New-York tribune., 1909-11-14
WHITMAN'S SWEEP
HE WILL CLEAN UP.
Assistants srith Tdmmanu
Lodnings To 90.


The District Attorneys ofio- on January
: VIII he subjected 10 the most thorough
housecleaning in ITS history
Assistant District Attorneys who haze
exhibited a growing fondness for Tan-nsay
district leaders under Mr. Jerome VII he
dropped.
Their riaoes viii be taken by the best
men that can be induced 70 work for the
salaries offered. but Republioanism viii not
necessarily be a controlling Qualification for
getting the appointment. The chances are
that Mr, Nhitmsns star year from to-
cav VII contain many Democrats bu; they
VIII be men who have not allowed Tam
many Han 10 have any influence With them
Vhile they have been in Office
Mt Whitman returned yesterday from a
vacation ~ Hot Springs. Va 10 ind await
iHs his disposition about loo letters and
from 80 20 ~ applications for Office. The
applications are from lawyers and the
friends ~ lawyers. and. taken al in all.
they furnish rather significant coumen-
rsry on the lack of lucratveness II the
Iractice of Law I'm the county % New York
Francis T. Gsrvan. for wears Mr. Jerome's
principal assistant. has sent his resignation
io ar. Whitman. with pleasant letter saw
frS that De had cleaned Nd nearly every
tni1E dire~tly within his keeping. and that
n amy ~ his cases ran over into next year
De 0oule be glad 70 Wind them up without
expense 70 tho county.
NJ Whitman Is the first Republican 20
Do elected Bistrict Attorney of this county
Es believes that the voters Who elevated
him a. power meant that he should give tile
District Attorneys Office a thorough over
Ls liIng. lie cannot remove. for the pres
enr a. least The process servers. or county
detectives. as they are sometimes called. IS
they are protected by the civil Service. but
some 90 them arc SO notoriously unfit and
60 thoroughly tied up with Tammany dts
trCt leaders that they probably viii be re-
moved on charges before The end II the
vsar
When asked Yesterday al his once about
IIs general policy as District Attorney. with
special reference 10 the appointment Of his
ear. Mr.. Whitman ssid.
u think the attitude of the leaders OF the
Republican party is song 20 be that I can
best sera esthe party by serving tho people
~ This county. and that il is desira bic that
2 shall obtain the services Of the best law
vers that I can for the salaries. without
particular regard for so-cslled party regu-
lsrity. A. 10 my attitude toward members
of the Tammany HaIl organization, 1 think
Iaign.
ID realize that ] VAS elected on a purely
suti-Tammany issue. ana that although my
personal relations with many public Off
.is.s who are NOT ~ my own party have
been very agreeable. ] feel that / ought not
to appoint OF retain men who recognize in
sny degree the right OF the Tammany or
rsul lzsrion 10 Influence OF control them.
.lu saving this I am keeping in mind the
srFIt and letter Of the civil Service Law
and tie public officers act. do not feel
rra- Tammany spells Democracy by any
means and D certainly shall not regard IL
rs essential that applicants for positions in
rre District Attorneys Office shall qualify
ss Republicans.
-It is alleged that TIE District Attorney
rs free 10 prosecute certain officials % the
Metropolitan street railway system. What
VIII ae your attitude toward them2' vas
s-ked.
so one could answer a question 81 that
SORT uuti he assumed charge Of the once
and learned the facts" said Mr. Whitman.
'Mr Jerome has been District Attorney for
eIEht years, and The natural assumption is
that Ire statute OF limitations which runs
far six. four and two years against offences.
according 10 their nature. bars the county
from prosecuting the company ar this time.
] don't know whether or not that is fact.
tIf 7 shall make IL ny business 10 discover
the facts a. soon as I take Office
D. is learned on good authority that As
ss.ant District Attorney Robert c. Taylor
UII 10 retained by M Whitman, hut Mr..
Whitman Nil make no announcement OF
his slate for TWO or rhree weeks. The
present star Of assistants, drawing s7.5oo
each, Is as follows Charles q. Mott. James
T. Ely. Charles Albert Perkins. Robert q.
Taylor. Nathan A. Smyth. Isidor J. kresel,
John IS. Hart and Hartford T. Marshall.
There are twenty-five deputy assistants.
drawing from 5000 TO $3.50 each. and about
sixty process servers, or county detectives.
drawing from $3.50 10 $3.50 a year. Ten OF
these are exempt By the civil Service.