The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-17
HARTTGAN TO
PAY AIDS DEBT
Commissioner Resigns to Take
Up Law-Savings Lost by
Faithless Friend.

Joseph Hartigan. one OF the most con-
spicuous members Of Mayor Mitchers
Official family because of his work on
behalf of the public in trying to aid in
the solution Of the vexing food problems.
has resigned his position as Commits
sloner of the Mayors Bureau OF Weights
and Measures He will retire on August
l to resume the practice of law.
In announcing the resignation yester-
day the Mayor gave out a copy Of let
ter he sent to Mr. Hartigan in which he
said: IL can easily understand that
your increased personal obligations make
it imperative that you increase your
earning capacity, as it is impossible for
you to do while holding your present
office. Permit me, in accept
ing your resignation, to say that I ap-
preciate the service you have rendered
both In the field of weight and measure
ment control and in that Of food sup
ply, and to. wish you success in the
practice of law"
HartiEhn Keeps silent.
Commissioner Hartigan yesterday re-
fused to discuss his personal reason for
retiring from his $4,000 a year position
except to say that 1t was absolutely
essential that he again take up the
practice of law in order to provide, as
he believes he ought to provide, for his
wife and baby boy. Intimate friends
however, explained that the Commis-
sioner's resignation would never have
been submitted had he not been burdened
with a financial load which was shifted
to his shoulders by a former business
associate, who betrayed a trust which
Mr. Hartigan had reposed in him. And
because he has been paying obligations
which this man. now dead, incurred, the
Commissioner. they say. has been obliged
to get out into private life again and
hustle.
Mr.. Hartlgan was a practising lawye,
when Mayor Mitchell appointed him &c
the head of the Bureau of Weights an6
Measures. At that time he gave to ar
associate power of attorney to settle
some of his private affairs and the
affairs of number OF clients. This as
| sociate took advantage of the trust ant
embezzled every dollar that the Com
! missioner had in the world Further
than that he incurred other obligation.
| In Hartigan's name and when he mad,
full confession he committed suicide
Mr.. Hartigan did not make any effor
to go through bankruptcy.
Starts Life Anew.
With denuded bank account and al
his tangible property swept away, MI
Hartigan buckled down to the har,
work OF paying Off every debt the maj
had incurred in his name. To co this 1
was necessary for Mr.. Hartigan +
pledge in advance many of his salar,
warrants. An intimate friend asserte,
last night that during the last year tn
Commissioner kept for his own purpose
something like $1,000 OF the SIS 900 tn
city paid him for his services.
MI Hartigan has been preaching TO
a long time economy in the home, bu
few Of his associates in the city's big of
ficial family knew that he was practic
ing what he preached BY doing his ow,
home buying in stores where he coul
get what he needed at reasonable prices
Mr.. Hartigan is of an inventive tur,
OF mind, and during his spare moment
| When not working for the public he ha
been busy in his little workshop at hom
turning out devices which he hopes Wi
aid In the rehabilitation OF his fortune,
He now has patents protecting an in
dividual pocket cigarette making deyic,
combined metal and composite rubbe
fabric heel for shoes and a househol
baler for the baling OF waste paper. II
jokingly refers to himself as me
chanical as well as a food conservator.
The Commissioner hasn't decide
where he will establish his Jaw offic,
but 1t probably will be in the downtow
section.