The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-04
Chief and SECRETARY
MayOr.Elect Bailey Proposes to Fill
These Offices Himself.
Is willing That They should Go Where
They win DO tho Most Good.
John FitzsimmOns for Cap
tain Of Police.

Mayor-elect James G. Bailey has been
SO beset by candidates for positions
and waited on by so many men with
pulls who want to influence him In
this way or that with reference to ap-
pointments he Is expected to make that
he has been forced to declare himself.
He says that he will accept no dictation
In the matter of the appointment of his
secretary and a chief-Of- police. The
men who will fill those positions must
be very near to him and will be selected
because OF their peculiar fitness for the
offices and because the mayor can In
them repOse implicit confidence.
Any other positions, MIR. Bailey
has told the leaders of the party, he is
willing to have filled in a way that may
seem best to them but the positions ne
has specified must not be considered
as coming under the spoils system. This
will have tendency to nullify the
hard work of some of the candidates
for chief and secretary who have been
industriously at work since election lin
ing up their influential friends in be-
half of their candidacy. Who Mr..
Bailey will select for the positions
named no one knows for he has not ex-
pressed himself concerning the men he
may have in mind.
WILL ROBLING BE THE MAN?
A great many persons believe that
Frank RObling will be the next head Of
the police department but there are a
large number of Democrats who say
he will not be and they make their re-
marks with vigor which indicates
that Robling's candidacy Is highly dis
tasteful to them. Joseph Taylor, John
Shea and the others mentioned for the
position of chief have powerful friends
at court and in the interest Of har-
mony among the conflicting elements
many are In favor of taking UP an en-
tirely new man.
This matter has been considered by
q number of the leaders who have de-
cided that Martin Gurrell. the veteran
of the police force, would be the proper
man to name for chief in the present
emergency. He has been on the force
for nearly twenty years and during
all of that time has been looked upon
as a model officer. For many years
he was in charge OF the West Side dis
trict and earned the reputation of being
strict disciplinarian as well as a most
careful and conscientious guardian Of
the peace.
Among Democrats who believe that
fitness. not politics. should guide the
new mayor in selecting heads of de-
partments. there is a strong sentiment
In favor of retaining Chief Simpson.
His efficiency in the office has been
thoroughly demonstrated. No man
knows SO we'll as he does the duties that
devolve upon a chief and no one is so
competent to carry out the plans, the
partial perfection Of which has so great
ly increased the efficiency of the police
department Of this city.
CAPTAIN OF POLICE.
Aspirants for the Office of captain Of
police are not wanting. The impress
sion at present seems to be that John
Fitzsimmons, of the Sunday News, will
be accorded the Office. although the
friends of Patrolman John Moir claim
that he Is to be the new captain. Those
who appear to know, say that the Re-
publicans who assisted the Democrats
in the late fight will insist on the pro-
motion of Patrolman Moir, who is
son of Captain James MOir.
James r. Burnett, the well-known
newspaper man, has a strong endorse
ment Of the Democratic leaders for
secretary to the mayor, and it is pre-
dicted that If Mr.. Bailey does not name
his own brother for the position. Mr..
Burnett will be the man. He possesses
all of the qualifications necessary, and
would make a model secretary for the
incoming mayor, as his extensive
journalistic experience has made him
thoroughly familiar with city business
and given him a wide acquaintance
among all classes of people. The
friends of Editor r. J. Beamish have
been urging him for the same position,
but that gentleman has not yet signified
his intention of entering the lists for
the office. Attorney John NJ. Corbett
also aspires to the position.
p. f. Griffin. formerly of the firm of
Davies & Griffin. is urging his claims
for the office of food inspector.
L. A. Weber will remove his barber
shop to 1l9 Wyoming avenue April /.