The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-24

Iylan sent 10 tho Street Cleaning Com
hnissioner Arnold y. MacStay. then
merely Acting Commissioner. letter
requesting him 10 appoint Druggist
Kempf to the position in question.
Commissioner MacStay made the an-
pointment and Druggist kempf became
examining engineer of the Street Clean
ing Department. But 1t only lasted I'M
III February /. Then the Division on
Salaries and Grades which Mayor
Mitchell had created in the Board of Es-
innate to meet just such contingencies.
stepped in and made report against
the appointment.
Mayor Haylan was furious, and vowed
70 abolish the division, as he afterward
old. But Frank Bowling. then Presi-
dent of the Borough. announced that in
no circumstances would he support the
appointment OF a druggist 10 be exam
lining engineer" OF the Street Clean
ing Department, as he agreed with the
report OF the Division on Salaries ana
Grades that the appointee was not, In
his opinion, the best person fitted for the
place, even though the appointment was
. personal one OF the Mayors.
While the argument ragged and before
any vote could be taken. word mysteri-
ously conveyed to the Board Of Estimate
said Druggist Kempf had resigned. The
dispute therefore, never came TO head.
Soon afterward Mayor Hylan abol-
ished the Objectionable Division on Sal
aries and Grades. This was branch
os the. bureau of personal service, I'M
der George L. Tirrell as director and
had proved OF inestimabie value in CIV
ing 10 tho entire Board of Estimate re-
norts on all appointments, the qualifca-
tons OF the appointees and their desira-
bility. IT also informed the Board OF
Estimate fully concerning the relative
grading of positions, according to their
respective responsibilities and the sala-
aries which they should carry. IT was, IN
fact. tine index by which the Board or
Estimate could at all times refer to any
appointment and determine on any sal
arg not fixed by law.
spared for Extravaganza.
Under the Hylan regime, because II re-
ported unfavorably against the deslgna-
ton of his family druggist to the position
OF examining engineer" in the Street
Cleaning Department at a salary OF
$4,000 year. this important division OF
the Board OF Estimates staff has been
disoanded, It's employees dismissed where
not protected by civil service and scat
tered in various directions where they
could not be dismissed. An economy OF
perhaps $500 year was thus effected
in the operations of the Board of Esti-
mate and its budget, at consequent
expense of untold later extravaganza in
salary increases and Incompetent or
purely political appointments to response
bic positions.
But Druggist Kenrpf was not to be
deprived OF his cherished city job even
though the first attempt had failed.
Throughout 1915 and 1919 he fingered
without the ctadel's treasury, but on
July Z. 1920. John y. Hartman. Mayor
Hylan's personal appointee as Commits
sjoner OF Parks In Brooklyn. founA 1t op-
perfume. necessary and desirable to Sc
lect Harry y. Kempf, druggist. as his
secretary In the management of Prospect
and other Brooklyn parks. Druggist
Kempf now gets a city salary Of $3.50
a year and is happily dividing his time
between the drug store and the parks.