Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-10

He proved his position, he Safd
when he took over twenty Republicans
from the previous administration.
That Little voting Matter =
You'll say" went on the Mayor
warming up, "'yes, but they voted for
you. I say, If they did l didn't know
it."
Not all the appointments he made
were made for party purposes, Mayor
Royal declared; they were retained for
efficiency so far as he was able to
determine; some he admitted were
made on the recommendation" of
friends. He concluded with the state
ment that he meant to abide by the
letter and spirit of the Clark nonparti-
san act. If any councilman knows of
any question as to character, efficiency
employed, he would willingly vote for
his removal, he declared. He doesn't
propose to vote against any man be-
cause of political faith. Then the
Mayor read from a list of three cities
wherein ''the same view as he had
expressed had been taken"
Reading, Williamsport, Altoona,
Johnstown, Easton, Lebanon, Brad
ford. Carbondale. Erie, York were on
mayors himself about it. In York,
the Mayor admitted, practically the
same situation existed as in Harris
burg. Only there the political condi-
tions were reversed.
IF there is any man on the force
who is shown to be incompetent and
ineffici6 t, 1 shall be willing to vote
against his retention" he finished.
Then, Why?" Queries Taylor
Then, why asked Commissioner
Taylor, object to this resolution.
| Wouldn't you be willing that we all
should go over the personnel of your
department with this idea in mind?"
why should you be afraid-or i
ject to this resolution, then" went on
Mr. Taylor.
The Mayor declared that if COM
mon rumor be believed, one of the
men appointed by the Commissioners
at meeting a few weeks ago, was
not of such that would be for the best
of the department.
Wouldn't you be in better posi-
tion to make this statement after an
| Investigation asked Mr.. Taylor.
This report may be true. I don't
men on the force. If this report be
! true then We'll be able to dismiss this
man
| The Mayor smilingly asked what
would happen if he wanted to get any
body into the water department.
department" he said, (which had
never employed any other than Re-
lpublicans"
"Oh, yes it has grinred Commits
sioner Bowman. 1T does now. 1t
has three or four Democrats.
We'll that's the first 1 knew of it,
"Oh, yes," smiled Mr.. Bowman, but
then, they're efficient"
Street Foreman
The denouement as to the street
foreman and ex-Highway Commits
sioner and the position Mayor Royal
took when these men were dropped
developed toward the close of the ses-
sion.
Commissioner Taylor asked if the
Mayor hadn't objected to the drop
ping of men in the Highway Depart
ment for the good of the service ,
The Mayor said he did because he
wasn't sure that the position was no,
to be filled again.
why told you the position was tc
be abolished and that / would intro
duce a resolution at the next meeting
converting the unappropriated salary
of the Highway Commissioner to the
contingent fund" said Mr. Lynch
And that" he added, lis what 1 die
at the following meeting"
And after April -" asked the
Mayor.
After April 1, too. I tell you the
position is to be abolished. There il
no need for the city to pay $4,000 fol
a man to do nothing but ride about IL
an automobile"
The Mayor took a whack at tn,
newspapers when Mr.. Taylor suggest
ed that the proper method would b,
for the Councilmen to get together il
conference.
did l refuse to go into a confer
ence?" asked Mayor Royal.
"Well, you did according to tn,
newspapers" smiled Mr.. Taylor.
Mr.. Lynch's statement as to th
foreman of the Highway Department
who had been dropped followed. TIL,
man, he said after the meeting, wa
Inhn Reilly