The Washington times., 1911-07-11


A. Bingham has thrown up the office OF
chief engineer of the bureau of high
ways, to which Borough President NC
Aneny appointed him at the beginning
of May. General Bingham was re-
moved as police commissioner by May
or Mcclellan on the complaint of Judge
Gaynor, now mayor. The mayor did
not object to his appointment to his new
office and said he was good engineer.
General Bingham still has a. 100000 libel
suit pending against the mayor, and has
won the preliminary skirmish In 1t on
appeal. substantial parts OF the answer
being struck out. 1t was to be Cen
eral Binghams special job in his new
post to make the paving contractors
live up to their repair contracts. NO
body has ever done this, but he tackled
the Job. Now he has given 1t up. He
said that his methods did not mt In
with those Of the borough presidents
administration.
Last night when General Bingham
gave out the text Of the letter he had
forwarded to Mr.. McAneny earlier in
the day he took pains to specify that
there had been no break between him
self and the man who had appointed
lations with Mr.. McAneny have been
the most cordial" he said, "and that
l am leaving office with the highest
personal regard for the borough presi-
dent"
Has any action by Mayor Gaynor of
Interference or opposition led you to
determine upon leaving your Officer"
Bingham was asked.
His Letter.
Positively no." he said. Il have not
come into contact with the mayor in
any way, nor has he come into con-
tact with any of my work. This is
General Gingham's letter:
My Dear Mr.. McAneny: Referring to
what said to you on July I, after over
two months of diligent work, I find that
my methods of administration and for
getting things done do not At in with
those of your administration.
II am not willing merely to hold this
office and accomplish no important
work.
Il therefore hereby resign from the
office of chief engineer, bureau of high
ways, department of public works, bor-
ough of Manhattan, to take effect at the
close of business hours today"
Wishing you all success and regard
ting that l cannot help you as I had
hoped to do, l am. with highest regards.
very sincerely yours,
THEODORE A. BINGHAM"
In what way did your methods Of
administration fail to flt in with those
of Mr.. McAnenys administration" Gen.
eral Bingham was asked.
"In just say one word in answer to
that and will not discuss the matter fur
Their" he answered. II couldn't get any
action during the whole two months
that 1 occupied the office Of chief en-
gineer."
President McAneny said last night
that General Bingham had called upon
him last Friday and complained that
the officials of the highways department
were showing no disposition to aid him
In improving the condition OF the city's
and that without the full sup
port of the bureau he was helpless.
General Bingham had added on that oc-
casion because Of this state Of affairs
he believed that he was useless and
had better resign.
And you let him reSign! Mr.. McAn-
eny was asked.
Il could do nothing. l couldn't re-
move any of the men in the bureau be-
cause they are all civil service officials,
Mr.. McAneny was asked II to his
knowledge General Bingham had been
hampered in carrying out his plans for
the betterment of the pavements by any
influence the paving companies might
have been able to bring to bear.
Couldn't Get Cooperation.
Not that 1 know Of" the borough
president answered. "Al that l know
Is that General Bingham told me he
could not get cooperation between him
self and the highways departments and
that he would resign rather than con-
tinue to work longer under conditions
that were unsatisfactory TO him."
In his conversation with the reporters
last night General Bingham said that
before he had been in office a month he
had submitted a report to the borough
president upon the condition of the
,ity's streets, the inadequacy Of the ef-
forts made to improve them system
atically and the necessity Of improve
nent in specific instances.
Current report at the city hall yester-
day was that there had been friction
between General Bingham and Edgar
Y. rockingham, commissioner of public
works, his immediate superior.
When Mr.. McAneny appointed Gen.
,ral Bingham he told friends that he