New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
GAYN0R NAMES AID
SELECTS HIS PRIVATE
SECRETARY.
Rest of Mayor-Elect's Slate
Still a. Mystery on EUe
of Taking Office.

Mayor-elect William J. Gaynor an
nounced last night at his home. No. 20
Eighth avenue, Brooklyn, his first ap-
pointment. that of his private secretary,
Robert W. Adamson, a political writer
on THE New York World Mr. Adamson
has been close friend of Mr.. Gaynor for
several years. In the recent campaign
Mr.. AdamSon was one of the few re-
porters admitted to the candidates pres
ence It was rumored then that he was
probably scheduled for good place In
the office of Mr. GaynOr and the belief
has been growing ever since.
The post carries salary of 5000
year, and is looked upon as one OF the
most important at the disposal of the
head of the city government. The pri-
vate secretary stands closest TO the
Mayor, enjoys his confidence as does
no other official and is his intermediary
in dealings with the public. A news
paper man has been usually chosen Tor
the post of late years.
There was plenty of talk about other
appointments yesterday. but it didn't
come from Mayor Gaynor. He, with
only one appointment announced on the
very eve of his going into office, was as
reticent as ever. No one could really
undertake yesterday to name the slate,
and. while 1t was thought, that more
appointments might he announced to-
day few would be surprised If the word
were deferred until tomorrow FRIENDS
of Judge Gaynor insisted that he had
not as yet completed his slate, and that
the real reason for the delay IN making
the announcement was that there WAS
little to announce as yet They said he
was not anxious to mystify any one, but
that the difficulty he had met in inducing
those he wished to appoint to accept
office had delayed his decisions.
big Bill' Edwards, the Street Clean
ing Commissioner. according to persistent
and pretty definite reports, will stay In
office, for a time at least. He made
favorable impression on Judge Gaynor
when he called upon him some days ago.
and the incoming Mayor. it is said.
agrees with Mayor Mcclellan IL think
ing that the city's streets have been
made passable in uncommonly fast time
Commissioner Edwards does hold over,
his work will be closely. watched, and
: his ultimate continuance in office will
depend on Mayor Gaynor's opinion Of
his handling of the department.
Another appointment that is looked for
with confidence is that of DR. ]. T.
ODonnell, of Brooklyn, to succeed DR.
Darlington as Health Commissioner. DR..
Darlington, it is understood Is by mo
means anxious to continue his work. in
the Health Department. having had a
long term.
The Police Commissionership is un-
settled, too. although the general feel
ing is that Commissioner Baker will not
be displaced at once. in any case. It is
a fact that no definite suggestion of any
successor to Mr.. Baker has been ad-
vanced. and if Judge Gaynor does re-
place General Bingham's successor there
will be general surprise.
Judge GaynOr was as busy as the pre-
verbal bee yesterday. A constant stream
of callers passed in and out, but he
would not see reporters who sought in
formation of appointments. the an
uouncement of Mr. Adamson's selection
coming from his secretary. Commits
sioner Spooner. who, according to re-
port. will be among the present depart
ment heads TO be retained, was n visitor.
his talk having reference, it was thought,
to the pier lease that aroused Mayor
Mcclellan on Wednesday. Fire Commits
sioner Hayes was on hand. too. and it is
thought that Judge Gaynor asked him to
stay in Office. for a time, at least.
Commissioner Hebberd of the Depart-
ment of Charities. whose resignation, to
take effect tonight, was sent to Mavor
Mcclellan yesterday. was a caller and
so were James W. osborne, the former
Assistant District Attorney, who prose-
cuted the ice cases as a Special Deputy
Attorney General; Louis Grant James
c. McKenna. T. II. Ward, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney; J. +. O'Brien. J. G.. Britt
Assistant Corporation Counsel: Ernest
G. Morse and John p. Mcnamara.