New-York tribune., 1905-11-09
MAYOR TO CLEAN HOUSE.
UrII Turn Reformer and Defy the
Murphy Machine

,sfh
r-om people close to the Mayor 1t learned
yesterday that the following heads of depart
rnents will not serve after January 1 next:
William, McAdoo, Police Department.
Major John Meg. Woodbury., Street Cleaning
Department.
George &. Best, Bridge Department.
Maurice Featherson, Dock Department.
Iohn T. Oakley, Water Supply, Gas and Eiec-
trioity Department
Featherson and Oakley district leaders.
Am might have been well if Tammany had
demonstrated at the polls on Tuesday that it
retained the confidence of the people. Mayor Nc
rqelIsn has tangible proof that 1T has not that
confidence He saved from defeat by Re
ruh,;can votes 1t is his present intention to
make good" This is what he said In his speech
of acceptance at Carnegie Hall on the night of
October D:
Membership in this administration will not of
itself entitle any man to retention In the next
administration should l be reelected. If be-
eve that the interests OF the city will be better
served by a change at the head of any Depart
r,ent that change will be made, and no amount
of cIanor from either without or within the
party will make me follow different course
II on the other hand, / believe that the re-
,ention of any head Of department will best
serve the public interest, that public official Will
be retained. and no amount of clamor from
.ither without or within the party will force
me TO remove him.
On the Saturday night before election Charles
r Murphy turned over to Mayor Mcclellan a
little slip containing the information that on
Tuesday he. Mcclellan. would carry New-fork
City by majority OF 14OO0 over Hearst and
WINS combined, and that his plurality in this
county would be 72.0O0 He won by beggarly
4os0 or less in the greater city, and the Borough
Of Richmond gave him large part OF this
Mayor Mcclellan has the slip. He is going TO
frame it. 1t is proof that Charles F. Murphy
depending on his district leaders knew little of
what was going in the districts and that the
Democratic party Itself is split in two
With a four year lease of power, the Mayor
is disposed to essay the role of the reformer.
He will be responsible only himself, his friends
say and the district leaders he retires from
Office cannot hurt him materially, as they will
have 10 stand by their organization no matter
what happens to them.
There is every indication that Mr.. McClellan's
course will ruin Charles F. Murphy as leader OF
Tamnany Hall The Sullivans already are
hostile TO the Mcclellan Murphy regime. They
viii have recruits in Featherson, Martin. Nc
Mahon, Oakley. Senator Frawley and others.
Commissioner McAdoo will not be forced out
of the Police Department He has grown tired
OF the criticism of his work. and his friends say
that he will welcome the day when he says
goodby TO Mulberry Street. His successor has not
been chosen.
Health Commissioner Darlington remain II
he wants to. The Mayor is satisfied with his
work George E. Best. Bridge Commissioners,
will have TO go. He placed at the head Of
the department by Daniel F. Mcmahon. former
chairman of ths Tammany executive committee.
a close personal friend Of Murphy's and brother
contractor Mr.. Bests management of the
Bridge Department has resulted in a delay of
two years in the construction of the Man
haitian Bridge and an increase of its cost to the
extent of about S2.ooo.0o0 That is the net result
of Best's administration from the public's point
of view and it is enough to warrant his dis
missaL
Maurice Featherson will retire from the Dock
Department He has not shown unusual capac-
fly for the place. although he has done a good
deal better than expected
John T. Oakley, one Of the most popular men
in the organization. whose worst fault perhaps,
is that he thinks that 1t is the duty Of Tam
many commissioner to stand by the boys" will
be supplanted. His personal honesty is not
questioned: but, at the same time. 1t is admitted
by his friends that he is too easygoing to man
age successfully great department like that
Of Water Supply. Gas and Electricity. His secret
signing of the lighting contracts perhaps had
much to do with the uprising of the voters
against bossism and grating on Tuesday
any other one thing.
Commissioner Woodbury. is to lose his official
head for various reasons. some of them purely
personal between him and the Mayor. In this
connection a story is told that is vouched for
by men in the Street Cleaning Department who
have been close to Mr.. Woodbury.. but are not
so now
When Mayor Mcclellan was elected two years
ago he intended TO get a Street Cleaning
was opposed TO Woodbury. and his deputy. Cap
tain Gibson Just as Mr. Mcclellan had decided
TO offer the place to some one else a prominent
newspaper went to the Mayor and told him
that the retention of Mr- Woodbury. would mean
the support of the Mcclellan administration by
q certain newspaper. II was good politics to
have this newspaper with him. and the Mayor
decided TO keep Mr.. Woodbury. in.
When he told Mr. Murphy of his decision the
latter said that the organization would not stand
for Woodbury. unless Captain Gibson was forced
out of the department. Mayor Mcclellan sent
for Major Woodbury. and told him that he would
reappoint him Commissioner but that Captain
Gibsons head would have TO be brought him on
q charger within week from the time the
new Mcclellan administration took control.
here is where stories differ. 1t is said that
Mr. Woodbury. promised the Mayor that the de-
sired head would be delivered on the charger be-
lore the appointed time. Mayor Mcclellan
waited for the delivery. He finally suggested TO
The major that 1t time that he appointed
another deputy. according TO his promise Mr.
Woodbury. asserted that he had not made such
a promise and that he would not ask Captain
@ @SIloson 10 resign He said that he himself
would resign first. After thinking it over the
Mayor decided 10 drop the matter and let things
20 on without open break
Three weeks ago Commissioner Woodbury.
was informally requested TO tell his men that
the Tammany Board of Estimate had decided TO
increase the wages of the drivers about $50
year Re interpreted the request as a political
move and refused TO comply with IT. Yesterday