New-York tribune., 1910-01-06
MAYOR TIPS POLICE
TALK TO 4PPOINTEE.
Viii 14llo7c No PoIitics-Keller
Lost IN the Shuttle.

In swearing in John J. Walsh. OF Brook
lyn, as Third Deputy Police Commissioner
yesterday Mayor Gaynor warned him that
he must not allow ciergymen. politicians
or any man, high or low to influence him
in the trial OF the men. and that he must
dismiss men who. while they ought to be
on duty, leave their posts to take nap
70 pass the time with friends. Police Com
missioner Baker was standing near Mr..
Walsh when Mayor Gaynor gave his in
structions. The Mayor said:
And. now. Mr. Trial Deputy. YOU are ex-
perienced in the trial of persons, and
there is no reason why you should not try
the policemen fairly and strictly. Be rea-
sonable and lenient in the case of things
that happen rather through misfortune
and are not very serious, but in the case
Sor th orr 1nlhge * wnch n1 hestafe 10 % smiss
him We want all bad men of the force
For instance. II Is a most serious thing
for q policeman 10 leave his post and
sleep in a hall or elsewhere, or pass his
time with friends when he ought 10 be on
guard Let such men he dismissed, We
are plenty of good men on IT. and plenty
Of good men waiting 10 get on it
10 get your ear or influence YOU In any
psy in the trial of the men. DO not let
man. high or low. approach YOU on that
subject II YOU conduct yourself in this
out and half OF the evils OF the force will
disappear.
The Mayor had another struggle yester-
DAY with the problem of choosing Tax Com
nlissioners. He said at the close OF the day
that he might not announce the new board
Until tomorrow. Tax Commissioners Hal
lorsn, Of Queens; Mccormack, of Rich
r1ond, and Hastings, of Manhattan were
early at the City Hall willing TO furnish
Information about their qualifications Com
missioner Hastings had quite 4 chat with
the Mayor but lid not receive any assur-
ance that he would he reappointed
II is no secret at the City Hall that May
or GaynoT is trying 10 get men for the Tax
Board who viii Nipe out some of the in
equalities Of assessments which undoubted-
ly now exist. Yesterday he talked with two
or three real estate experts concerning
values in the financial district. and these
men furnished him both the selling prices
and the assessed valuations of various par
GELS showing that assessed valuations we're
about 50 instead Of 90 per cent as the law
contemplates.
Next TO the selection of the Tax Commits
sioners the mysterious losing Of John w
Keller in the administration shuttle inter
ested the politicians. Mr.. Keller was can
didate for Charities Commissioner Mayor
Gaynor likes Keller. but he appointed
Michael ]. Drummond. the banker, 10 that
important post Just to show that he held
Mr.. Keller in high regard, Mayor Gaynor
apparently inspired the announcement that
Mr.. Keller would be the Deputy Commits
sioner of Charities. Just at this point the
Gaynor machine seems to have slipped a
cog.
Commissioner Drummond, being man Of
parts and knowing what Commissioner
may do within HIS legal rights. did not offer
the depucysl1ip 20 Mr.. Keller Between
Monday and yesterday Mr. Keller has been
getting his bearings. First of all he was
not enamored Of the place as deputy COM
missioner having served as the head Of the
department under Mayor Van Wyck He
called on Commissioner Drummond, il is
said. and asked him about the pronered
place. Nr. Drummond said there wasn't
any profered place. or words 10 that effect
Mr. Keller. very much disguised called
on Mayor Gaynor yesterday afternoon and
wanted to know where ne stood Just what
The Mayor told him could not be learned but
wren he came out OF the Mayors Office
MS face was rosy red. When asked point
blank about the deputy commissionership
he said he was not a candidate for the
plEce would not have taken il If it had
been profered, and that it had not been
profered.
II looked TO the man in the street last
night as il the Mayor had suggested 10
Commissioner Drummond that Keller would
be q good deputy commissioner. and that
Mr.. Drummond had replied that he would
choose his own deupty. and that IN answer
Mayor Gaynor had said All right" There
are various missing links in the story. but
the important facts remain that Mr.. Kel-
Ter was on the Gaynor slate for Deputy
Commissioner Of Charities on Monday
morning, and on Wednesday afternoon he
said the place had not been offered 10 him
The Mayor issued a call for the first
meeting of the new Board OF Estimate. The
hoard viii meet tomorrow morning at 10:30
clock. and IL is likely that meetings will
be held on Fridays. as usual.