New-York tribune., 1902-07-04
CANTOR CRITICLSES GROUT.
THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT OFFENDED
BECAUSE THE CONTROLLER EXAM
INES BATH ATTENDANTS WITH
OUT CONSULTING HIM.

By impersonating who are dead and in their
graves, John Frawley and Frank Reynolds about
two weeks ago succeeded in obtaining appointments
bath attendants. Under the names of the dead
men they carried on the payrolls of the city,
and under those names they drew their pay. Yester-
day Frawey and Reynolds came to grief. when
Controller Grout accidentally learned of the situa-
and them to the District Attorneys office
for examination. The District Attorney is now
trying to find a law that will apply to the cases
and provide punishment for the men, if they have
violated any law.
Borough President Cantor indignant when,
late in the afternoon. he learned that Controller
Grout had disposed Of the without consulting
him. He told the newspaper that the Con-
trolers course was in bad taste. and might give
people the impression that the borough president
was implicated i'm the deception. Mr.. Cantor said
that the men were in his department. and if they
were charged with any irregularity they should
have been brought before him
Inc men applied two weeks ago. it is alleged, for
reappointment as bath attendants, representing
themselves to be William Conroy and c. J. Para
dine, who duty last summer at the West
thirty -ninth-st baths. but who have since died
William Walker, Superintendent of Public Build
lhgs, not being aware of the deaths of COnroy and
Paradine. mad not knowing Frawley and Reynolds
promptly appointed them to the desired places,
and their names were entered the rolls Con-
roy and Paradine Bath attendants generally
reapponted each spring. provided their previous
services have been satisfactory.
lty yesterday he summoned the men his
office, and in the while communicated with
Acting District Attorney Rand asking that some
one be assigned to make investigation As
sistant District Attorney Train accordingly
signed He Went at once to the Controllers office.
ana talked with Frawey and Reynolds After get
ting the information he wanted Mr.. Train let the
men go. The lawyers were puzzled to say what
law the men had violated, If any, unless it be that
or forgery in signing signatures not theirs to the
did their work, and did it we'll
1t is believed that the action of the men
prompted by some one to whom they applied for
jobs. Similar instances have been found in other
city departments notably the Department of Street
Cleaning and that Of sewers.
This practice of working under dead mems
names is not uncommon" said Controller Grout,
land 1t is hard to suppress. These the only
cases that actually know of. Something must be
done to stop ii. The men made clean breast OF
the whole thing, and will not be permitted, of
ample ought 10 be made of some one, however,
President Cantor offended when he learned
that Controller Grout had examined the would-be
bath attendants without consulting him.
Il consider that l have been treated discourte-
ously,' said President Cantor. 'As these men
under my direction Mr.. Grout should have
consulted me when he learned of the irreguarty.
The course he has taken gives the impression that
may be implicated in this deception, and that
these that the baths were TO be opened and
that they could again obtain employment were sent
out from my Office and were answered by these
men, whom we supposed to be the persons they
purpOrted to be. / feel very indignant this
thing have not been treated right.