The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-06
INVESTIGATORS IS.
.HYLAN'S DRIVER
Joseph w. Eppse's Police Job
a Sinecure, Says the
''Searchlight.'
HE'S REALLY CHAUFFEUR
Meanwhile Competitive Job of
"Chauffeur Attendant" to
Mayor Remains Untitled.

According to an article that will ap-
pear in an early number Of the Search
light, the official organ Of the Citizens
Union, trusted household retainer of
Mayor Hylan. who has an exempt Job
in the Police Department as "confiden-
ttal investigator" is passing his time
running the Mayors automobile, while
the position created in the last budget
OF Chauffeur attendant" to the Mayor,
which would be in the competitive
class. never has been filled.
The article says:
The Police Commissioner and the Po-
lice Departments bomb squad. which he
has apparently restored after abolishing
1t in spite OF Its excellent record for
catching dynamiters. may or my not
believe that the squads detective taiout
will be increased by the Mayors detail
OF his brother -in-law and bodyguard 10
place on the squad. II, however, Mayor
Hylan Is disposed in the public interest
to break up the coterie OF personal re-
tainers who constitute his official entour-
age he will permit the Police Commis-
sicner to fill the position of confidential
Investigator in the Police Department
by the appointment OF some one who can
and will do the work for which that
position was created.
THE position. which Is in the exempt
class Of the civil service. is now filled
by Joseph w. Eppse, who before Mr..
Hylan's election as Mayor. drove his
little Dodge car and was his handy man
about the house. Eppse was appointed
early In February, 1918. when II was
announced by Commissioner Enright
that Eppse is to investigate complaints
that are sent to the Mayor and trans
mitted by him TO the Commissioner
I'm fact, however, except for a short
period Immediately following his ap-
pclntment, which was spent in a tour Of
inspection of the Police Department mo-
tor vehicles. Eppse has peen acting as
the Mayors chauffeur. driving his
Packard touring car and Packard
limouslne-all the while holding the title
and position Of confidential investigator
In the Police Department.
'As chauffeur to his Honor the Mayor
Eppse has bsen ar important parsonage,
privileged to purchase automobile sup
plies for the Mayors car where he chose
at Police Department expense without
precedent official order, and at prices
substantially in excess OF those custo-
marily paid by the Police Department
for similar goods for its own automo-
biles.
When the budget for this year was
In preparation 1t was discovered that a
new position of chauffeur was to be
provided for the Mayors office. At the
time the Mayor stated publicly:
Why not honestly and properly have
chauffeur attached to the office in the
xnh4 ta
work instead of taking a policeman off
post for that purpose?
The title of the newly created position
was afterward changed to chauffeur
attendant but Eppse. confidential in
vestigator In the Police Department, has
continued to act and still acts as the
Mayors chauffeur and the position of
chauffeur attendant in the Mayors ONCE
has never been filled.
THE position OF chauffeur attendant
would be in the competitive class of
the civil service and perhaps a civil SER
vice examination for the position might
not result in the eligibility of any one
who knows ths Mayors motoring
idiosyncra sizes as we'll as Mr. Eppse
The position OF confidential investi-
gator In the Police Department was
created by former Commissioner Woods
for the purpose Of having applica tons
for police pensions Investigated by
civilian. who would not be subject to
influence by the system in the course
OF his work. To provide an exempt
position TO which Eppse might be ap-
pointed Commissioner Enright got rid
of the confidential investigator, who was
examining pension applications. leaving
those matters for the attention OF Lieut..
Zanes. one OF the recently made cap
tAins. a colleague of Commissioner En-
right among the officials OF the Police
Leutenants' Association.
when will Mayor Hylan permit the
position of confidential Investigator in
the Police Department to he filled by
an incumbent who will do the work OF
the Job instead of by his chauffeur
extraordinary"