The Detroit times., 1913-07-02
Y Public Works Machine Con-
4 lted $4,000 to Marks
(Smpaign Fund and That
Mayor Broke Promise
M NAN WILL NOT BE
ON THE JOB FOR WEEK
Int Dispose of Pending City
Contracts Before He Can
Qualify for Place

,ohh "a. -Mercier, president OF the
bn96 Brick Co., and a wealthy city
bDtractor, who was rendered the de-
nrtment Of public works commission
6sl1ip to succeed Jacob ]. Haarer. by
IayorS Marx, stated, Tuesday morn
~. that he would accept the position.
Mr.. MERCER has about 100000
rorth OF city sewer and paving con
Irac3t pending and he hopes TO be
able to dispose Of these this week.
he cannot legally accept the depart
oent. Of public works commissioners
hlp while either directly or indirect
II 1ntqfasted In city contract work.
n 8erc1er will forego the fat profits
o0 his city contract work TO satisfy
DGtUohal ambition--that OF being at
- 16Gd OF the department for which
~ 49, 70 long done work. MIR. Mer-
1nv u3Do has $500 sewer job in
k1emens under way at the present
11neL but he will not have TO dispose
x Thu contract to qualify for the city
1fayprtMdarx will send Mr.. Mercier's
>0mo TO the common council next
uo011V night for confirmation. The
npGnkpent of public works appoint
D6x-sr16 made directly by the mayor,
ne ~ has always been the custom to
ogWQDd the name OF the new commits
1onr to the aldermanic body. the
nna ~ all other appointments made
~ the mayor. This, however. is a
moro courtesy.
M Oopmtnsioner Hearers term of Of
: - expired at midnight, Monday, bur
~ viii hold over until Mr.. Mercier
NO. once next week BY reporting
~ NJ once, Tuesday morning, Com
|11noiOnor Haarer draws two weeks
3arY. which means that Mr.. Mercier
NH oerva his first week in office with
|G11t pay unless other arrangements
10 0ade between the outgoing and
Do1ning commissioner, the payrolls
111G made up bi-monthly.
# CnWieal0ner Haarer declared,
Htn4 "a morning. that he had not re-
~ E3a1 notification OF Mr. Mer-
- n IMMINENT by Mayor Marx.
Igor called me by telephone
~ one, Monday afternoon" said
oofQ tiNE HE mumbled something
0ut| kting me face TO face and not,
{ or1 e1pe him-that was all I could
thofs from what he said over the
3)9nnDnA.r could not understand
~ [41f what he WAS trying to tell
~. He did nots Aowever, mention MT.
HorcioFe1 name. ~ sA---
"a 0utNardly, Commissioners Haarer
'>3oD ending and -aalm, Tuesday morn
~ buf his friends say that the COM
missioner. IL. keenly disappointed at
not be{uk, reappointed. He Is disap-
olnti4 xQr two reasons; first, because
- h1S grown to like the work after
141ng III the harness for eight years,
ma, secondly, because he was former
IN bosom friend or Marx and hoped
M thelast that the mayor would take
~ him. "ndsspitc the unfavorable re-
6rts .4hat came from the mayors Of
- dok1nk the months his honor spent
'1Gt0ktng the selection OF commits
~lcneT.
3 4ben. too. It was announced In Com.
|1n1G9 i0neS Haarer's once, although not
s6y NE commissioner himself or In his
4t0Q ooo6, THAT the department OF pub
~ works political machine" con-
;1RltNted $4,000 towards MARKS cam
|po1Un last fall. This Is the first ad-
nluoi0n from the D. p. w. office that
~ Gcnerouo- Dontribation was made TO
EIo4H's Camp9agu fund.
Enarer's ss1riands say Marx made
<G9flnfn promises to Haarer at the
S11up abe nk.R. w. campaign fund was
!Ko14pd, ana that the mayor has gone
bodk on theps promises
n Haarer has been commissioner OF
Dic works Tor eight years, and
Nyng' that time has handled millions
x NollArs' worth Of work for the
~ He has often been under fire
~ has always been able 10 take
( pqn care of himself He has host
SM tr&mnda and q petition signed by
f14,o0 taxpayers was presented to
Major Marx In his behalf a few
kEno0tho ago. The aldermen also
5 unanimously signed petition for his
rooppointment.
Sz Mayor Marx left for New York.
y Uo0day afternoon, 10 meet John +.
4 Dodge, who Is returning from a Eu-
topo0a trip. shortly after he called
laAref .-on the telephone, and little
otew she mayors friends announced
z1ho selection of Mr.. Mercier as Haar-
q Ala. Charles w. Burton, president
~ the common council. is acting
mayor In the absence from the city
~ Mayor Marx. IL Mr.. Mercier had
EUot given Mayor Marx his definite
|>r03f Of acceptance, Aid. Burton could
mo1e the appointment. as 1t would
~ within. his power as acting mayor,
ut A4bere was never any danger Of
|oc1 attempt being made.
NJ Mercier is SO years old and
~ unnamed comfortable fortune In
ret work He Is known in bust
circles for his rugged honesty