The sun., 1904-11-15
SEEK FOR GROUT'S REMOVAL.
c. s. REFORMERS MAY GO TO GOV.
ODELL FOR 1T.

Using His Power or Appointment Tor
Political Purposes, Is the Charge They
Propose 10 Submit TO the Governor
(hairman--What Mr. GrOut Has to Say.
The Civil Reform Association has prepared
plans for an investigation into all the
appointments made by Comptroller Grout
since the beginning of the year and proposes,
if evidence is obtained on which charges
that Mr.. Grout has improperly used his
Office for political purposes can be based.
to ask the Governor to remove him.
A committee Of three has been appointed
to make the investigation. The officiab OF
the association think there will be no dif-
fculty in proving. by several OF the appoint +
ments made during the last six months
by Mr.. Grout, that he has sought by the
patronage he had at his command to foil
the attacks made by Leader Charles r.
Murphy Of Tammany Hall on Senator
McCarren's organization in Brooklyn, The
association does not intend to rely on the
MoCooey case. Although Mr.. McCooey, when
removed by the Mayor from the head Of the
Civil Service Board, was appointed deputy
Collector of Assessments and Arrears for
Brooklyn, on the recommendation OF the
Comptroller, yet Mr., Grout did not make
the actual appointment. The Collector
made it. The association intends to rely
on previous appointments made by Mr..
Grout in filing vacancies in his office.
One case upon which the association will
depend will be that Of Thomas F. Bynes,
who was removed last May from the Office
Of Deputy Commissioner OF Water Supply,
Gas and Electricity. Mr.. Byrnes was q
strong McCarrenite and refused to throw
his influence in Brooklyn to the support Of
Mr.. Murphy's friends. Mr.. Grout at once
appointed him Superint ntendent Of Markets
and that ot he bs bad , ssSs 80 the
cratic organization of Kings county. The
intimation was also allowed to become
public that McCarrenites who were removed
at the instigation OF Mr. Murphy would
have places found for them In the Finance
Department.
Politicians said last night that 1t was
likely to 70 hard with Mr.. Grout II charges
against him were presented TO- Governor
Chairman Odell They recalled that In q
speech Mr.. Grout delivered In Newburgh
during the campaign he severely attacked
Odell said last night that he was furious at
the aspersions made on him In his own
town and that he had been heard to say
that he hoped Mr.. Grout would run for some
State Office at some future time, 20 that he
might get even.
Under section OF OF the charter the Gov
ernor has the power to remove the Comp
troller. The appointment Of a successor
Is vested in the Mayor.
In a statement issuei on Saturday by
the Civil Service Reform Association,
the appointment Of MoCooey was con-
demned as "a public scandal and the
charge was made that 1t was influenced
by political considerations. Replying to
this, MIR. Grout yesterday made this state
ment:
Mr.. McCooey was appointed by the Col.
lector Of Assessments and Arrears as his
deputy. in Brooklyn. ] did not make the
appointment but y was made upon my
was appointed was then and had been for
two months past vacant, the vacancy being
capsed by the death Of the incumbent.
lawfully. -, but properly. made. Mr.. Mo
Cooey. like Mr.. Bell, Mr.. Crowninshield.