New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-13
DIX HEARS GRESSER
CHARGES AND DEFENCE
Governor Asked to Remove the
Queens Borough President
for IncompetenCy.
CITIZENS ASK FOR RELIEF
Accusation of Personal Dishon-
esty Made, Though Investiga-
tors Report Pointed to
Neglect of Duty Only.
nv Telegram to The Tribune. ]

IBy Telegraph to The Tribunel
Albany. Sept 12-Lawrence Gresser,
President of the Borough of Queens with
stoical. uumoved expression, sat among his
friends on the one side, with his enemies
lined up on the other. while arguments ior
and against his removal from Office were
presented 90 Governor Dix to-day. me
hearing was on the report of Samuel II.
Ordway. the commissioner appointed by
Governor Hughes to investigate charges
against Gresser. MIR. Ordway recommended
the removal Of the Borough President on
the ground of incompetency and neglect OF
duty i'm failing TO protect the city against
corruption and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by GER
tain of his subordinates. The report how
ever. did not charge the Borough President
with personal dishonesty.
The Executive Chamber in which the
hearing was held was crowded. 1t was
eraphic picture of administrative chaos that
the opponents Of Gresser drew In deScnp-
ing the conditions of Queens Borough
which thew attributed directly TO the pres
ent borough head.
eve must have relief Governor said
Charles Pope Caldwell. counsel to the ciu-
zens committee which worked up the
charges against Gresser. Taxes are going
ND property Is going down and we nave
not one' good highway in the borough. It's
not a fit place 10 live in, and we want
Gresser removed. We don't care who taxes
his Mace but we must do better or we
will be back here again
Mr. Caldwell went further than did Mr..
Ordway by asserting the Borough Fresl-
dent was dishonest. He said the commls-
sioners report was mild and conservative
Ia one who knows the actual conditions IN
Queens County.
Recalled Governors Pledge.
"If YOU don't put this man out OF office
YOU violate your pledge TO the people II
suit this commissioner and refuse the ne
mands of The people Of queens ended Mr..
Caldwell.
Robert &. Binkerd of the City Club OF
New York. and George Forar Of me Prog
ress Society of Far Bockaway also urged
Gresser's removal, largely on the ground
of Incompetence.
Harry Sutphin. who had served under
Gresser as Deputy Commissioner Of Public
Works said that The progress Of the Bor-
ough Of Queens is greatly Handicapped by
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF the borough gov
eminent
perhaps there is no greater evidence Of
the disastrous consequences Gresserism has
brought about said Mr. Sutphn, than is
found in tho condition Of real estate inter-
ests i'm Queens to-day. It may be noted
that when Grcsser first assumed control Of
our borough government the current Of real
estate values was at its most promising
food Eat the incompctency and dishonesty
that have SO enthroned themselves in the
Borough Hall have been so rampant and the
culpahlhty OF the highest officials so flag
rant that public confidence has been seri-
ouslv disturbed. if not completely under
mined
Public highways made impossible through
criminal neglect decaying public struct-
tres: sewers and sanitary measures neglect
ed the indelible mark Of graft and graft
ers stamped on every feature and face Of
public work. as we'll as on public workers,
and no benefits derived from high taxes
have. I'm the agCregate. not only shocked
the nerves Of local investors but have
actually either diverted Investments TO New
Jersey or carried them across our county's
borders into neighboring Nassau and Suf-
folk"
George Z. Gill. of the Ridgewood Heights
Improvement Association. said that If the
conditions in Queens County remain the
have been the last two years God help
Queens!"
J. c. Mellen counsel 10 Mr.. dresser. as
serted that Mr. dresser had found the
Borough Of Queens i'm deplorable state.
and that he had continually improved its
condition since he had been in Of
flee. He held that Mr.. Gresser was
the peoples choice in the office. and
against him. the Governor had no right to
remove him because OF the dishonesty and
incompetency of subordnates most of
whom had since been turned out lie said
that he was willing to stake his reputation
on Mr.. Gresser's honesty, and that the only
ones who want his retirement are three
unknown seekers after notoriety'
Referred TO Hoffman Boulevard
Mr.. Mellen held that the only things that
had been found against Mr.. Gresser WERE
the certificate accepting the Hoffman Boule-
ward and the charges in reference to cam
paign funds and his failure to remove off
Gals. But he held that in the Hoffman
Boulevard case Mr.. Gresser merely took
the word Of his engineers. Mr.. Mellen said
that dresser knew nothing about the cam
paign funds. and that the men whom the
borough president failed to remove were
in office when he took charge, and that the
time between his appointment 10 fill an un-
expired term and his election was SO short
that II was impossible TO get new men in
their places Mr.. Mellen also held that on
account of the small pay it was hard to
get the right kind Of men.
At the end of the hearing the Governor
said he would give both sides twenW-four
hours to submit briefs. Mr.. Caldwell had
his briefs ready. but Mr.. Mellen asked for
more time This was refused by the Chief
Executive.