New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-22
ASK FOR BERRY'S HEAD.
SAY HE PLAYS POLITICS.
Grill SerUice Reformers Want Park
Commissioner RemOUed.

The Civil Service Reform Association wrote to
Mayor Mcclellan last Tuesday apprising him of
certain alleged irregularities and violations of
the Civil Service law in connection with APP
pointments made by Joseph I. Berry, Park Com
missioner Of The Bronx The removal of Mr..
Berry for appointing persons TO places for po-
Htical reasons is demanded. Mayor Mcclellan
being urged to follow his own precedent in re-
moving Nh. Berry's immediate predecessors for
making political use of the department,
Mayor Mcclellan removed William P. Schmitt
Park Commissioner OF The Bronx on october
8. 1905. following charges of misuse of his Office
for political purposes by the Civil Service Re
form Association. on the same day he removed
John H. McCooey, now Deputy Controller as
president of the Municipal Civil Service Com
mission. and with him the entire board. In his
statement that day Mayor Mcclellan said the
violations of the law by Commissioner Schmitt
would not have been possible without the cou-
sion of the Civil Service Commission.
At the time there was a general belief that the
Mayors actions We're political Mr. MCCOoey
loyal supporter of Patrick II. McCarren,
and McCarren and Charles F. Murphy were then
engaged in n bitter Bird s. Coler, one of
McCarren's chief opponents in Brooklyn was
appointed to succeed Mr.. MCCOOey. Although
it denied most vigorously by Mr.. Haffen, it
alleged at the time that the removal OF Mr.
SCNlltL was IN part que 10 MS dI!liilOSiIy' anu
also that the removal was simply part of the
plan to Dust Mr.. McCooey which was, in turn,
part of a general attack on McCarren.
MAYOR REMOVED WALGROvE.
George NJ Walgrove was removed on Septem-
Der 10 1906 the day the Mayor returned from
his vacation Mayor Mcclellan said the COM
missioner had misused his office for political
purposes and that he had worked against his
administration. He very emphatic in say
ing that no member Of his administration would
be allowed to do either of these things.
Commissioner Schroeder. who succeeded Mr..
Schmitt not removed by the Mayor He
was appointed in the interest of the Tammany
organization. and was not reappointed when the
Mayor made his appointments on January /,
1906. This of the things that precipi-
tated the fight between Mr.. Mcclellan and Muir
ply.
In substance the association. basing its facts
upon the preliminary investigation into the af-
fairs of the department by the Commissioners
OF Accounts charges that the provision Of the
law fOrbidding any appointment for political
reasons has been violated. and. further, that
men appointed to certain positions are not prop
erly qualified to fill them. The unusually heavy
registration for certain grades Of laborers which
Immediately followed the appointment of Mr..
Berry as the successor Of George NJ. Walgrovc,
removed, is commented upon in the letter.
FACTS INQUIRY BROUGHT OUT.
It IS pointed out that while IN 1904 PAYERS
appointed by the department. and in 1905
only one Mr.. Berry appointed thirty-one be
tween September 10, the day Of his appoint
ment. and December 3. on November 24 he
appointed forty-eGht hammers while only one
appointed IN 1905 and none in 1901. From
September TO- 1906, to February !, 1907, Mr.
Berry appointed sixteen foremen Of park la
borers.
Complaint IS made that political reasons for
many appointments clearly shown 10 exist
by the names OF those who. under the law.
vouch for the character and fitness Of appli-
cants for places as laborcrs The law requires
that every applicant shall have three vouchers
and that his application shall also bear the sig
nature OF former employer As either 4
voucher a previous employer. or as both
one mans name appears seventeen times. an
other acts in fifteen cases. another In twelve
another in seven three In six, two In five. five
in four thirteen in three and eleven In two.
POLITICS IN APPOINTMENTS.
The following table shows the political afiilia-
tons Of those acting as vouchers or former en-
ployers IN these cases: