New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-10

| In the Dock Department has never Oeeh
complied with. l.,
of the wages paid to watchmen, as com
pared to those paid TO laborers, out -! t hu
not understand how the law is violated oy
that difference. or how the watchnen Wouta
benefit by getting the laborers pay feduCed,
nor do [ see how Watchmen now IN the
| employ of the city would be benefited by me
discharge Of Iaborers and the appointment
! of new watchInen. / do not clearly unoer-
| stand whether your complaint is made on
! behalf Of the Watchmen now employed or
on behalf of aspirants for watchmen's posi-
! tons If you can make your position more
clear should be Obliged Very truly yours
! (Signed) r. c. e. BROWN.
| Gallaghe replied to this on November II
in the following fashion:
| You ask me to be more explicit in my
complaint. I will try. to begin with l
took the examination for Recreation Pier
| attendant passed and was appointed at the
Sallery of 5000 per year, receiving So per
| month when the piers Closed [ was laid
! off and after being out of Employment for
! some time I was appointed as Waterman
| at 25 cts per hour while employed, hav-
, ing in the meantime to buy a uniform
sioner as l am discharged from the Naval
service of the US. and having my homer
able discharge I think from the time j
| was reduced in compensation up to pres
t ent that l have lost from $13- to SIS. per
| Month taken from me. The precedent has
| been established when Mr. Manley who liz
Il
under Mayor Strong was Recreation Pier
Attendant when the piers CLOSED UP for
| the season continued as Waterman at the
rate of SIS. per month so you see that in
| my case Section 20, and 81, of the civil
| service laws has been violated
| Charges Were Untrue.
! He concluded this communication with
| a list of persons who he asserted were
| doing other work than that TO which they
were appointed without waiting for a
report from the commission he repeated
| his personal grievance to Governor Hughes
| in letter written a few days after de-
failing his troubles to the commission.
In reply to this letter the following was
| sent to Gallagher:
New York, November IL. 1907.
James J. Gallagher, Esq, No. 515 West
145th street, New York. City
Dear Sir: I have received your letter
making more specific your complsints with
regard to the employment of laborers in
the Dock Department. and with regard to
| the conditions of your own employment.
l will take the matter up with the city Off
! Gals. Very truly yours.
r. c. L. BROWN.
! This letter was sent on the same day:
! New York, Nov II, 1907.
| Hon. William T. Baker, President Munich
pal Civil Service Commission, No. e99
| My Dear President Baker: Enclosed please
| find a letter to the State Civil Service Com
mission from Robert H. Fuller, secretary
| complaint respecting the employment OF
laborers in the Dock Department. from
| James J. Gallagher. which was forwarded
! to me for investigation and report. [ also
! append copy OF my letter of October -
10 Mr. Gallagher, together with his reply
| OF November 10.
You will remember that when this sub
! ject was up before, you and / agreed that
! the complaint was altogether too general
| and inchoate to be dealt with satisfactorily,
and at that time | wrote TO Mr.. Gallagher
assuring him that any definite statement
! with regard to the illegal employment OF
! one few laborers would. as you told
! me, be thoroughly inVeStigate ted.
| l should he obliged if YOU would examine
| INTO this matter and let me know what
| the facts are as soon as convenient. re-
| turning to me the Enclosures. Very sincere
| ly yours r. c. E. BROWN.
| Gallagher again wrote to the Governor,
as is shown in the following:
New York. November %. 1907
| James J. Gallagher Esq. No. SIS West 18th
street, New York city.
| Dear Sir: ] have received from the eN-
| ecutive chamber your letter to Governor
| Hughes dated November p 1907, complain
! ing OF the reduction in your salary as
Waterman In the Department of Docks in
| the city of New York. This letter seems
| to be III line with your recent complaint nc
| the Governor, concerning which we have
| had some correspondence
! Your last letter of complaint was on No,
| vember II transmitted to the municipal,
| commission, whose province it Is to deal
| with the matter in tho first instance. and
| / am promised thorough investigation
! and report as to the matters specified III
! your complaint.
| When the municipal authorities have
| made their report it will be possible for
| the state commission to consider what ac-
r. c. L. BROWN.
| The Municipal Civil Service Commission
was then advised of Gallagher's latest let
ter in the following:
New York. November 80, 1907
| Hon William F. Baker president, Mu-
| nicipaI Civil Service Commission, NO.
| 800 Broadway. New York City.
| Gallagher, of No. 5l5 West 1i5th street has
! written another letter 10 Governor Hughes.
which has been forwarded TO me. rms
| time he deals specifically with the state
| ment that he. being veteran, was ap
| pointed pier attendant after competitive
eX9mination at SO n month, but has oeen
| reduced to Waterman, receiving % cents an
| hour when employed; that his reduction Is
| in violation of sections 20 and Il OF tus
Civil Service law. and that he is deprived
| of from SIS 10 s1h II month to which WIN
| his veteran preference, ha is entitled,
VIII YOU kindly add this count 10 the IN
| dictmcnt already made by him? hpp
soon to get a disposition of the case ina
will save the Governor from continued I'M
| portuni.y. Very sincerely yours,
r. c. Il. BROWN
| After an investigation had been made pS