Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-06

The city administration and the Varei
hold complete control of the Republican
City Committee by vote of 2 to I, as a
result of the election of city committeeman
BY the various ward committees last night
The downtown political leaders not only
established their supremacy in the city by
winning ~ wards from the Penrose-Mc-
Nichol wing of the organization, but they
secured their position to such an extent
that the war ito the knife" can now be
carried on without fear Of reparation.
The Wares, Mayor Smith. David Martin
and David III. Lane now control 32 of the 4S
wards; the Penrose-McNichol faction 16
wards Prior to the election last night the
Vare-Smith wing controlled 21 of the city
committeeman and the Penrose.McNichol
faction 27. In the election Ware won ~
wards and lost T. the Sd.
With their political supremacy firmly
established complete house e-ceaning in
the city and county departments is ex-
pected in political circles. The dismissal
of Frank ]. Cummiskey, chief of the Bureau
OF City Property, from a $4,000 place, and
II. Curzon Doyle, from an $500 place in
the County Commissioners Office late yes.
terday, 1t is declared, marks the beginning
of the wedding out of Penrose- -McNichol
men in City Hail. The dsmssals are JUS
titled by the friends of the administration
on the grounds that men who would op-
pose the Mayor at the polls and "cut" the
loan bills under orders are not ft to hold
city positions.
II MEAN TO ACT AS SEE FIT"
When asked directly today IL he con.
templated general shake-up in City Hall,
which would mean the elimination of vir.
tually all McNichol men. Mayor Smith
said:
81 have nothing to say about that, but
mean to act as / see At without consulting
any McNichol people,"
The Mayors noncommittal statement
carries but little hope to the McNichol men |
who are holding fat places on the city's |
payroll and who today are on the anxious
bench, fearing that they will be the next |
asked or ordered to step down and out
Rumors at City Hall today relative to |
general shake-up include the names of |
several bureau chiefs and office superin. |
tendents. Prominent among the names |
mentioned We're those of Chief William H. |
Connell. Of the Highway Bureau: Chief |
John Lucas, of the Bureau of Boiler In. |
spection. and Superintendent of Mainte.
nance William s. Bowen.
Mayor Smith. during the political battle
leading up to the primary election and to
the vote on the municipal loans, declared
that he would not take any part in factional
politics until after May 49," This state
ment was construed to mean that after the
date set he would in an unmistakable way
take a hand in political matters, His
frequent conferences since the primaries
with Congressman Ware, Dave" Martin |
OF the party, has led to the general belief
that the Mayor is anxious to become the
virtual head of the party and that any
leaders unfriendly to the Administration
can look for no favors.
DISMISSAL OF CUMNIIsKEY.
In reply to a series of questions put to
him today relative to any plan he may
have for general wedding out of Penrose.
McNichol officehoders in City Hail. the
Mayor said: 81 don't care what the Nc.
Ntchol people think about the Cummiskey
matter. did not ask permission of the
McNichol people to appoint him and / see
no reason why 1 should be expected to ask
them about his dismissal. Cummiskey was
one of my few personal appointments and
as l did not consult any one as to his ap-
polntment there is no reason why / should
ask any one before asking him to resign"
The Penrose- -McNichol leaders and office.
holders are on the anxious bench and ad-
init that they would like very much TO
know who will be next to go, the Mayor
was told. In reply, he said. that's not my
fault mean to conduct this office my
self and after act 1t will be time enough
70 take the newspapers into my confidence.
You newspaper boys thought the Cummis
key matter was new when / really asked
him TO resign last Friday"
But Mr.. Mayor, you kept very ouiet and |
the bureau chief marked for removal said |
nothing until 1t was evident that he could |
not hope 10 hold on. How. under these con