New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-27
MAYOR ANSWERS 0RDWAY'
Defends Temporary Appointees
in Bureau of Fire Prevention.
CALLS CHARGE BIPARTISAN"
Attacks Civil Service Reform AS.
sociation's Attitude-Repeal
of Hoey Bill Urged.

petty. partisan and unfair to the last
l.,ree" was the comment made yesterday
go Mayor Gaynor on the complaint Of
samuel II. Ordway, president OF the Civil
.ervice Reform Association, that the tenn
,orary appoiutees in the Bureau Of Fire
prevention we're placed largely for political
,easons. This comment was made In a let
o. 10 Mr. Ordway. TO whom the Mayor
,Iso said: IT do not hesitate TO say that I
,ave done at least as much TO lift UP the
.iviI service system as you and your or
ranization, as long as you have been at
and | regret TO say that I have done II
vithout assistance from YOU or your or
,anization, and your present letter leads
ne 10 believe without even your good WILL
The Mayor says that the charge that one
u the appontees was dismissed from the
Bureau of Buildings for misconduct is a
erious matter. TO which he will give his
ittention at once.
The Mayors letter is as follows:
city of New York ONCE Of the Mayer ;o,r'
Dear Sir; Your letter Of April "a is at
,snd You point out that Of the eighty.nine
,ersons temporarily appointed TO positions
= tho Fire Prevention Bureau you ma
evenly TO be enrolled on the primary lists
,s Democrats. four as Republicans, one OF
he independence League and fourteen NOT
enrolled. .
democrats ought to be seventy Repuoli-
ans? II the Fire Commissioner were Re-
,ublican / dare say that would De the case
indicates that you object TO appointees who
re enrolled 10 vote at the primaries or any
nartv. Is that your complaint? 10 you
contend that men who enroll themselves 80
IL TO vote at the primary contests sH Tbat
rould be a strange way OF treating men
Who have an interest in public affairs ano
manifest il by participating IN the Prina a,
las especially now, when the method OF
nonnination by primary is growing so rap
per,,,t me TO say that do not care where
hey are enrolled. ! draw no sucn hnes,
Ior DO draw any lines against those VINO
ire enrolled. Do you? 1t may be that Eoor
complaint is against the seventy Demo-
.rats' Tor | have noticed that heretolore
when dismissals OF Democrats were ceu E,ab he
nade by Republican heads in exempt places
,ou remained silent You say you nno Sne
seventy Democrats to be quite eFcnI! o
rihnted among the Assembly districts.
And why not? No doubt they should De
elected from all over the city. You alsO also
Ioint out that five Of the DEMOCRATS are
members OF political computes; ahe ~ tho
ser seems TO be small. II the head OF the
.ensrtment was intent on hlllns tnese
sIa%es with mere politicians, ! think that
instead OF five nearly the whole seVenN
kouId have been taken from poltlcai coIn-
,,jttees cannot help feeling that your
ntter is petty, partisan and unfair to the
asst degree. T., .xo,orary
smith examinations could be held ana an
.igihle list could be made up. NO one p ui
eeomnetent person of good character WI!
.at on the eligible list. Meanwhile the nea a..
II the department had to make tehtpo' Ia :
nsSe fairly good selections. The, partisan
tsnect of Your letter cannot help detractlns
ron, the influence for good OF your ssso'''
You speak Of rumors and intimatlonia,
.hich YOU say have reached you. PERM.
ne to say that l do not unoerstamu ''"'
,onorable men are guided by rumoLs, on.
Won call my attention to the fact tnat Que
~ The sppointees was dismissed for mis-
conduct in the building department OF mhh
satan. That is a serious matter WHICH
all have attended to iSrthwihtn I'LL these an.
sentiments were being MADE you hie nU,
.orne forward and give me or MI Son hss;I
my assistance whatever oo LEAST as
i';, IN the civil service system as
,nu end YOUR organization. as long a. ~
nave been at II, and regret 10 ray u''" ,.ot,
lave done IL without asslsIanS 80, ,.T nresent
etter leads ne to believe without even 'o'
rood will Very W. ". J. GAYNoR. Mayor.
Samuel II. Ordway, Esq., Cnairr'an GU
Allan Robinson. president Of the amen
Real Estate Interests. has sent 'oin'
nunication to all the members OF .ha' VI
,anization. advising that suit De Drought
y test the constitutionality or the HoeS
sw. establishing the Bureau OF FIRE RE
,ention, or action be taken to repeal II ana
,btain the substitution of law similar 10
ne McManus- Herrick bill, when was
tetoed by the Mayor last winter
Mr.. Robinson declares that the Hoey Dill
lives the Fire Commissioner the power TO
make the entire department, including the
sureau Of Fire Prevention. part OF po-
ltical machine. Its logical result, he de-
pares, is a decrease in the efficiency or
he department. causing jeopardy to the
ives and property of citizens.