New-York tribune., 1898-01-23
"GO AHEAD AND INDICT ME-"
SCANNELL'S REPLY TO VETERANS WHO
HAD BEEN DISCHARGED.
1rypRANr INSPECTORS WHO BELIEVE THE LAW
HAS BEEN VIOLATED INTEND MAKING
STIFF FIGHT FOR THEIR PLACES

!
HAS BEEN VIOLATED INTEND MAKING
STIFF FIGHT FOR THEIR PLACES
SOME POINTS OF THE CASE.
Unless Mayor Van wyck reverses the order OF
Fire Commissioner Scannell discharglng seventeen
hvdrant inspectors who are veterans OF the war a
mandamus may be sought to compel the reinsta'e-
ment Of these men, and that may be followed by
seventeen damage AIits against Mr. scannell. II Is
not impossible that an even severer course may DO
pursued.
These men were discharged last Wednesday, and
on Thursday they called on Commissioner Scanneli
with an officer OF the Brooklyn and New-fork war
Veterans and Sons Association to put MT Scanneii
on record They pointed TO the sections OF the cha-
ter that they considered he had violated ana sho"ed
him another section which seemed TO indicate that
he had committed an offence for which he couid De
indicted.
GO ahead and indict me-" was the reply OF COM
missioner Scannell according to the report OF the
delegates that called upon him.
Before taking action the veterans will find out now
the Mayor stands the question OF upholding the
veteran laws and then they Will endeaVor 10 se1 ~
the Fire Commissioner.
The hydrant inspectors were appointed under a
special act by Commissioner Bryant and placed In
the competitive schedule. Vacancies have since been
filed from an eligible list The charter requires that
veterans holding competitive places In the city de-
partments must not be discharged. Dut tnat they
may be removed other places OF like duties II not
needed in their old places In compliance with this
provision Deputy Fire Commissioner Tully trans
fered the hydrant inspectors to the Department or
Water supply. - u .
that Department they were treated In a friendly
manner Mir. Moffett told them that their pay mad
been provided for until April 30. lie said he could
make use Of them and would arrange FOR their pay
mcnt. -
Mr. Tully's course evidently did not meet Mr..
Scannells approval The day after the transfer was
made order OF discharge signed by Mr. Scanncii
served the men.
The veterans say that the ruling OF Justice Mad
dox in the OF AOnZo Brymer. that quo war
ranto proceedings not mandamus should have been
instituted does not apply in their case because or
the difference in the nature OF the places held by
them and his place Of Fire Marshal.
Joseph ". Kay. president OF the War veterans
and Sons Association Is taking an active interest
in this case He IS practically the author OF all the
laws passed In this State 10 give veterans the pref
erence IN the public employ. II was he who forced
Collector Klbreth to abandon move in the direc-
ton Of removing veterans
"Our organization" said Mr.. Kay. will defend to
the extent OF It's power the laws that give prefer
lie employ our object IL not much 10 seek relief
In individual cases that the principle involved
should be cOnended for against all who oppose IT,
a mandamus Will probably be procured first. and
this will be followed by such other steps may be
seen necessary in order to have these laws carried
out and neither evaded nor ignored"
Mr.. Kay has advised the veterans in the Building
Department 10 refuse comply with Commissioner
Ryan's request for their designations.