New Britain herald., 1922-06-13
Deposed Head of Com- mission and Com. Kran- owitz Quit-Mayor Claims Action is Sur- prise to Him
Rumor of "Family Affairs" In Governmental Matters Involves Registrar of Voters Thomas J. Smith.

As result of the displacement last night of Chairman Emil G. Hjerp of the board of fire commissioners b. Commissioner John Keevers, ncv appointee to the board, the depose' chairman and Commissioner w. ( kranowitz rendered their resignation this morning.
 Criticism Heard.
 News of the boards action created by far the greatest interest of an. act Of the Paonessa administration thus far, and despite the mayors in sistence that he had nothing to dt with the action. the administration i! today coming in for round after rount of caustic criticism.
 The mayor did not come down tt his office as early as usual today. The place was visited from an early houl throughout the day by republicans and democrats alike and the fire board chairmanship was the topic most discussed with Secretary James P. kiniry. MT. Kiniry insisted. as die the mayor last night, that the admin istration was as surprised with the outcome of the meeting as was the general public.
 Family Affairs.
 The consensus of opinion in not only republican circles, but also witt the democrats today is that the boards action was dictated by smal group of personal friends of the mayor. headed by Democrat Registrar of Voters Thomas J. Smith, brother in-law Of the new chairman, and as registrar former employer of Com missioner Rogers. who cast the other vote that brought election to Keeve$s
 That the present administration is resolving itself into family affair is the wall Of many who have beer following political movements. Visi- tors at the mayors office this morn ing were not slow to so express their opinions,
 -.a Smith Started Paonessa.
 Registrar Smith was responsible for the present mayors entrance into politics II years ago. At that time Paonessa, at the solicitation of Smith d candidate for councilman in the sixth ward, He continued in municipal life from that time on.
 The appointment of MT. Smith s brother-in-law to the fire board was one of the first rumored. In due time the selection of Keevers was an- nounced When reports were first heard that Sealer of Weights and Measures Carl A. Carlson was to be displaced the name of Robert Grace was practically the only one men toned. Mir. Grace is also a brother in-law Of MT. Smith. Indications that opposition to a change would arise in the council, that body having final say, caused the change to be held up. In connection with changes on the board of finance and taxation, the name of John Butler was persistent ly mentioned, but he failed of appoint ment MT. Butler is a relative of MT Smith. James P. kiniry. secretary to present administration is also related to Registrar Smith.
 Commissioners Silent
 Chairman Hjerpe had nothing to say this morning to supplement his resignation, copies of which were given to newspapermen after being sent to the mayor
 Commi ssioner Kranowtz, by his re- fusai to discuss the family affair" phase of the question. either to ex- press an opinion as to it's existence or to endeavor to deny it. indicated that he realized such a condition had en- tered into the election of keevers.
 He felt that his resignation and that Of the ex- chairman would tend to hring about more harmonious sessions cf the board. He was displeased with the action of the other commissioners In bringing in two-platoon plans which. il was claimed. were devolved from plans drafted by Mir Hjerpe After more than three months work. the ex-chairman sent several plans to the other three commission CTS last week, requesting that they give the idea study. Last night Messrs. keevers and Rogers brought in a plan embodying the chairmans ideas, but neither Hjerpe or Kranowitz had been previously consulted.
 Letter To Mayor
 The letter sent the mayor this morning by the resiyning commission CTS follows:
 Hon. A. NJ. Paonessa,
 Dear Sir:
 We hereby tender to you our resig- | nations as members Of the board of | Fire Commissioners.
 We take this action. feeling that it would not be for the best interests of the city to serve any longer.
 "Our resignations are to take effect at once.
 Sincerely yours,
 WILLIAM c. KRANOWITZ,
 EMIL lIJERPE."
 Bremen Aroused
 By no means the least concerned fri the doings of last nights session and 1cn rncplfc econ fo6ay ore tho ronly |