New-York tribune., 1910-07-18
WANTED IN CRESSER'S lob
Movement in Favor of Bridge
Commissioners Martin.
CASSIDY EXPLAINS POSITION
Ex-President of Queens Refutes
Statement That He Is Not
Candidate.

Following the suggestion contained In TIE
petition sent to Albany Saturday by the
members of the Queens County Grand jury
asking for the removal of President Gresser
of that borough. a movement has been
started looking to the selection of man
of high standing TO fill the office in the
event Of a vacancy occurring.
The name most prominently mentioned
yesterday was that OF Kingsley l. Martin.
Bridge Commissioner. He was the consult
ing engineer IN charge OF the building 1f
the Greensboro Bridge, and during that
time he became well acquainted with
Queens and now has his home IN Flushing.
Whether Mr. Martin would feel like Civ
ing up a salary Of $4,000 to accept the
arduous duties II President of the Borough
of Queens at only $4,000 a year was he
question that bothered those who would Ike
to see him in the office Throughout the pres
ent graft quest BUSINESS men OF Queens who
have made a study of the situation have
said that the salary paid TO the Borough
President of Queens did not measure Up in
any way TO the place
1t was pointed out that police magistrates
and municipal Justices get from $4,000 %
$1,000 a year for ten years, with an average
of about one hours work a day. and that
than the President of Queens gets in his en-
tire term of four years 1t was argued.
therefore. that If the borough wanted to
get man of the standing of Commissioner
Martin the salary of the office should be
raised to at least $4,000 a year.
In addition 10 the quest of fit man 20
take hold of the reins OF government an
other item Of interest in that borough yes
terday was an apparent misunderstanding
in the camp Of former President Cassidy,
who has been campaigning night and day
ever since the graft inquiry started, in May
LAST. 70 get himself in line for the vacancy
should President Gresser be ousted.
To the CONSERVATION Of a host of Cas-
sidy followers who ere looking to get back
into office. several papers OF Queens on
Saturday published in black type a state
ment purporting to have been given out
by one OF Cassidys lfeutenants that Cas-
sidy was not a candidate for the Office of
Borough President In the event OF va
cancy.
The black type article went on TO state
that if Mayor Gaynor wanted assurances
that Cassidy was out OF the race. all he
had TO do was to address letter to Cas-
sidy. who would make a written reply
stating that he did not want the Office and
would not take it if offered to him.
In an interview yesterday Mr.. Cassidy
expressed different views the subject.
In the first place. he appeared TO be un-
aware that any such statement had been
given out In the second place, be said
he did not know whether his friends were
making d campaign for him or not and
if they were he would neither tell them to
stop or go ahead.
1t was also said yesterday that another
factor, in the person of David L. Van
Nostrand, an old political and business
associate OF Cassidy. would appear in the
field, but whether in the interest Of Cas-
sidy or in his own behalf was not stated
Mr. Van Nostrand served for years as a
member of the old Queens County Board
during Cassidy's first term as Borough
President ne served Commissioner OF
Public Works in Cassidy's cabinet. and
next was elected County Clerk on Cas-
sidy's ticket
The indictment against President Gres-
ser Will come up in court to-day. Car
eucs Edwards. attorney for Mr.. C=resser
received permission to examine the grand
jury minutes, and this morning he will
go to court prepared TO argue for n dis
missaI of the indictment on the ground of
insuff1ciency Of evidence.
II is understood that prominent men,
Der of the Gresser cabinet against whom
an indictment was found. but who has
been out Of the state, Will be in court
this morning with his bondsmen-