The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-08
JOHN c. HERTLE SUSPENDED
ACCUSED or EMPLOYING a CITY
ACCOI NTANTON PRIVATE JOBS.
Co,pplainl Against the Commissioners Of Ae-
counts IL Made by the Bureau Of Nu-
.nicipsl Research and Backed by the
Accountants AndaVtt-Hertle 81 nj.

Account ants Arndaytt-Hertls sI nj.
COMMISSIONS Of Accounts John c. Hertle
was suspended yesterday by acting Mayor
MoGowan because Of charges made by the
Bareav Of Municipal Research that ac-
countants of the department, while on the
city's payroll. have been doing work for
the accounting firm Of Hertle. Cook \
Decker III go Broadway. Commissioner
HcSle 10 one Of the members Of this firm.
ana the Cook in tho firm Ia II. r. NJ. Cook.
ANCHOR Of the Board Of Education
Although the report gives the case OF
only one mar who did work for the firm
At the city's expense. II intimates hat
there is ground FOR the belief that several
others were similarly engaged or private
work for Hertle's firm.
The case upon which the charges are
based is one involving Charles D. Schenck.
IN accountant Of the department. Schenck
has made AFFIDAVIT that in January and
February. 1905. he worked by order Of
Mr.. Hertle on the books of a restaurant in
i25th street. He swears that he was thus
employed FOR five weeks and worked from
y A. VI. until 5 p. W. the hours in which
he ought to have been At work for the city.
Previous TO this, Schenck says. he was
engaged on the books of the Democratic
Club. the auditing Of which was given to
Hertle, Cook 4 Decker.
Mr.. Hertie refused TO see reporters
yesterday. At his house il was said that
he was out of town, but by arrangements
he made by telephone with acting Mayor
McC;owsn the notice of suspension was
personally served upon him in this city.
John h. Hayward. chief accountant Of the
department. speaking fer MIR. Hertle,
said that while il was true that the Com
missioner had employed Schenck to do
private work for his firm. that work was
lone only after Office hours and IN sun
days and that Schenck was personally
paid for that work by Mr.. Hertle.
"The Commissioner may nave been in
discreet, but he did nothing dishonest. :"
said Mr.. Hayward. Also. according TO MIR.
Hayward. the Commissioner Processes TO
see in The raking up AZ this time Of some
thing that happened two years ago polit-
ical anImOsity for che part he has taken
in the investigation Of Borough President
Ahearn's administration
The afidavit made by Schenck says that
he did the work on the restaurants books
IN the city's time. and il is further asserted
that all the money he got from Mr.. Hertle
for the Job was t25.
ne bureau tl NlllllClDdI NerfhTCn II an
onshoot Of the Citizens Union. II was
this bureau which worked up the case
against Borough President Ahsarn. While
the Ahearn investigation was proceeding
matters came TO Commissioner MitchelIs
knowledge which he laid before the Mayor
and which led the Mayor to remark pri-
Nately more than once that there seemed
grounds for the Commissioners OF Accounts
10 investigate themselves. II can be stated
that AT about this time the Mayor was con-
.I-.- a. -l.... l.lss.V - A.~-..-- NJ
~lierile. but was confronted with the diff
cultyof filling his place. h Charter Gays
that one Of the commissioners of Accounts
shall be a certified public of
this city. The Chartered Accountants
Society tx a close corporation and numbers
only about thirty members, and the Mayor
doubted If any OF tLese could be induced
To give mp his practice to TAXI Hertle's job.
II is understood that some ten ccoun
ants in the department are suspected Of
having been engaged on jobs like Schenck 8.
hut they have so far refused to make any adj
missions They insist that whatever pri-
vate work they have done was done after
hours.
The report Of the bureau was received by
Mr.. MCGOWAN last Friday. He forwarded
it TO Mayor Me- lellan. Vho is spending his
vacation sin Maine. and yesterday Mr.
MCGOWAN received a telegraphic message
from the Mayor TO suspend Hertle pending
a trial. A copy Of the charges has also
been put in the hands of District Attorney
Jerome. The Charter makes it a INSIDE
mcanor for the head Of a department to
assign a subordinate to other duties than
those Of the department.
Mr.. MCGOWAN said that il the firm and
not Hertle alone p%rofited by Sohenck 8 work
Auditor COOK Of the Board OF Education
would nave to explain. The billheads and
circulars of the firm how prominently the
names Of Hertle and Cook, and opposite to
their names are given the public Offices they
All. II is believed by the Bureau of Munich
pal Research that many Of the clients Of the
firm lave been men who wished to collect
bills from the city quickly and that they
sought this end by employing the firm to
audit their accounts.