Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-08
DENMAN ATTACKS
COLLEAGUE STORY
Calls Kraemer's Testimony
Worthless in Water Dept. En-
ployee's Fight for Job.

Taking exceptions to several state
ments Of Commissioner Charles r.
Kraemer TO the Civil Service Com
mission yesterday afternoon, Com
missioner Arthur r. Denman sought
ho have MS testimony stricken out as
worthless. He declared that his
colleagues statements we're merely
an expression of opinion and not
built upon fact.
DR. Kraemer was testifying in the
bearing on the application of Charles
w. Speer for reinstatement To a
question of one OF the civil service
commissioners he declared that the
board upon investigation had found
khat the South Eighth street stables
vere overmanned and that ten men
were doing work which could ordi-
harily be performed by half that num-
Der Mr.. Denman wanted the wit
hess to enumerate the duties of each
and every employee at the stables,
knd when ne answered that 1t would
be impossible unless he was per-
Knitted to refer to notes, Mr.. Denman
Declared that the commission should
bake no notice of the testimony.
DIR. Kraemer made his statement
hinder OATH Mr.. Denman, by his
lengthy cross-examination, sought to
Bhow the commission that the Board
pf Works. of which he is the minor
tty member, had discharged Speer
and then employed another man to
perform the same duties.
speer, who was employed as a
eatchman in the water department,
with a number of other board EN-
pioyees was suspended on January
/ for economical reasons. Shortly
kfterward Henry c. Hickey. who was
employed in a like capacity at the
South Eighth street stables, was
transferred to the water department
office in the City Hall. 1t was the
contention of Ernest l.. Quacken
push. counsel for Speer that Hick-
eys place was subsequently filled.
Morris r. Sherrerd, chief engineer
Cor the board, was asked If any new
employees had been added since
Epeers discharge, but was unable to
answer DR. Kraemer, however, as
cured the civil service commissioners
that there had merely been a shift of
Employees He declared that in the
Judgment of the board there were too
many employees at the stables and
Tor that reason Hickey was brought
to the City Hail. No places had been
hlled, he said.
1t was at this point that his state
nents were questioned by Mr.. Den
man. II was finally determined to
continue the hearing in order that
The testimony Of Engineer Sanzen-
bacher. of the water department, can |
BE- secured.
In the case oG Charles Fitzgerald, |
b foreman in the street department, |
TO whose pay the commission has re- |
fused to certify, action was also de- |
gerred. An opinion will be secured |
From the attorney-general before any |
action is taken. @a.t |
Fitzgerald was suspended by the |
board with several others, and sew |
isral weeks ago reinstated. In refus- |
ing to certify to his salary Commits |
Bioner Fordyce, of the Civil Service |
Commission. commended that the board |
had violated the provisions of the |
tivil service act. which provides that |
I'LL suspended employees shall be |
placed on q preferred list according |
be- the date of their service In their |
respective department.
IN this instance. however, Fitzger-
hid was employed by the board be-
fore civil service took effect, as were
others, and it is the claim of the
board that any ruling of the Civil
Service Commission can date only
from the time that the city embraced
civil service.
Mr.. Sherrerd will submit a brief on
the question and will submit 1t TO
the commission at its meeting at
Trenton today. at which time the |
opinion of the state law department
viii be asked.
The question of reclassifying the |
various employees of the Fairgrounds |
Commission was laid over indef
nitely.