New-York tribune., 1909-07-21
MCCLELLAN BACK FROM
ADIRONDACKS.
Without UarHing, He Comes to
Take Responsibility from
McGO1CaH.

and out Of the clouds of steam drifted all sorts
Of rumOrs and stories
Whatever happens. the return Of the Mayor
means that the fight for and against the signing
Of the code. which means so much TO vast and
powerful interests. will be waged to-day and
until final action IS taken, with tremendous
ferceness.
When Mayor Mcclellan got of the Empire
State Express at 1O:OS o'clock last night he
met the platform by Assistant Corporation
Counsel CroweH and Thomas Hassett. secretary
Of the Board Of Water Supply, who is said to
be doing some work in the interest Of the
Mayors desire TO get the next Democratic
nomination for Governor.
'It is understood that you have come hack
to act on the code" said one Of a group Of
newspaper men.
Il am back he said with a smile.
will you preside at the hearing Tomorrow
Il am Mayor and I a back"
Why did you change your mnd9'
Il did not change my mind
why did you go away?''
= When I went away did not think the Gods
would pass As soon as I heard about its pas
sage. decided to come back
That was week ago."
YES"
1T is understood that Mr. MCGOWAN IS PUT
out because he did not know of your plans"
heard this afternoon"
NOT VISITED By 8rCARREN.
TT is reported that Senator McCarren saw
you in the woods and induced you 70 return
That is an absolute lie
Have you an appointment to meet ". D.
Henry. president Of the National FireproofuS
Company. who reached here from Pittsburs to-
night9'
Who is Mr.. Henry I never heard Of him.
said the Mayor. as he got into carriass that
had been waiting for him.
Those who oppose the code hailed the return
OF the Mayor with delight they believe il
could be caused by nothing else than the sud
den determination Of the Mayor that the code
should be vetoed 1t had been understood that
the Mayor was we'll satisfied to go away on hts
vacation and leave the delicate and Important
question Of passing on the code to President
MCGOWAN Of the Board of Aldermen. on whom
would dsvcIve the responsibilities Of chief exec
utivs Of the city in his absence
The Mayor is credited with aspirations TO get
The next Democrats nomination for Governor
and with hoping that he need not incur the dis
pleasure Of any one through any action that
he might take on the code But certain politi
clans were saying last night that these same
aspirations uere what Influenced the Mayor Z"
come back so uncsremoniousIy. All sorts %
pressure had been brought 10 bear to induce the
Mayor to leave his retreat in the Adirondacks
and act himself the code
II Is said that Senator Patrick n. McCarrsn.
the Brooklyn leader. who is planning to become
a controlling factor in Democratic state politics
in the future. was among those who sent letters
urging the Mayor to come back Maurice Feati-
erson Democrats leader Of the 20th Assembly
District. who Is opposed 70 Tammany and was
the confidential adviser Of the Mayor in the
time. is also said to have used his influence to
the same end Ex-senator John T. Mccall, one
of Mr. Feathersou's 1eutenants has been active.
too. in this particular one Of these three men.
all of whom have been fighting the building
code with every means at their command Is said
10 have gone so far as to visit the Mayor in
the Adirondscks-
DID NOT EXPECT To RETURN.
It is known that when Mayor Mcclellan left
on his vacation OF a month. Friday. July :.
he had no intention OF coming back before
Monday. August - His action on the Duf1y
case. ending as It did with the removal of Po-
lice Commissioner Bingham. had raised such a
storm of indignation that he was glad TO get
away from it all and run no risk OF opposing
powerfuI interests in passing on the building
code.
Mr. MCGOWAN was convinced that the full re-
snonsibiIitv Of acting on the code would rest
with him He assumed that responsibility. not
gladly but according TO those who know him
hest with an earnest intention of giving ~
most careful and open minded study Not hsv-
ing taken NV part in the discussions among
the aldermen regarding the code. because or t1e
possibility that he might have to pass on 1t as
Acting Mayor. Mr.. MCGOWAN set himself 20
study the document as soon as 1t was passed
by the Board of Aldermen
After a notable fight on strictly facttonai
lines the code was jammed through the board on
Tuesdav. July 13 There were Just forty votes
in favor. not one more thar the number re-
orired. Thirty-eight members OF the board. In
cluding all the Republicans. with one sxcep-
+fon- and all the McCarren Democrats regis
tered their votes in opposition to the code.
Two days later certified copy OF the oroi-
nance. In which form the code was passed Was
formally presented to Acting Mayor Me1O~ai'
for his snproval or Veto Since that time ne nas
.,,a,+ most Of his time studying the code and
,or,si5a-inz the thousands of letters ne mas Te-
ceived both in favor of and IN opPosition 10 tHs
measure In this work he has been up u"'ii
and O'Clock in the morning
MCGOWAN CALLED HEARING
- ,,a,-o- MCGOWAN sought advice about
- Dnb1ic hearing before taking action
80. = hearing was urged upon him by the
.u,o5 Peal Estate Interests. labor organizations
---..o,.o+ives OF concrete interests. who de-
- .Aa,, are Disseminated against in the code.
-, 4Sars ~ rrOunfnence. Personally, the Act
t. 1,a,,or fs understood to have thought that
tb. oigbt hearings which had been held on tns
ooda before II was passed by the Board OF Al
7a-,er urere enough. but he decided tnat fairness
dar,a,dsd the further hearing that was ASKED
.oor7,ngI,- he announced that he would pre-