New-York tribune., 1910-01-05
TABOO ON POLITICS
G4YNOR TO WALDO.
Yarns Fire Head to AUOid In
fuencc an Department.

Mayor Gaynor wrestled most of yes
terday with the problem of choosing Civil
Service and Tax commissioners, brought
about the appointment of former City
Magistrate John j. Walsh as Deputy Police
Commissioner for Brooklyn and wound up
the day with a letter to Rhinelander
Waldo, the new Fire Commissioner, warn
ing him against graft, bribery and the use
of political influence in the Fire Depart
ment.
The Mayor called Police Commissioner
Baker TO his office, told him that he desired
that Judge Walsh should be the trial com
missioner for BROOKLYN that it was very
important that the men be tried by COM
petent person, which, he says, had not
been the case in the past; that Mr.. Walsh
had been one OF the best police magistrates
the city ever had; that he had also served
term civil justice and capable of
trying the men properly and strictly.
With this tip" Commissioner Baker lost
no time in appointing Mr.. Walsh Deputy
Commissioner.
The letter TO Commissioner Waldo is
really meant for every department and
emphasizes the Mayors intention to main
tain strict supervision of the Police and
Fire departments. incidentally. it a
notice to the Tammany machine that it
must keep hands off. The Tammany men
looking TO Commissioner Waldo to
help them over the rough places in the
road. They looked on him as a Tammany
organization and expected favors
along the usual lines.
LETTER TO MR. WALDO.
The Mayor got wind OF these expecta-
tions and warned Commissioner Waldo, as
follows
/ have selected you for the head of the
Fire Department after careful considera-
ton and in full confidence that you will be
able to carry out my intention of banish-
ing all political and outside influence and
favoritism from tnat department Immediate
ly. and once for all. Let appointments and
promotions hereafter be made without such
influence The present method enables
those who stand low on the eligible list TO
be appointed over the heads of those who
stand higher.
AS soon as a list is published clergymen.
business men, political leaders and all sorts
of persons claiming to have influence come
IN to advocate the selection of their friends
tnereoh. worse yet; some OF such tnfiu
ence is sold and paid for Let there be an
end of all this, and see that every one on
the list be trea ted on his ascertained mer-
its. To put this beyond doubt il may be
necessary that appointments and promo
tions be made in numerical order from the
eligible list.
Be SO good as to consider this and con-
fer with me 1t is my intention to submit
and have this rule adopted by all unless
there be controlling reasons TO the con-
trary.
And let not such influence be tolerated in
the trial of charges against members OF the
force. IT leads to lack of discipline and
carried far enough to disrespect and in
subordination TO superior officers On the
first sign of any such importantly or in
fluence being permitted by the trial deputy
let him be removed
Mayo" Gaynor reached the City Hall at
about 9 80 O'Clock. having walked all the
way from his home in Brooklyn.
Among the early callers were President
Bensel Of the Board of Water Supply, Dr.
Alonzo Blauvelt, sanitary superintendent of
Brooklyn, and William n. Dykman of
Brooklyn, the last named calling in behalf,
il is said of ex-senator Frank Gallagher as
a candidate for Civil Service Commissioner.
Later came Arthur J. O'Keeffe, the new
Deputy Fire Commissioner for Brooklyn
who took the oath of office Commissioner
Edwards and his secretary, George Brinton
Buckwalter, Judge John J. Walsh. of
Brooklyn; Harry NJ. G. Vedder James S.
Regan, Democratic leader of the 5th Dis
trict. Of Kings; Secretary John Martin OF
the Public Education Society, and John f.
Cowan, OF the Aqueduct Commission.
Later in the forenoon came ex-Congress-
man w. J. Coombs, Arthur II. Cameron,
.Judson C. Wall and Henry Mann, of Brook
Iyn.
A white haired woman ventured along the
corridor and made her way to Lieutenant
Kennel the officer on guard at the Mayors
office.
WANTED TO SEE MAYOR
Il am Health officer Dotys mother"
said she. II don't want to see the Mayor
or bother him. l just want to get a peek
at him at work"
She got IT, but didn't seem quite satisfied
as she asked permission to go into the office
and greet him. This was impracticable, on
account of the waiting line of men there
on business. Others who sought an audi
ence with his honor were Secretary Alexan-
der Law. OF the Committee of the Unem-
ployed, and the Rev. William Wilkinson
the street preacher. Other callers were
Representative ]. Van Vechten Olcott and
Bishop Alexander Walters of the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the latter
wishing to talk with his honor about or
ganizing the negro Democrats more effect
lively.
Ex-Justice Morgan J. OBrien. In company
with Charles c. Marin. Deputy Comuis
sioner OF Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
tricity OF The Bronx. called at noon. It IS
understood that Judge o Brlen asked The
Mayor to retain Mr.. Marin
Borough President McAneny escorted 10
the Mayors office to be sworn in w. Rogers
Westerfield. Assistant Superintendent of
Buildings. and his private secretary Rohert
B. Irsley. They were followed by William
r. Wilcox chairman Of the Public Service
Commission. who talked with the Mayor
about the immediate needs Of the commits
sion
Mr. Wilcox said Il came over ., nd,
tation by appointment with Mayor Gevnor
We discussed suaways. rapid transit ,,nas
and other matters related to the pubuc Gar.