New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-07-07

""iy 40 So''t anu at lHe age OF Twelve
entered st. Johns College there. In
1899 he was graduated from Columbia
as Bachelor Of Arts, and afterward
studied law in the New York Univer-
sity Law School, from which he was
graduated in 1901 with honors. He
made record in college as a finish d
debater. His inherited distaste for
Tammany, or anything that smacked
of bossism or graft, led him to inter
est himself in tho reform side OF
municipal government as soon as he
became of voting age.
Law Office Opened
For short time he practised law
Street. From the date of his entrance
into politics he was always an insurg-
ent. Some of his colleagues at that
time called him the Young Man With
a Chip on His Shoulder" During the
last city campaign he was called "Ou1
Fighting Mayor" His political op-
ponents tried to make capital out of
the fact that he seized patriotism as
the big issue of that campaign. They
slurringly referred to him as wrapped
in the American flag" an expression
that would be more applicable now
His first public office was as Assist
he was appointed by his friend, Will
lam B. Ellison then Corporation Coun-
sci under Mayor Mcclellan. When
Mayor Mcclellan broke with Charles F
Murphy and began his fight on Tam
many Hall in his second administra-
ton, his first act was to turn the
searchlight Of Investigation on the Of
tice of Borough President. The in
vestigators began on John F. Ahearn
sof Manhattan, and for several weeks
the inquiry brought out little to salts
fly the Mayor.
Up to that time the office of Borough
President had been regarded legiti-
mate political booty. Tammany had
filled the office with its henchmen and
was continually increasing salaries
Mayor Mcclellan became impatient
He wanted action. He told his secre-
taries they must find an investigator
who knew how to do the job. The
Mayors handymen went to Corpora
ton Counsel Ellison. He told them
the brightest young assistant" he had
was j. P. Mitchell
Investigation Begun
They sent for young Mitchell and Mr.
Ellison asked him how he would like
to investigate the Ahearn administra-
ton. Seeming battle, the future
Mayor said he was ready to begin any
tune. Meanwhile the investigation of
the Borough Presidents Office was
going along listlessly in the Council
Chamber of the City Hall. Mitchell
as special Assistant Corporation
from the first felt the Tammany in
fiuence aligning against him. But he
went on delving to the bottom OF
things for every fact Tammany be-
came alarmed and called in high-paid
counsel.
Corporation Counsel Ellison advised
the Mayor to make young Mitchell Com
missioner of Accounts. HIS appoint
ment was brought about in a surpris-
ing manner to the young Investigator
Mayor Mcclellan quietly called in his
then Commissioner of Accounts. oh.
tanned his resignation and then sent
to the Council Chamber for Mitchel
Ihe young man entered the Mayors Of
nee lew minutes later, and when the
Mayor formally offered him the posi.
ton Mr.. Mitchell was confused
Il don't see how that can be done
he said. "The law does not provide
Tor two commissioners"
=. well, there is only one" said the
mayor. There was another, but he
has just resigned. You passed him
on the way out when you came in"
The investigation was adjourned fol-
three days to let the new Commission.
er arrange his facts. When the in
curry began again it developed into 6
sensation. AS revelations came If
rapid succession the Tammany mer
became panic-stricken. Threats anc
suggestions to be sensible and dror
the lnvestlgation" and save his future
political career began to reach the
young investigator from UNDERGROUND
Iammany sources. 1t was said Tam
! many agents offered him the next va
cancy on the Supreme Court bench
which meant salary of $17.5OO a wear
Tell Murphy to go to hell" was the
only reply the Tammany couriers got
from Mitchell.
Only Twenty-seven at Time
Borough President Ahearn was re-
moved from Office by Governor Hughes
on the strength Of the report submitted
to him by the new Commissioner o,
Accounts. Mitchell was only twenty
seven years old at that time. But hi
didn't stop with Ahearn. Next Louis
Haffen, Borough President of The
Bronx, was placed on the grill. ant
after similar revelations he also was
removed from office. Borough Presi
dent Bermel of Queens resigned be
/ tore the Commissioner of Accounts
could get to him.
The Mitchell Investigations revolu
tlonlZed the borough administrations
The reforms in those Offices during re
cent years all dated from the first sue
gestions of Commissioner of Account.
Mitchell. Wherever the young commits
sioner turned with his keen menta
aculnen for investigation sensationa
conditions resulted. He found rotte,
I fire hose and other mean forms of Graf
/ in the Fire Department.
Revelations Of waste and inefficienc,
in the Water Registers office, in tn,
management of the Police DEPARTMENT.
training farm, in the purchase of sup
plies for the Board of Education, in tn,
management of "The City Record" ant
in the Tax Department followed il
rapid succession for two years unit
Mr.. Mitchel's reputation as an investi
gator was firmly established.
Energy and thoroughness was tn,
Mitchell keynote. He was ever reachin,
! out beyond the limits Of his present
duty to help other departments will
constructive suggestions. He was tn
real guiding spirit for the commission
Mayor. They came to him for counse
squarely and with all of his force a:
long as they performed their duties il
office properly. The former Mayor car
ried the same spirit of forcefulnes $.
into his last service for his country.
Swept Into Office
The Fusion forces against Tammany
began to shape their plans for the cit,
campaign in 1909, and when Otto n