Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1915-10-23
SATURDAY, ocroeER %, 1915.
RECORDER coNNeav ALL RIGHT

County Recorder Of Deeds Joseph F.
Connery. the best Recorder Cook
county ever had, has refused the ap-
plication Of the Bureau Of Efficiency
for permission to overhaul his Of.
flee.
In making this refusal. Mr.. Con.
merry wrote the following letter, which
fully explains his reasons:
Chicago, Oct. IA, 1915.
Mr. Harris 8. Keller,
Director Chicago Bureau Of Pub.
lie Efficiency. 3l5 Plymouth. Ct.
Sixth Floor, Chicago.
Dear Sir-I am In receipt Of your
letter of October 10. 1915, asking me
TO afford to the Chicago Bureau OF
Public. Efficiency" by which IL
meant, Of course. to you, personally,
as the active agent and representative
of that body, extraordinary facilities
beyond those open to the public for
inQuiring into the administration Of
the Recorders Office.
You wish, you say, to have access
to all the records Of the ONCE and op.
portunities to talk to all the employees,
and declare that the Bureau wishes
to conduct this inquiry so that It may
make recommendation to the judges
OF the Circuit court when they meet
to consider your request for help for
the year 1916"
I cannot comply with this request.
I am not only willing, but DESTROYS
that the needs and organization OF
the Recorders office shall be thor.
oughly investigated each year by the
judges Of the Circuit court ION whom
the law has imposed the duty Of de.
Gliding In the interest OF the public
welfare on the number Of employees to
be allowed for Its work., or by any
disinterested citizen Of especial fit'
ness for that investigation, whom the
judges may name, and whose assist
ance In the important and searching
work Of such inquiry they may de-
sire.
Despite the inevitable interference
with, and consequent temporary delay
and disorganization of the ordinary
work Of the Office which such an In
vcstigation entails, I recognize 1t al
necessary and desirable.
Such an investigation was made II
December, 1914, by q special commit
tee requested by the judges of the Cir
cult court to act In the matter. II
was composed of representative o.
the Board of County Commissioners
a representative OF the Chicago Rea
Estate Board, a representative OF thu
Cook County Real Estate Board, ant
a representative OF the Chicago Bal
Association, each selected by the bod!
of which he was a member.
You were offered by the judges ;
place on the proposed Special Commit
tee and declined, assigning as the rea
son for declining that It was not thu
policy OF the Chicago Bureau OF Pub
lie Efficiency TO act in conjunction
with other investigating bodies.
You we're allowed at that time t
make, and made separate and indie
pendent investigation. The Specia
Committee named were, as the judge
OF the Circuit court in their forma
report on the matter afterward
unanimously declared ALI men OF in
telligence and experience and Of higI
standing in the community" and the
performed their duties in a conscI
entious, able and thorough manner.
They reported unanimously in favo
of the policy adopted by the Recorde
which was directed 10 securing III
greater development OF the Abstrac
and Torrens Departments OF the o.
flee.
You chose in the public hearings be
fore the Committee OF Judges havin
the matter in charge, 10 raise a direc
issue with the report Of this Specia
Committee. The Committee OF Judges
after a prolonged hearing, in whic
you actively and aggressively parti'
ipated in opposition to the recommer
dations and conclusions Of that rt
port, In their turn unanimously rt
ported 10 the whole body of Judge;
that the present Recorder, in his O.
forts TO improve and develop thes
two departments is acting from
proper sense OF public duty, Is be
yond question" Again they sait