New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-24
FIRE COMMISSIONER IN
BLAZE Of WOMEN'S IRE
27 Who Passed Examinations
for Inspectorships Threaten
Court Conf|agratIon.
NOT ONE DID HE APPOINT
Mayor Appealed to in Vain, but
They Intend to Fight for
Rights and Against
Man Favoritism.

Joseph Johnson. boss frefghter for the
City Of New York, is threatened by
something that is harder to quench than
mere flames He is faced by the wrath OF
twenty-seven women. who declare that In
his recent appointment of five inspectors
from the list of those who passed the
civil service examination year ago last
April he deliberately ignored them. giving
the places TO which they were entitled 10
men whose standing in the examination
was lower.
Miss Julette Arden, settlement
worker connected with the Alfred Corn
ing Clark House, who took the examina-
ton and stood No. II on the list, and was
she says. passed over for a man who
stood fifteen. announced yesterday that
she was about to take the matter into
the courts and make test case Of IT.
We have tried to get Mayor Gaynor to
take some action" Miss Arden said. i
have been to City Hall every day this
week I couldn't see Mr. Gaynor and yes
terday he definitely refused to receive
any OF US or to interfere.
SuHraqists Also Ignored.
we asked the suffragists TO help us.
and Mrs Harriet Stanton Batch wrote
TO Commissioner Johnson. but got no re-
ply other than a non-committal letter
from his secretary. Mr.. Johnson told
me in our last interview that he consid-
cred IT best TO appoint only men, and
took refuge behind some law which APP
pears to exist only in his own imaginh-
ton. So there is nothing for US but 20
carry the thing TO court and see II We
can't clean UP civil service conditions for
women"
Judging by their expressions about
him. the unappointed and disappointed
women are prepared to make 1t hot for
the Comm ssioner.
He never meant TO appoint women,
unless his own friends and relatives
come out on top" Miss Arden said yes
terday. II have the word of an official
in the Municipal Civil Service Bureau for
that
This man said 10 me-. when the women
we're registering along with the men for
the examinations last ycar-5j5 women
and over 500 men-thls man said: IL
makes me angry to see these hundreds OF
women registering here, when / know
that Johnson doesn't intend 10 appoint
one Of them. He'll look out FOR his own
friends FIRST. anyhow. II none Of them
pass he'll take the men, anyhow. IN
preference 10 the women
Miss Arden said she went straight TO
the city Hall then and asked Commits
soner johnson. What about it," He in
quired II she meant 10 take the eXamina-
ton
Il told him." Miss Arden said. that l
hadn't meant to. but now | thought |
should. Well he said. II you come out
on top youll be appointed fire inspector.
Therell be no favoritism.'
Immediately after that he appointed
three or four women am not certain as
10 the number. but Mrs Sarah Christopher
was one-inspectors for the Bureau OF
Fire Prevention. Seventy-six men were
appointed at the same time. but all these
were temporary appointments. and Mrs
Christopher and the other women. as every
one knows. have now lost their Jobs"
Mrs Christopher took the examination,
coming out we'll toward the top. For
some reason she is not. Miss Arden said.
Joining the other dsgruntled ones in their
night against Mr. Johnson.
Twenty. seven Passed We'll Up.
III was a hard examination" Miss
Arden said. "and We twenty-seven women
passed II well. Yet the Commissioner
shut his eyes 10 us and put in men who
we're AZ far down on the list as 10. Why.
Mrs Christopher stood twentyfourth.
"Mr. Johnson has informed me that the
work the temporary women inspectors did
was now TO be undertaken under new
laws under newly organized department
Of the state government
we have written 10 the Secretary ~
state. Mitchell May. and to ,ne State
Labor Department. and they say they
know Of no such law. II looks like a
plain case on Commissioner Johnsons part
Of turning the cold water hose on the
women