was written at the re-
quest Of Mayor Gilroy. to whom Commissioner
Gray had related his differences with Commits
sOners Scannsll and Eickhoff. His accusations
we're OF such . character that the Mayor de-
edsd that the Fire Commissioners as Board
should investigate and answer them. He ac-
eOrdlngly referred Mr.. Gray's communication
10 the Board. and the detailed and complete
reply to the charges made and Mr.. Gray's
parting shot In his letter OF resignation con-
fituts ell the papers in the case.
Commissioner Gray's trouble with tho other
members Of the Board dates back to last sum
msr. he alleged . wAstsful expenditure OF
the ettJs money. The most serious allegation
that Charles A sotsldo. the superintendent
Of supplies. paid prices for supplies higher
than the regular market rate. and Mr.. Gray In
umAted that Soteldo was either receiving .
commission on articles purchased or permit
ing some other person 20 receive Q commits
SION. Among the specifications relating to
sotsldos purchases are these: Ten cents .
FAion for kerosene. which could be bought for
hr cents; six cents for blue vitriol. which
could DO bought for four. and four cents q
pound for CRATE bars. which could be had OF
me Morgan Iron Works for two and half
eenta II was also alleged that coal was not
properly weighed. and that $500. the price
PAD for horses. Is too high.
other accusations are that an extra stenog-
aphsr was employed At . salary OF $3.50 when
mers we're already two stsnoRraphers capable
ad0lnE the work; that Meyer Butzel who has
aaee resigned. was employed as assistant
sSd TO the department at . salary Of
:S.S en- !asrs being no Hr0yl:ioe q law for
Tossd 40 Chairman OF the COMMITTEES on Sup
sns ss Because OF his objection TO the manner OF
ssish he had attached to a coal bIli. instead Of
bvyyush.s Tor the proper weight. was removed
fes m. o'hsI Commlssionsrss and that the cor
ebas.sss M; GRAY thought, could be pur-
h,s sssa Tor Sl6O. He complained. too. that
tsstT bsl.ons had been made against his pro-
ofNs11iI that the minutes OF the meetings
dos1 10 Do1 E did not contain record Of mo-
he'd ~ had made, that meetings had been
"9a Vas denied him
nI ne rsDly 81 frs:Idsnt scannen and Com
sssT,NisheSlI. all OF Mr. GTAy's allegations 1t
saesTiS,. ne result Of an inyestigatioa Of
ls,Haung HIN. and ACCOMPANYING IL were
TTiSas rom trAdesmsn showing that the
ihS PAId bJ the Department are reasonable
IN SrsvSe and not In any way sxorbitant. as
a, me Commissioners state that they borrowed
Ca tS sten0grspher from the surrogAts's
49, 'ot a short time; that Mr.. Butzel re-
Sslsd; Tat Commissio1sr GrsS VAS mAds
dssiIsilSt naslng agent Of the department. but
ma. me responsibility; that promotions
tS :: held without notifying him or trying 10
d,, ssS5nissioper Grsy's letter Of resignation Is
h. Glssioners scannelI aud EickhofL In II
s Of eupeTtntendent Sotlsdo:
. IL. 5 saly 70 prove each statement made b. me as
aud slab 70 sts. al .S .s.sss
hII ls hss done 'hous that either be Tscsv,
ss.issss .0@s Other RsflOR 70 receive SSsh sO@-
SdssSSip b5 Nth reference to the suDsrn-
Bs..s.I,. .Ssd te.l be should Be- removed and CEN.
ioF tls .pPolnlsd 10 hs Place had no candidate
s.ss SAP s9{ person 10 ths esPAFImsst sises have
ne fs,sl w. n II asoneE
i - q s sS 1; is S!RS 1aEsdft 70
siiS sToss - Ss9
lsssss q ths Department an ' ~ lhs oas ID SSud
scsid fSs ss: 5. s ...s ss
'AsAa 'sSssi sIss sls IA ssios. a. ooa.lsas.r