The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-10
GORDON MUST DEVOTE WHOLE
 TIME TO HIS DUTIES OR TAKE
 CONSEQUENCES, SAYS BOARD
Commissioners Have Long Session Thresh Out Reorganization of Department nt-C Clerk Cox Shows How Superintendent Has Shelved Off Duties

Spencer R. Gordon, superintendent of the charities department was
 given g. scorching reprimand for his conduct of the affairs of the depart
 ment, after a two hour secret session of the board of charities yesterday af7 ternoon.
 Mayor Wilson, spokesman for the
 board of charities, told Gordon he
 must either show different results in the charities department, or take the consequences. In particular, the mayor
 explained to Gordon, the superin- tendent must give up the various works he has undertaken outside of
 the charities department, and pay more attention to the actual work of the department.
 The i'll feeling that exists between Gordon on one hand and most of the employees of the department on the other, was investigated at great length. Many employees of the depart ment were summoned to appear at the hearing. but the conditions in the department were so apparent to the lcom1nissioners that it was not deemed
 necessary to call upon them before the board decided to reprimand Cor don and instruct him to remember that he was in the pay of the city. Gordon's activities in the proposed establishment here of branch of
 the New England Home for Little Wanderers, 8 child placing bureau Of Boston, were the specific hinge upon which the activities of yesterdays turned He has been spending con- siderable time with agents of the
 Home, who, under Mrs l.. S. Whea-s ton, have established headquarters in
 the Security building.
 It was pointed out to MT. Gordon that if he wishes to retain his posi- tion, he must devote his whole time to
 his business, thus taking up many of the duties ordinarily attached to the superintendency but which he has
 shelved upon others in the depart
 ment since his arrival here
 Gordon made a pitifu1 plea to the members of the board for further consideration. He declared he was the victim of a conspiracy of a hostile
 press, because he came from out of town It was after this that Mayor
 Wilson, speaking first to the board, directed himself particularly to Cor don and told him what was expected of him.
 The friction between Gordon and
 Thomas F. Cox, clerk and pharmacist, was the subject of considerable dis cussfon. Both parties. to the contro- versy were given an opportunity ito
 set forth their versions.
 In order to establish at least semb1ance of discipline, a character lSt1c that has been SCranSe1y 4dGEAAS from the department under the Cor 1 don regime,- the board went on record in designating Gordon the super intendents Alexander Morrissey the investigator, as assistant super1n- tendent, and Cox as next in command Cox explained the reason for the
 accumulation of work in his depart
 ment on the ground that he called on l to perform not only his duties as pre-
 scription clerk, and department clerk,
 but also the clerical duties hitherto
 attaching to the office of superintend-
 ent. He mentioned among his duties
 the accounting of the doings of the
 several clinics, the working of the
 Hillside Home committee, caring for
 the local bank account, keeping in
 touch with the financial doings of the
 department, preparing acquisitions
 for the new approprta ahons and as
 department pharmacist, to prepc~e and fill all prescriptions.
 He added that in the days of Fred IR Johnson no such work was placed upon his shoulders, such as handling l the bank account, preparing the re"
 and several other minor duties Cox
 also reminded the board that he had
 worked night and day in his endeavor
 to keep up his work but upon seeing that the superintendent of the de- apartment did not care to do any addi- lional work he decided that he would
 not lose time and energy in an effort to keep the books clear
 In the days of Johnson. the head