The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-05
RECORDER Mo1R WANTED TO BE
DIRECTOR OF SAFETY TOO.
Colonel F. L. Hitchcock, One of Pros
ecuting Attorneys of Municipal
League, Induced to Take Mr.
Clemons' Place-Clemons Fired Be-
cause He Would Not Appoint zizle-
mann - Colonel Hitchcock Last
Night Reappointed Chiefs Zizle-
mann and Robling.

Select Councilman frank H. Clemons
scented himself at the recorders Office
at that hour, while the recorder and
Colonel Hitchcock were in consultation,
and offered his bond The recorder
informed Mr.. Clemons that he was not
tn ne the director of public safety;
that Colonel Hitchcock would ofiiciate
in that position. Mr.. Clemons retired.
The shelving of Mr.. Clemens results
from his refusal TO allow Captain Moir
to be recorder and director. Mr.. Glenn
ons did net want the appointment and
only agreed to accept 1t Upon the earn
est solicitation of Congressman Con-
nell and other influential citizens. who
believed that the presence of some such
seasoned business man in the office
was absolutely essential to the city's
best interests. When Mr.. Clemons al
lowed himself to be persuaded to take
:le office he secured an assurance from
the recorder that the director Of pub
lie safety was not to be hampered in
the discharge of his duties by any in
reference from the outside. 1t ap-
Pears, however. that after Mr.. Clemens
"'''p'S'' lie dppoIutElShL tIle IeCoIueI
refused to qualify him until he would
subscribe to an agreement to continue
in office the heads of departments who
had beer serving under the recorder
when he was mayor. Mr.. Clemons re-
fured to rake any such agreement and
as a consequence the recorder deposed
him as director.
HAPPENED WEDNESDAY.
Mr.. Clemens was practically ''hred"
Wednesday. He ard the recorder came
together to have an understanding and
when the tiirector-to-be refused to
allow the recorder to dictate whom the
director should appoint. the director
was told he was not wanted. Yester-
days action on the part of Mr.. Glenn
ons was simply Cor the purpose Of
putting the recorder on record. The
bond which was presented was pre-
pared and its correctness vouclled for
by Mr.. Clemons' attorney, n. G. Rey-
nolds. and MI. Reynolds accompanied
Mr.. Clemons to the recorders office.
when the bond was proftcred. The
bond was from the Title Guaranty and
Trust company. of Scranton. and SINH
lar in every respect to the others which
have been accepted by the recorder.
The fact that Mr.. Clemens was the
choice Of Congressman Connell and
that Governor Stone declared his i'll
tcntion to be guided largely by Con-
Sressman Conneil'S judgment and
wishes in matters pertaining to the re-
organization of Scrantons government.
lays ground for interesting speculation
as to the possible consequences of the
recorders action. When questioned
about tkesc possibilities yesterday the
congressman would only say: "Wait
and see
Yesterday afternoon Mounted Officer
Joseph Bloch took tha following note
to Mr.. Clemons in the Mears building:
Scranton. Pa. April 1, 1901
Mr.. +. II. Clcmons, COB Mears Building.
Dear Sir: Owing 10 differences of opinion
which have heretofore been discussed between
lis, | am satisfied that the best interests of the
your name as the director of public safety
be abandoned.
Respectfully youlS
James Aloir. City Recorder,
WHAT IT INDICATED.
The language Of this note tends to
show that the recorder holds that Mr.
Clemons was never director of public
safety. Mr.. Clemons contends other
wise. He says he was appointed and
sworn III by Recorder Mor and told
to file his bond. He actually served one
day as director. That was OH Tues
day. In the morning at the invitation
of the recorder he sat in conference
regarding the readjustment of city hall
quarters and in the afternoon he. the
recorder. Director Roche and Solicitor
Watson conferred regarding the "chas-
err TO the reorganization ordinance.
1t was at the conclusion of the after
room conference that the break came.
Mr.. Clemens, it is understood. refused
to agree to support Mr.. IiZelmann as
chief OF the bureau OF fires. The re-
curdcr WaXed WrOth and said some in
temperate things. Nh. Clemons reiter-
ated his declaration that he would ap-
point whomsCever he saw fit and that
lie would not appoint MI. Zizelmann,
because he did not consider him the
right kind Oe a man to take charge
cf the We organization of the fire de-
partment. At this the recorder said:
You haven't filed your bond yet and
You needn't file it, The next morn
ing Mr. Clemons waited upon the re-
corder and asked him If his declara-
tion of the previous day was TO he con-
sidered the equivalent of removal.
The recorder answered in the affirm
ative, Mr.. Clemons Withdrew and did
not go to the city hall again until late
yesterday afternoon, when he appeared
to profier his bond.
The recorder refused to accept the
bond and, as told above. informed Mr..
Clemons that Colonel Hitchcock was
the director of public safety. Good
day" said Mr.. Clemons
HATTON RECEIVED CALLERS.
The recorder was not in his Office
Yesterday. except for a short time dur
ing the early morning and again late
in the afternoon. His private secre-
tary, II. G.. Hatton. told all callers
that the recorder was at home, sick
abed. When the recorder came around
in the late afternoon he locked HIM
self in the private Office anG had the
doors of the reception room also locked.
When Mr. Clemons and his attorney,
Mr. Reynolds, arrived they found the
doors all locked, but, as luck would
have 1t. Solicitor Watson happeneS to
open the door leading to the rear cor
ridor just at the moment that Mr..
Clemons was about 10 try the knob.
'nhe recorder ana Colonel Hitchcock
We're evidently embarrassed. but the
embarrassment did not last long, as
Mr. Clemons withdrew Immediately af-
ter transacting the business that
brought him there.
Recorder Moir was not disposed to
talk about the removal of MIR. Clemons