New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
State Highway Superintendent
Wants To Be Transportation
Engineer in This City.
LONG A MURPHY FOLLOWER
Criticised in Present Office, He
Seeks a Higher Salaried
Job Under Public Ser
vice Commission.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune.l

ulQdJe lot the once OF EuWdIu - COil-
nette, until recently transportation
engineer Of the LIST District Public Ser
vice Commission which pays $4,000 a
year, and is said TO have the backing Of
Tammany Hall.
The support of Tammany is con-
sidered a reward for the valiant man
ner in which Reel stood by Charles f.
Murphy during the recent attacks on
the Highway Department. 1t was
charged that Murphy had turned the
department into a political machine.
Reel, in reply, admitted that he always
aid what Murphy wanted him to do,
and practically extolled the Tammany
rhiefs ability in running the Highway
Department.
The attacks on Reel because OF his
subserviency TO Murphy led to an un-
enviable publicity. 1t was reported that
Governor Dix held him responsible for
the criticisms Of the department and
might remove him on charges. Hear
Ing OF this Charles F. Foley. of Niagara
County, Reels first deputy, tried to
land the place. The two always had
been friendly, but Foley's activity in
trying to climb into the superintend-
ency resulted in friction which added
TO Reefs troubles. Reel finally became
so beset with pitfalls that IT is said he
determined TO look elsewhere for
good place and called on Murphy to get
It for him.
While Reel is not in Albany, friends
close TO him admit that he wants to be
the transportation engineer Of the LIST
District Public Service Commission.
One Of them expressed the opinion that
It was an admirable ambition, as the
salary is $500 year more than Reel
is now getting.
To the friction between Reel and
Foley is directly attributed the sudden
laying of of $50 men under the main
tenance and repair bureau Of the de-
partment, OF which Foley is the head.
Some persons place the responsibility
on Reel, saying he did II TO embarrass
Foley, while others assert It was the
work Of the deputy. At any rate, both
left town quickly after the order was
issued.
In the main office Of the commission
surprise was expressed to-day at the
audiences of the suspension order, 1t
is usual TO suspend men in road work
At this time of the year, but several
says notice IS generally given, and It
was stated that the weather does not
vet warrant the stopping of woSk on
the highways.
Reel. IL was learned, wrote TO Foley
and told him to lay off men, as the
slackness In the work warranted 1t.
In reply Foley laid off $50 men without
more than one hours notice. Friends
OF Reel say this was done by the dep
uty superintendent to cause more crit
icism Of Reel. as the superintendent
would be held responsible for the order
by the men. James T. Brady, secre-
tary TO Foley, explained that the sud
den suspension was due to lack OF
money 70 pay the men.
Another explanation is that the men
were held in their places until after
election for political reasons, and that
many more in the construction depart
ment will soon be turned out.
e Gordon Reel, State Superintendent OF
Highways. who is said TO be seeking the
lob OF TRANSPORTATION engineer with the
.FagF nrN n Y,
Is understood to have excellent bachlhs'
both within the Public Service ComIniS-
sion and by political interests which
would Ike to get a foothold In the com
mission 1t was said yesterday that II ne
did not get the appointment before SuiZeT
as Governor made his first appointment 10
the commission, he would become trans
portation engineer soon thereafter
The transportation engineer OF the com
mission does not figure much in the public
prints, vet he is the man on whose teen
meal knowledge the travelling public IS
largely dependent for official supervision
Of the transportation facilities OF this city
He is the man who figures out "helhel
the subway officials are telling the truth
when they say they can't run any more
trains in a given period, or can't run thelr
trejns any faster. He is the official who
In the Public Service Commission scheme
of gupervision. checks up the transporta-
ton companies and keeps them up 10 thelr
work of furnishing the best possible ser
vice. Though his AIRY is only $1,000
year. he Is required to match his brains
and technical knowledge and general
character and attainments against the
highest priced men the corporations can
get
Mr. Reel was division engineer in the
State Highway Department until year
or more ago Then-the machinery OF
the Highway Department having peeh
changed by Governor Dix and Tam
many Legislature for political purposes
the Hughes Highway Commission haF-
Ing been ousted and Dixs first appointee
as head Of the new department having
died-AIr. Reel got the place he now
holds. II was political gossip at the
time that no was expected 10 play sec
ond fiddle" to Mr.. Bensel. the State En-
gineer, but for several months the talk
has been that he and Bensel were at
swords points
Mr.. Reel was the titular head of the
Highway Department when much road
building for which the department has
been criticized was done. II has been
alleged that while he has been Superin-
- f.,tsrr fFFs % ne