New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
CIRCUIT PLACES MCOOEY.
appointment of McCarren Man
Strains Relations zcith Mayor.

Relations between Mayor Mcclellan and Con-
troller Crout are again strained by the action
of Controller Grout yesterday in having John H.
BcCooey appointed as Deputy Collector OF As
sessments and Arrears Mr.. McCooey was re-
moved by the Mayor TWO weeks ago as president
of the Civil Service Commission, after the Mayor
had decided that he had been guilty Of miscon-
duct in Office.
The appointment was made by Edward A.
Slattery chief of the bureau. but It is under
stood that Mr.. Grout has given his approval
The bureau is one Of the subdivisions Of the
Finance Department. The salary is $500 a
year. The salary of the Office from which Mr.
McCooey was removed is $1,000 year. Mr. Nc
Cooey succeeds Samuel n. Garrison. who died
several weeks ago.
Mr.. Grout, when asked what he had to say
about the appointment. declined to discuss it..
Mir. McCooey is one of Senator McCarren's sup
porters In Brooklyn Last Saturday McCarren
called on Grout and the two had a long talk
Mayor AIcCleIlan's opinion Of Mr.. McCooey as
an official can be gathered from 8 letter which
he sent at the time he dismissed him, part of
which was follows:
Concurrently with my examination OF the portion
duct. have considered those which relate to the
acts Of the Commissioner of Parks for the Bor-
c!usion that Commissioner Schmitt has wilfully
yolaled the law. l am also forced to the con-
cIuSon that IN some respects. at least this viola
ton by him would have been impossible if 1t had
not been for the conduct Of your board. which l
deem Illegal in itself, and which may be fairly
attributed to colluson with him.
The Civil Service Commission is intended by law
10 serve as a check upon the heads OF the city
departments. as to prevent them from violating
the law its subsidiary rules Section l9 Of
Chapter $40 of the Laws Of 1899 prescribe the way
IN which this check shall be made effective I'm
given jurisdiction over the payrols. and should
with the law.
consider that your resolution Of March l6 which
was evidently intended to validate previous H.
legal acts of Commissioner Schmitt and to per-
nit an evasion of the law as to his subse-
faith. and not for the purpose OF enforcing, but
rather of subverting. the Civil Service law.
/ do not deem II necessary to enter into dis
cussion in detail Of the various phases presented
no service 70 do
Even when at times have doubted the advisa-
departments I have refrafned from any interference
with the exercise of their discretion. and have
avoided any criticism Of the subject lest 1 might
diminish their sense of personal responsibility and
OF complete accountability for the administration
Of their respective depa rtnents but cannot main
tain such an attitude When l believe the law
urge that by such evasion Of the law the city has
sustained no pecuniary loss, tkat political op-
ponents were in their time adopts at such vio-
latonS. Your oath OF Office and mine require
from each of rs effort 10 administer our re-
spective trusts according to law and in the public
interest, and the city expects that that oath shall
conscience
The dismissal OF AIcCooey by the Mayor and
his appointment to another Face by the Con-
trolier tend to confirm the assertion that there
was plenty of politics in Mr. McCooey's removal
and that there is just as much more in his new
appointment.