The evening world., 1918-04-05
BRONX TAXPAYERS
PROTEST AGAINST
KNEW|TZ'S JOB
Democrats Scent a Political
Deal in the Republican
Leaders Life Billet.

John ]. Kncwitz. Republican Coun-
ty Chairman OF the Bronx, IS now
Commissioner of Public Records at
an annual salary OF $4,000. Although
he was appointed TO tho office late
Monday night by Surrogate George
NJ. S. Schulz and County Judge Louis
D. Gibbs, both Democrats, the fact
did not become public until Wednes-
day.
The creation OF the office OF Com
missioner OF Public Records for the
Bronx and the appointment OF Kne-
witt TO what many consider n life
Job has raised q storm of protest on
the part of taxpayers throughout the
county. who assert the circumstances
surrounding the appointment point
clearly 70 a political deal and they
are keeping their eyes open for some
ripper legislation.
The bill creating the Office was In
troduced by Senator John j. Dumb
gan. a Democrat. Senator Dunnigan
says the bill was suggested 10 him
by Surrogate Schulz, Judge Gibbs and
County Clerk Joseph NJ. Callahan. All
three officials deny having any knowl-
edge of the bill until It came up for
reading.
Rcfutlng Senator D~unnigan's state
ment the bill vas suggested by him,
, Judge Gibbs said 10 an Evening World
= reporter last evening:
. The first I knew OF the proposal
. for such an Office IN the Bronx was
when the bill was referred to the
Senate Committee on Internal Affairs
t The Senator never talked with me
d about the bill and l never suggested
c such a bill 10 him or any other per
SON"
County Clerk Callahan also denieC
any knowledge Of the bill until /
had been introduced. When he hear
n. of #. he said, he went to Albany.
lie ut affected the records OF my office,
said the County Clerk. land l natu
o rally became interested in the matter
Inquiry among my friends in Albon
convinced me the bill vas going I
ride through and be- signed by IN
Governor. When this became az
parent. | took steps TO a tho bi
~ amended, so that there would b
u something for such a COMMISSIONS
4 10 do. The amendments ! propose
N were killed.
There is some necessity for such n
officer in the Bronx, but under ii
terms of this bin a Commissioner
Records is practically useless. II
work, as at presently outlined, cOuI
be completed inside u year."
Tho passage of tho bin and u
lie appointment Of Knewitz have cause
Sc a double storm OF protest. Tho taS
payers Kick about the ~cXtravaEai
- stop, pointing out that .ho Office ".
cost tho county at least $1,000 a yea
"a There is DOT a record in tho BroT
ny older than 1914, and 10000 was r,
Gently spent 10 install steel recon
"a cabinets i'm the County Clerks ON
ITS for the protection Of the records ther
,ly Then, members OF the Democrat
, d Party arc disETuntled over tho a
NJ poiutment of Knowitz TO what Is pra
- tically a l.ro fob while several Dem
cratic leaders are stIll unplaced. I
70, the wording OF the bin tho term
NJ the Commissioner shall end when [
ter duties OF tho olICo cease" While I
les Surrogate and County Judge are Civ
by the power Of appointment, no pro,
.st. sion is uado Tor the removal Of
nd Commissioner and no time limit 4
bile for his service,
n It is said tho move has also caus
ts- a protest from Mayor Hylan, and
the now Commissioner will have
go 20 the Board of Estimate for fun
rm for his office aud star, several t,
I payers associations are preparing