New-York tribune., 1905-11-23
PICKING MEN FOR PLUNS.
O,Brien, Rash and McAUoy IN Race
for Mc4doo's Place.

John Fl. oBrien, Mayor McClellan's secretary:
Thomas E. Rush. Tammany leader of the 18th
Assembly District, and Thomas F. McAvoy. at
present a deputy police commissioner. are the
three leading candidates for Police Commits
soner TO succeed William McAdoo who is going
to retire at the end of this year.
Mr.. Rush was with Mayor Mcclellan for half
an hour yesterday. After he went away his
friends were more confident than ever that he
would succeed McAdoo.
DR.. Thomas Darlington is TO remain at the
head of the Health Department IL he wants to.
The Mayor. after looking over the situation IL
was said yesterday, had decided that he could
not replace DIR. Darlington with competent q
man. and therefore he will keep him.
Corporation Counsel Delany will remain at the
head OF the Law Department until he is nom
mated for the Supreme Court bench. which may
be next year.
John MEG Woodbury., who has been Comnis-
sioner of Street Cleaning for four years. is to
retire. The Mayor and Major Woodbury. have
not OF late been getting on well together. Mr..
Woodbury. is a Democrat, but he is net an en-
thusiastic one. He was expected to contribute
effort of some sort toward the reelection of the
Mayor, but the Tammany campaign managers
were disappointed in him, and SO was the Mayor,
who retained him two years ago against the
protest of all the Tammany district leaders. The
Mayor will try and find a new head for THAI
department, who will get rid of Captain Gibson,
the deputy commissioner. Mr.. Gibson has been
in bad favor for years with the Tanmany men,
and, as he has charge of the practical work of
the department his policy has resulted In an
accumulation of grievances on their part A new
man is not likely to do any better, but new
man would have to begin anyway, ana Would
start his administration without biackIst CON
tanning the names of hundreds OF Tammany
men,
It is rumored at the City Hall that William
A Willis, a well known newspaper man, VIII
succeed John II. O'Brien as secretary to the
Mayor.
The announcement that Deputy Commissioner
McAvoy is being considered for Commissioners
McAdoos place will cause comment in police
circles. Mr. McAvoy is a Tammany district
leader, and his long record as police of1clal
has been bitterly criticised.
II Mr.. OBrien should be chosen for the place
it would be a recognition of his services as
campaign manager The Mayor admits that
he owes great deal to Mr.. O'Brien. Mr
O'Brien is without experience as police de-
partment executive but he is man OF superior
intelligence and his friends are conhdent tnat
he would soon grasp the duties of the position
and discharge them acceptabiy
Thomas E. Rush was formerly associated WIN
the Mayor in the practice of law He is the
Tammany leader in the 29th District a so called
silk stocking district. Mr.. Rush Is without
experience in police affairs.
The Mayor has made it perfectly clear to
his friends in the last few days. that he is
not going to try TO distribute his patronage with
cannot find the right kind of man for place
In one district he will go to another district,
and he may select three or four OF MS ne"
commissioners from one district.
A good many changes are expected In the
Finance Department. 1t is understood that
Deputy Controller James ". Stevenson will re-
main in the department in his present place.
The friends of Deputy Controller n. Taylor
Phillips say that he is likely to stay there, too
If he should fail Of reappointment it is thought
that John H. McCooey, former president of the
Civil Service Commission, will take his place.