New-York tribune., 1911-03-03
Queens President Honest, but Is
Hampered in Reform by
Taxpayers, He Says.
WANTS HIM TO HOLD ON
cavnor Declares Under Present
system of Appointing Sue
cessor Some Scamp
Might Get Place.

afternoon at inc HedIlilS uSiolc I'm
,,,ssioner Ordway. in Long Island City.
and testified IN defence of President
lawrence Gresser. whom taxpayers
committees Of that borough for the last
civ months have been trying TO oust
from, office on charges of incompetency
gross neglect OF duty and waste OF
public funds.
T'nannounced, in company with Presl-
dent Cresser the Mayor walked into
the room in the Queens County court
bouse. where the hearing was under
ray chase Mellen. counsel for Mr..
Gresser was introducing documentary
sridence. but this was Immediately sus-
pended and the Mayor proceeded at once
10 the witness stand. \ cough that
troubled him 1T the outset Of the eN-
animation soon disappeared.
To many questions he answered that
bis recollection on the subject in point
xas not clear Throughout his testi-
n,onv one thing stood out clearly. lie
does not want President Gresser re-
moved. In answer to q direct question
he said that under the present system
y, annointinC successor he was
afraid some scamp would be selected
IN his stead. He also declared that ne
considered Gresser honest. As tar as
his competency was concerned he neTer
ss,d that Gresser invented gunpow-
der" but ne considered him fully capa-
HE of governing queens. Referring 10
his intimate knowledge OF men ana
affairs in Queens through his long SER
vice rs Justice Of the Supreme Court
~ N district included in that Dor
opeb be said ne knew the very stones
In the street" aud thot he knew the
men and affairs 81 that borough ana
also frs corrYption. and that he resolved
that ii th- opportunity ever offered ne
would ,r y'a He'p the people cf queens
redeem .hrir borough.
csv7 Gres5er l5 Hammered.
MaAsn inGIcace@. he said hompered
Gresssr ir his Efforts TO give queens
,etorn IT.. stronger the effort 10 pu-
-ifv ina. borough the greater the oppo'
.,,,on ord iu answer 30 % question by
,1r Caldwell lie Msyor said tlat 'he
-l,par5D red not been helped but ham
persd 1y lhe faYpaZels chsTgeS, re
said .ho caa ~a. .hecld rave never psei
made In referring 50 tsc building ~
suhvs.e 10 seclared tlat, IKE himself
r;resIer VAS o. The opinion that the ci'y
.boulJ have orr subway and one
tare .ub7ay .ystem and rot two sFs-
.er1e and 'vo fares.
.'vbor DID vou first bold conieren'es
with President Gresser as to the ,conduc,
# the government IN this borough.
asked Nr. Melen.
"Thev began almost 'immed'd ICY
answered ,hc Manor meaning soon a''''
he t,o' o-7co rs Mayor
What did you find President ''res-
sers attitude to te IN the remedy'ng oil
bad conditions"
"fIis attitude was one Of working With
me for good government over here
"Did Won discuss the men holding me
positions at tho heads Of the different
departments?'
Yes very often. We discussed GER
uin Offices as 70 who We should put out
and put in. Ar. Gresser would bring
parties over 20 me for personal inter
views"
Getting 20 the Topogra phical Bureau
IN answer 20 questions by Mr.. Mellen.
the Mayor said they had received COM
plants about Robert c. Crowell, en-
gineer IN charge Of that bureau. which
resulted in charges being filed against
MIR. CroweN
Il had a man picked out for Crowells
place" continued The Mayor. But when
the evidence was all in | thought with
Mr Greescr that Crowell should not be
removed. The evidence did not warrant
II"
At this point the Mayor took occasion
10 tell Of his Intimate knowledge Of af-
fairs IN Queens
ANY man w,o tries to give good gov
eminent labors under handicap. and
I;-tcU'arly over here" he said. He also
said in answer 20 a question that Gresser
worked hard 10 get his requests for APP
propriations through the boards - Man
haitian but that he met with opposition.
lie did not care to go into details. be-
cause he ddn. want TO discuss the mo-
tives. Of any one. but. ordinarily. things
were cut down by the Finance Depart
ment
Gross. Examination Eegins.
This ended The direct examination by
Mr. Mellen, and Mr. Caldwell began the
REORGANIZATION. He was keen 10 find
out when ths Mayor began 10 take an In
terest in the "housecleaning" Of Queens,
and the purport Of his questions was
that IL was not until after his committee
had furnished evidence TO the Commis-
sioner Of Accounts on which drastic re-
ports concerning the government cf that
borough were made public. that the
Mayor and President Gresser began 10
hold conferences. che Mayor said he
couldn't Just recollect the exact date
when a housccleaning in Queens was
FIRST suggested He also failed 10 recol-
lect whether the Commissioner OF Ac-
counts had made report TO him rior
to citizen fling certain papers, charges.
In Albany.
He recollcctcd that the Governors
counsel. Sanforl, not the Governors Sec
retary, called 10 see him st about the
time Il is alleged the papers referred 10
we're filed IN Aibang The Mayor. how
ever, could not recall that MI Fosdick