The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-24

UP to Col. Cocktails the loss In salary
consequent upon his taking the com.
missionership or refusing the reported
$4,000 offer Of the Pennsylvania Rail.
road to become it, chief engineer.
The man has not . msrcsnary
thought in his whole make up" said
Mr.. Perkins. He 10 q real Amsri.
cana great American. His tastes
are simple. his living expenses am
not great. His desire 10 to do public
service and the consciousness that
he 10 doing . great public service u
worth moro to him than Q few thou.
sands Of dollars OF salary"
SAYS ooETHALe COULD BRGAk
DOWN THE OLD TRADITION.
"What arguments did you use with
Col. 0oethais to make him think
that II would b desirable for him
TO walk with his eyes open to what
has always been . graveyard fol
rsputationsf" Mr.. Perkins was asked
"Col. 0oethals." said Mr.. Perkins
rs the very man who can break that
tradition and help u get rid Of II for.
ever"
George w. Perkins sailed Jan. Z
arrived In Colon Jan. ~. and startet
back tho 18th with this letter, which
he delivered to Mayor Mitchell yestsr.
day:
Culsbra, Canal Zone. Jan. II, 1914.
Hon. John Purroy Mitchell. Mayor
Of New York.
Ny Dear Mr.. Mitchell: I have
given much considsration TO your
kind offer to appoint me Police
Commissioners and have discussed
II fully with Mr.. Perkins. can
only reitsrats what I stated to
you-that the position strongly
appeals to me. but there are GER
tain conditions which prevent me
from accepting It.
In the nrst place. II has been
my hose aud desire to ace the
canal completed and In satisfao.
tory operation. II our expscta.
tons are realized. this should b.
accom- plishsd before the close Of
the year.
In the second place. AN an
officer on the active list Of the
army. and. while occupying this
status. 1 am not At liberty to 40
cept outside employment.
There are, therefore. only two
courses for me to pursue to enable
me to accept your offer: one 10 to
resign from the service and the
other u to b placed on the retired
list. The former I would not con.
slider. For the last few years
have been looking forward to -.
curing the advantages Ut retire.
mt Mt at the close Of my duty here.
] have served nearly thirty-four
years and the President. under the
law. 10 authorized to retire me
after thirty years OF service: %
II 10 my hope that he will grant
mo this privilege on request.
COULD ACCEPT ONLY WITH Al.
SoLUTe POWER.
Assuming that l will b allowed
to remain here until the canal u
completed and that ON application
will b. placed ON the retired list,
attractive a. your ofIsr 10. ! would
b Obliged TO decline It 20 long ~
the present law remains In force
by which removals from the police
force are subject to review With
decision based ON legal evidence.
In public work Of any kind ef.
aciency can b secured only
whom the service Of those On.
raesd II Il 10 satisfactory 70
supsriors. ana. while I fully BE-.
Msvs In the right Of every man 10
have Q hearing. the decision q
the superior - to the character
OF the mans service should DO
anai. In cases where . man
whose services have not been
satisfactory can b rsinstatsd By
. court Of review. the eject on
discipline and efficiency 10 most
injurious. II undermlnss author
| Ivy L880U W bhDoO0t 0shSss~Ns
tends to destroy the loyal CO.
operation which the executive
authority must have to secure
results, and makes his tenure OF
once impossible.
Assuming. therefore. that I
were free to choose after com.
pletton OF the canal. would
gladly accept your offer. provided
. change In the law 10 secured
which would vest the right Of re-
moval In case Of unsatisfactory
service In the hands OF the Com.
missioner.
Approaching your considera-
ton. and with best wishes for
the success OF your sdministra.
tion. I remain. yours sincerely.
GEO. w. COCKTAILS.
James shevltn kniGhted by Top
Announcement was made In Brookly