The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-24
MRS. DUNPHY'S FATE.
is IN HYLAN'S HANDS
II Mayor Approves Plea Spe-
cial Bill Passed Will Go
to Governor.

II . special bill drawn to ft her case,
tanmed through the Legislature in the
confusion prior to adjournment and now
before Mayor Hyian and Gov. Smith. Is
approved by them, Mary c. Dunphy
hopes to be reinstated as superintendent
of the childrens hospital and schools on
RandAlrs Island. John A. kingsbury.
former Commissioner OF the Department.
OF Charities dismissed her from the DO
sttion after a bitter fight.
The Mayor has not announced the
time he will hold a hearing on the bill
II he gives his approval, the burden OF
placing this piece q special legislation
on the statute books or OF yetoing it will
rest upon Gov. Smith. 1t may be that
he will he asked to hold a special hear
Ing by those opposed to the principle of
giving TO a dismissed employee, who
failed TO uphold her complaint after
taking the case as high as the Court of
Appeals. a chance to get back into the
service.
Pho bill has powerful influences behind
IT, the same that fought bitterly TO
Keep Mrs. Dunphy in her post after seri-
Gus charges of neglect and incompetsncy
had been preferred against her It was
sponsored In the Legislature by Senator
John J. Boylan. a Tammany legislator
1t authorizes heads of departments in
the City Of Now York TO rehear charges
asainst and rsinstAte persons diem issed
upon written application by the person
aggrieved' within six months after the
act takes effect. provided that the per-
son SO applying has been an employe
OF such city for thirty years or over at
the time OF such dismissal and shall
waive In writing all claim against such
city for back pay"
Rehearinss Under Present Law.
The law now says that no dismissed
employee shall have rehearing by
successor to the Commissioner dis
missing such employee when the latter
shall have been removed more than two
years, nor without the consent OF the
Mayor
Bid >, Coler. who succeeded Commits
sioner kingsbury as head of the Depart
ment OF Charities, said last night:
Il do not know any OF the merits of
the case, but Mrs. Dunphy will never
run Randalls Island aga II 50 long as |
an COMMISSIONS. We need young and
active minds there. / understand Mrs.
Dunphy Is over 10 years old"
James A. Navasour, an appointee OF
Commissioner Coler, Is now in charge
OF Pa ndalls Island.
Friends OF Mrs. Dunphy say that she
has no desire to return to the city's
employ, but she wishes to be renstated
30 that she may be formally retired and
may get her pension. The former su-
perintendent at Randairs Island was
appointed to organise a school for sub.
normal children there In 1856. She be-
came head OF the institut ons In 1927.
That same year she was charged by a
m n n fhA "a ~ 81 l.
failure to support their efforts to br ng
about reforms and received twenty -four
hours In which TO resign. Tho trouble
was patched up and she remained
After corps of investigators had
reported shocking cond lions on Ran
dalfs Island Commissioner liingsbury
preferred charges against Mrs. Dunphy
In March. 1915. 1t was alleged that she
had permitted the children to be brutally
treated. Later this charge was dis
m ssed. although 1t was said she might
have taken measures to prevent cruel
practices by attendants.
some Charges Sustained.
In regard to the charges OF failure
10 guard properly against infectious and
contagious diseases. to distribute food In
such proportions that all children were
properly fed, TO safeguard decency. to
make provisions for the comfort OF in
mates and failure to provide flre drills
and fire hazard measures" Deputy Com
missioner Wright said on May 25:
These are serious. ] fnd from the
record each charge Is we'll founded"
During the trial an effort was made to
have the charges withdrawn and Mrs.
Dunphy retired by the Board of Edu-
Ttion on one.half Of her salary. $3.50.
1t was held that she had paid in her
share to the pension fund for many
years, The movement failed.