New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-12
His Charges of "Lies' and "Un-
fairness" Arouse Wrath of
Fair WOuId-Be Fire
Inspectors.
MISS ARDEN MAKES REPLY
Rebukes Mr.. Gaynor for His
Attack, Following Her Pro-
test and Charge of Dis
elimination in Selection
of Eligible List.

Mayor Gaynor is tanning the flames
that burn in the. hearts Of those women
would-be fire inspectors, and Miss lnez
Milholand has constituted herself a
bureau of trouble prevention.
Miss Juliette Arden. leader OF the
women who claim that Fire Commits
sioner Johnson Disseminated against
them on account Of their sex in the ap-
pointment Of fire inspectors, is out Of
town. so il was chief counsel Mlhol-
land who summoned the reporters yes
terday 10 her Offices, at No. 10 Broad
way, to tell them the story Of Mayor
Gaynors latest epistolary achievement.
What the Mayor Said.
Miss Arden called upon the Mayor
soon after her story appeared in the
papers on May ~ This is what she
gets for IT from the Mayor:
since you were here with your COM
mittee the other day | have received
letters from the Fire Commissioner and
from the president OF the Civil Service
Commission. from which I learn that
you were fully informed on the whole
subject before YOU came to mo also
find that the statements made 10 me
by you and your committee have no
foundation. and that you are fully
aware Of that fact. You are also. all
Of YOU. fully aware that two separate
lists were made up-one for men and
one for women. II does no good to
come 10 me with mere made-up state
mcnts on any subject
Miss Arden replied to the Mayor, de-
ClarinG in part:
II said nothing To YOU az that inter-
view on May 20 which could not be
substantiated. ] admitted az the time
that two separate lists. one Of men
and the other Of women. had been
made up, though / did not understand
the basis for such division. since ! had
been assured before taking tho eXami-
nations by Commissioner Johnson that
the appointments would he made In the
order of percentages"
She concludes by reproying Mayor
Gaynor as follows.
MAY add that il seems very de-
plorable thing that body Of earnest
women and qualified women who hon
cstIv believe themselves 10 have been
Disseminated against may not bring
their situation TO the attention Of the
Mayor Of the CITY Of New York with
out being charged by him with lies and
unfair dealing"
Thinks johnson mot Fair"
Miss MiIholand IS Of the opinion that
Commissioner Johnson is technically
right but underneath not fair She
has sought the opinion Of Samuel IL.
Ordway. Of Spencer. Ordway & Vie
rum. who replied that. In his opinion.
there could he no discrimination be-
tween men and women after they were
on the civil service list. II discrimina-
ton between the sexes were TO he made
IL should be clearly understood before
the examinations were taken.
Fire Commissioner Johnson's defence
Is that under the new law the work
formerly done by women inspectors has
been taken out OF his department and
put in the hands OF the State Labor
Department. Miss Ardcn's reply Is
that this law refers only 10 the inspec-
ton of factory exits and structural ar
rangcments Of buildings. while the in
spection Of interiors. covering smoking.
infammable materials. etc, is still in
the hands Of the Fire Department
That, she says. is the Interpretation
Of Abram Elkus, who framed the law.
Personally, Miss Milholland thinks II
would he n very good thing to have
women fire inspectors.
They wouldn't he tempted as men
are" she said. TT is hard for a man
to be severe when the foreman comes
out with a Hello. old chap! a slap on
the shoulder. and couple Of cigars.
They couldn't" says Miss Milhol-
land, slap a woman on the shoulder"