New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06
ELLISON NOW UP
FOR CITY CABINET
Political Godfather OF
Mayor Mitchell May
Take a Place.
SAID TO BE READY
TO HEAD POLICE
Former Corporation Counsel Also
Mentioned as Possibility
for His Old Job.

William Il Ellison, who has sometimes
been called the godfather Of Mayor
| Mitchell. so far as his political career goes
| has promised 10 step into the breech ana
helm the Mayor out in either one Of two
~ his most important cabinet places. ac-
! cording TO a report current yesterday
| Mr. Ellison, II is said. has told the Mayor
that if Frederic X. Coudert does not ac-
cept the post OF Corporation Counsel lie
will.
As las been intimated before. Mayor
| Mitchell IS inclined 10 give Police Com
missioner Mckay n chance TO mage
good" The police like Mckay, and have
made il known through those peculiar
underground channels that they VIII be
on their best behavior il he is permit'e"
to remain In command. 1t is said that
| the Mayor may try Mckay for as long
as five or six months. If he seems to be
doing well. There will be no reappont-
ment on the part of the Mayor. and he
will make no special announcement OF the
attitude he is taking, so he Will be free
TO appoint Commissioner Mckay's sue
cessor whenever he sees fit.
II is understood that the Mayor has
been considering the appointment of Gen.
eral George r. DYER. commander Of the
lst Brigade. y. G. y. Y. However. the
chances, according 10 report, are that
General Dyer will not accept
When General Dyer was commander or
the 18th Regiment he had trouble with
Rhineiander Waldo, recently Police Com
missioner. Mr.. Waldo. having been ap-
pointed First Deputy Police Commissioner
in 1906, sent in his resignation as first
lieutenant in the 18th Regiment. Action
on the resignation was slow. Lieutenant
Waldo could not get leave OF absence In
the mean time, but remained away from
drills. Colonel Dyer insisted on his at
tending. and Mr.. Waldo got transferred
10 the staff of General George Moore
Smith, then commander Of the 1st
Brigade. Colonel Dyer appealed to the
Adjutant General al Albany, but with
out success In time Mr. Waldo was re-
tired from the guard.
Mr.. Ellison is said to have offered to
take the Police Commissionership If the
Mayor desired his services. The Mayor
is said TO have replied that he wanted TO
give Commissioner Mckay q chance 10
show what he could do at the head of
the department.
Mr.. Ellison was Corporation Counsel UNI
der Mayor Mcclellan. He has always
been more or less close TO the Sullivan
wing OF Tammany Hall 4 friend of the
Mitchell family. Mr.. Ellison took young
Mitchell in the Law Department as a spe-
cial assistant. Then he sent him over TO
the trial of Borough President Ahearn by
the Commissioners OF Accounts. In a
short time Mr.. Mitchell became Com
missioner Of Accounts upon the recon-
mendatio of Mr. Ellison.
II Mckay remains as Commissioner.
Arthur H. Woods is likely to take the
post Of First Deputy. Deputies Dough
erty and Newburger are slated to 20, it
is believed. as soon az their successors
con be selected.
There are a score OF lawyer applicants
for the third or trial deputyship. 1t is
more than probable that this place will go
10 a present member of the uniformed
force.
When the reports were repeated TO Mr..
Ellison last night he said 81 have never
had any idea Of becoming Police Com
missioner. and as for the position of Cor
poration Counsel. it has never been Of
fered TO me-"
The Mayor said last night he might not
have any announcements 10 make in re-
gard 10 the places that we're still open for
some time. Just now he is devoting him
self TO assisting the commissioners al
ready chosen in picking out their depu-
ties and getting their departments run
ming smoothly.
Among the members OF his cabinet who
called Yesterday was Commissioner
Katharine B. Davis Of the Department OF
Correction In reply to question Mr..
Mitchell said yesterday he could not say
inst what steps would be taken TO amend
the charter. but that In the course OF
time the matter would be taken up. Moth
ing hastv or III advised would be at
tempted. he said.
In regard 10 any charter changes AFFECT
ing the Police Commissioner, the Mayor
said: "J am on record az favoring abso-
lute responsibility TO the Mayor. The
mower OF removal should remain With the
MAYOR. Assuming that we find the ideal
Commissioner. I suppose fixed tenure
or office would he a good plan. but how
can we tell a man IS ideal until he has
been tried"