New-York tribune., 1919-06-06
Hylan Accused bv
Citizens Union of
More Favoritism
His Chauffeur Still Paid as
Confidential Investigator
in Police Department,
Is the Latest Charge

Further charges of favoritism were
made yesterday against Mayor Hylan
The charges are contained in an article
which will appear in the Forthcoming
number of THE Searchlight," the or
gan of the Citizens Union The storv
reads:
The police commissioner and the
Police Departments Bomb Squad
which he has apparently restored after
abolshlng it in spite of its excellent
record for catching dynamters. NAV
or may not believe that the squads
detective talent will be increased bv
the Mayors detail of his brothers. law
and bodyguard to place on the squad.
If, however, Mayor Hylan is disposed
IN the public interest to break up the
coterle of personal retainers who con-
stltute his official entouragc he will
permit the police commissioner to fiji
the position of confidential investipator
IN the Police Department by the an
polntment Of some one who can and
viii do the work for which that posi-
ton was created
in the Exempt Class
"The position, which is in tho ex-
empt class of the civil service. is now
nIied by Joseph W. Eppse, who, be-
Tore Mr.. Hylan's election as mayor,
drove his little Dodge car and was his
handy man about the house. Mr. Eppse
was appointed early in February, 1918,
when 1T was announced by Commits
sloner Enright that Mr.. Eppse is to
investigate complaints that are sent
to the mayor and transmitted by him
to the commissioner In fact, how
ever, except for short period i'm
mediatcly following his appointment,
winch was spent in a tour of inspcc-
ton of the police department motor
vehicles, Mr.. Eppse has been acting as
the mayors chauffeur, driving his
Packard touring car and Packard
llmousine-all the while holding the
title and position of confidential in
vestigator in the police departments
"As chauffeur to his honor the
Mayor, Mr.. Eppsc has been an i'm
portant parsonage, privileged to pur-
chase auto supplies for the Mayors
car whore he chose at Police Depart
ment expense without precedent Off
cial order, and at prices substantially
IN excess of those customarily paid
by the Police Department for similar
goods for its own automobiles.
What Mayor Said-and Did
"When the budget for this year was
in preparation it 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 a chauffeur attached to the office
IN the open-one who is trained to do
this work instead of taking police
man off post for that purpose
"The title of the newly created posi-
tion was afterwards changed to
'chauffeur- r-attendant,' but Mr.. Eppse
confidential investigator in the Police
Department, has continued to act and
still acts as the Mayors chauffeur, and
the position of chauffeur attendant in
the Mayors Office has never been filled.
''The position of confidential investi-
gator in the Police Department was
created by former Commissioner
Woods for the purpose of having ap-
plications for police pensions investi-
CATER by civilian who would not be
subject to influence by the system
in the course of his work To provide
al exempt position to which Mr.. Eppse
might be appointed Commissioner En-
right got rid of the confidential investi-
gator who was examining pension ap-
plications, leaving those matters for
the attention of Lieutenant Zanes, one
Of the recently made captains, a
colleague of Commissioner Enringht
among the officials of the Police Lieu
tenants Association"