New-York tribune., 1908-12-10
METZ CASE In BALANCE
MOST CHARGES UNPROVEN
Grill iSerricc Commission Hears
Controllers Side.

The committee of the State Civil Service Com
mission reserved decision yesterday the question
whether Controller Metz IN making appointments
in the city's finance department had been IN
nuenced by political opinion affiliations in VIOLA
ton Of the Civil Service law and decided that the
other specific charges against him had not been
proven. 1t found that the investigation had
brought forward evidence suggesting improper
classification Interpretation Of the rules which
it will take into consideration with view to rec
ommending to the Municipal Civil Service Commis-
sion certain changes and reforms. Commissioner
KRAFT did not wholly agree with the findings de-
cIaring that the specific charge of violating tho
Civil Service law presented by the Civil Service Re
form Association had not any Of them been proven
The investigation of the charges against Con-
troller Metz was continued yesterday. After the
testimony Of the Controller himself had been heard
the committee went into executive session. remain
ing an hour and quarter, with the result already
given.
cashier under Controller Metz. said that previously
he had held several political Jobs in Brooklyn. MI
Metz dismissed him, he said but for what reason
he did not know. William r. MCGUIRE said he had
been leader OF the 9Th Assembly District, Brook
Iyn up to a few days ago." and, through Nc
Carren had got Metz to appoint DR.. Plug. He
said further that he had told McCarren that q
William a. Glen. Of his district, had been ap-
pointed by Metz without the Endorsement Of the
district organization.
We'll. he will have to 60" said McCarren, ac-
cording to Mcclure. But the latter added he
is still in the Controllers office
Controller Metz examined directly by his
lawyer. jeremiah Mahoney. He appointed William
A. Melody, he said, because NcCarren recon-
mended him He knew him by reputation and he
had one else in mind But he said he found
that Melody had allied himself with the interests
in Brooklyn that were attacking him.
II sent for him to ask him about tho matter.
continued the Controller. He TO my Office,
saw Mr.. McCooey and left before reached the
Office. Mr.. McCooey told me that Melody said: IF
you want my Office you have got to take tt l
took It He wanted to be made a political martyr,
and I made him one"
Your reasons for dismissing him were purely
non-political?"
Yes They were purely personal lie wanted
to be fired and I fired him. That's all"
The Controller said that after DR.. Plugs ap-
rointment he did not like his manner after A
little while and he dismissed him Afterward he
said he learned that Plug at the time was writing
manifesto calling him dummy and other
things"
In the general conduct Of office the Controller
said he was actuated in the matter of appoint
1nents and dismssals solely by the qualifications
Of a man. He said he had sought for new men
from the outside with blood. and such men
he now had but had not had success in getting
the Board of Aldermen TO grant appropriations
with which pay them. He was asked II he
thought appropriations would have been granted II
he had appointed proteges Of the aldermen.
NO really, I don't believe the Board of Alder
men controls that matter he said. You have to
go TO a man higher up. OF course. / could not
prove that statement legally, but I'm morally Ger
tain It's true. You know what mean
In his cross-examination Controller Metz SAID
that the fact that he dismissed Melody on primary
day had no significance. I didn't know 1t was
primary day" he said. II even went to the wrong
polling booth that day, which shows what kind of
q politician am
Asked about the appointment Of J. II. Murphy,
cousin Of the Tammany leader. Mr.. Metz said he
had given him the job because he had brains
enough ia fiji it. He said it impossible for
man TO know n couple OF thousand men, com
petent men, to fiji public Offices, and he had
pe-force to rely an men recommended by others,
politicians included.
As q politician ana certainly in favor OF the
civil Service law" said Mr. Metz. but think the
Civil Service law unfair when it picks out a man
like Cfrout and hammers it in all the time as it
Is now doing 70 me