New-York tribune., 1920-03-15
Hylal, Urged
TO Take Over
The Bronx Zoo
nr. Hornaday, Assailed as
Autocrat by Hirshfield.
Saws Investigator Has
Fairness of a wolf"
Intellect of S'Croundhog''
Admits Mitchell Used Fresh
Eggs for His Wife, Fed
Monkeys Storage Kind

nsv;d Hirshfeld nearly two years to
.orduct an investigation and frame a
,sport. made public yesterday. about
the conduct of the Bronx Zoo, in
~h;ch he declared: "Dr. William I.
uornaday rules the Zoo and the city's
.srk lands like an autocrat-a mona rch
E. his own principality."
II took Dr. Hornaday about two sec
onds Yesterday to reply: "Mr. Hirsh-
said has the intelligence and Judgment
~ a Ground hog and the judicial fe;r-
..s. az wolf" And DR. Horraday
nroudly pleaded guilty to the charge
IF autocracy. adding: $50 long as
an director I'm going to be the d-
recsor. an, responsible for things here
and so rule.'
n his report, which is addressed
:. Mayor Hylan, Commissioner Hirsh-
xetd recommends that the Mayor ap-
noint committee to "study the ad-
yisability of terminating the agree
men, between the City OF New York
snd the Geological Society, tie city
rsgaining its park land and taking
over the entire activities in connection
with the operation Of the Geological
Garden and thus secure more effective
service TO the people with a substan-
,ial decrease in the cost to tax and
rent payers.
SEES City Management
Dr. Hornaoay said: This Is intended
to be the entering wedge of a move
ment TO take over the management of
all similar city nstitutions-that is,
the Institutions conducted by societies
IN partnership with the city for the
benefit of the people Of the city. A
remark made in the park by one OF
Hirshfeld's investigators is very illu-
rinasing. This man said that the
only two jobs worth having were mine
and that Of Mr.. MITCHELL
Mr. Hrsnfleld's report is filed with
paragraphs showing that the privilege
department. OF the zoo. which operates
the restaurants. the pony track and
ether revenue producing features OF
the park. was favored in various ways.
Dr.. Hornaday pointed out when these
references were read to him that prob
ably all of them were true, and he
asked: "Nhy not? The privilege de-
partment IS operated solely for the pur-
pose OF raising money to increase the
animal collection'
Mr.. Hirschfeld's report says: 'H. r.
Mitchell elsewhere referred to by
Hirshheld as nephew Of DR.. Horna-
day receives two salaries SO 900
year as chief clerk out of the city
maintenance appropriation and $4,000
year as manager OF the society's
privileges"
well. well." said Dr.. Hornaday.
"Mr Hirshfield will be delighted to
learn that Mr.. Mitchellis salary has
been increased by the society. He gets
$500 more a year
Mr.. Hirshfeld also charges: THAT
H. R. Mitchell obtained fresh laid eggs
from the nursery in the Zoo and gave
storage eggs in return. the records
showing that the quantity returned by
Mr.. Mitchell in 1917 was far less than
the quantity received"
DR.. Hornaday said: That is abso-
lutely true. Mrs. Mitchell is semi
invalid. Some of the men suggested
that it was q shame to feed fresh eggs
10 monkeys and snakes eud lizards
when cold storage eggs would taste just
as good to them. and when Mrs. Nit
chell would De greatly benefited by the
exchange About 500 worth of eggs was
involved"
Hirsh6eId small Game
~. III SillASiV sd " tidL al - I tiIe,
city was charged With 1870 gallons OF
gasoline and used only a34 gallons, and
that the difference was explained by
the bookkeepor AS an error DR.. Horn
aday sad this never had been brought
to his attention and that he would in
vestlgate before replying.
Mr. Hirschtield said that George
Rose. carpe nter, had been dismissed
on order of Director Hornaday shortly
after ne had testified before him (Hirsh-
h1eidl and ';that a Zoo employee WIS
dismissed by the director because he
called Mrs. Hornaday's attention to the
lact that it was against the park rules
10 stick her umbrella into the monkey
cage while she was inside the railing"
Dr. Hornaday said: Rose. the car
rsnter, was dismissed with a number
o. others because our appropriation
was reduced about $4,000 About
'a'rty-lve employees testified. Why
should we pick on Rose? That other
man was fired long time after he
oawied out Mrs. Hornaday. Moreover
she wasn't inside che railing when it
happened. He was fred because he
was habitually disrespectful, fat and
azy and It was in revenge that he
made this charge. MIR. Hirschfield got
A.-R -. W iiitIiOll 1IOul QlSCilaAE ECNr
ano tnerefore disgruntled, employees of
the park.
This has been utterly one sided in
'est.gstion. 1t took months and months
anG cost over $4,000 by Hrshfield's
own statement, and the society was per-
ss'stently denied the privilege of being
neard. The society demanded in writ.
ing that be put on the witness stand.
an offensive reDly was received from
h5lrsnheld in which he said he would
90 as he thought best.
The entire investigation. if it can
ue called that, was gum shoe, muck
IIsskl,ng, "a howling farce, CHASTITY joke.
II there Is one word in that report de-
iiogatory to ME or the society I shall
aemand real investigation before
.adge or an impartial referee and that
We snail have our day in court.
=. Mr. Hlrshheld is small game.
ss. ssa'l need fine bird shot when I go