[PRCo] McNair -- Impressed with himself.

[Fred Schneider]

I MAY HAVE ALREADY SENT THE FIRST ITEM.   I HAVE ADDED OTHERS TO THE SAME FILE.   AFTER THIS I WILL START A NEW FILE UNDER McNAIR'S NAME BECAUSE THIS IS GETTING LONG.   THIS MAN IS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST POLITICIANS ON THE PLANET ... LIKE LISTENING TO A SOAP OPERA ABOUT SOMEONE BEING VOTED OFF THE PLANET.   HIS GRANDIOSE DELUSIONS REMIND ME OF BAVARIA'S MAD KING LUDWIG IN THE 19TH CENTURY.  PITTSBURGH'S MAYOR IS JUST FACING STATE ACTION TO CENSURE HIM.   LUDWIG WAS FOUND FLOATING IN CHIEMSEE.


http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gQAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4596%2C3678220

 

Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 13, 1935, Page 1

 

Clowning by [Pittsburgh Mayor] McNair Starts Move to Strip Him of Power

Legislature Will Be Asked by Citizens and Public Officials

To Clip Mayor’s Wings But Allow Him to

Stay in Office Until Term Ends

A decision to ask the Legislature to rescue Pittsburgh from McNarism was reached yesterday by citizens and public officials as the climax in a week jammed with grotesque performances by the Mayor.

   Legislation will be sought to strip the Mayor of many, perhaps all, of his powers, but allow him to continue to wear his present title until the end of his term.

   There did not appear, yesterday, to be a disposition to “rip” him out of office entirely although there were intimations that the Mayor, by a continuance of his antics, which gradually have been growing more numerous, might produce a demand for a 100 per cent “ripper” the Legislature would have to heed.

   The scope of the legislation was not established definitely yesterday, but there was strong sentiment for amendments to the city charter which would produce a modified form of the city manager form of government.

 Would Take Away Powers

   Those advocating that plan would have legislation to take from the Mayor all power over the city departments and give them to the charge of an official chosen by the City Council.

   That would leave the Mayor all the time he could desire for clowning but he would separate his antics from the actual functions of city government.

   He would have the right to an office and the opportunity to receive delegations and entertain them to his heart’s content with dissertations on single tax, economic rent and all his other pet theories.

 Salary Cut Discussed

   In conferences yesterday, there was talk to the effect that the Mayor’s salary of $15,000 ought to be cut at least in half if his responsibilities are greatly reduced or brought down practically to the zero point.   That might not be possible in the near future because of the provision in the state constitution that, “no law shall extend the term of any public officer or increase or diminish his salary after his election or appointment.”

   There is the probability; of course, that a new constitution will be voted on by the people at the November election this year, and it might not contain such a sweeping prohibition of salary changes after an official is elected.

 Democrats Interested

    Democratic councilmen affiliated with the Democratic organization, one of the Mayor’s hates, showed a lively interest yesterday in what was going on despite the fact that five of the nine councilmen are Republican and might place a Republican in charge of the city departments if the present Council were empowered to make the selection.

   Some Democratic Councilmen are known to hold the view that anything, even a Republican boss of the city departments, would be preferable to the situation they now have on their hands.   The Democrats hardly would lose anything as Mayor McNair has placed their party in the rumble seat as far as his administration is concerned.

   His latest important appointment, restoring Richard L. Smith to the job of fire chief after firing John Heinz, was the newest instance of tossing out a Democrat to make room for a Republican.

Delay Causes Speculation

   Whether the Democrats might seek to have the anti-McNair legislation so drafted as to delay, until after the councilmanic election in November, the selection of a manager of the city departments by Council was a subject of speculation.

  The four Democratic members of Council are serving terms which will not expire until January, 1938.  Four Councilmen, Robert Garland, P. J. McArdle, Charles Anderson and W. J. Soost, all Republicans, will have to be selected this year if they desire to retain their seats beyond next January.  By capturing only one of the four seats at stake in the November election, the Democrats will have a majority in Council.

   The Mayor is on his annual furlough from smoking – Jan. 1 to March 31.  He confesses to an excess of irritability during this period.  The City-County Building is having a laugh over some of his friends over the furlough as an excuse for some of the things he has been doing. 

 

Predicts Bad Humor

 

   His distemper will not be lessened by learning what may happen to him in Harrisburg.   He told Mr. Heinz, the dismissed fire chief, a few days ago, that he probably would be in a “bad humor” until April 1.   Mr. Heinz is convinced the Mayor was a true prophet.

   The Mayor has been excited for months over reports that a bill would be offered in Harrisburg to “rip” him out of office.   He has gone to the length, politicians say, of trying to soften the hearts of some of the Democratic members of the Legislature by indicating a willingness to place some of their friends in city jobs.  

 

 

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ggAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1319%2C4246025

 

Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 14, 1935, page 10 (print), page 11 (digital)

 

McNAIR RIPPER BILL TO BE PUSHED BY DEMOCRATS

Party Makes Bill Part of Legislative Program This Session

 PROPOSE REFERENDUM

 Dismissial of Heinz, Other Actions Crystallize Issue in Camp

Special to Pittsburgh Press: Harrisburg, Jan. 14 – The McNair “Ripper” full-fledged, is on the way.

    For the first time, Democratic Legislators, hitherto reticent on the subject, today disclosed the measure is a part of their Legislative program.

   The bill probably will be introduced early in the session, as present plans stand.

   Mayor William N. McNair’s official actions of the last two weeks unquestionably have settled the issue in the Democratic camp.

   Heretofore, while hopeful the Mayor could be “stopped” in some manner, the Democrats adopted a highly cautious attitude and in some instances, even denied the report such a bill was considered.

   Believing public sentiment now would be friendly to the plan, the Democrats have crystallized their proposal.

 

Outright ‘Ripper’ Proposed

   And, instead of sponsoring a measure which would strip Mr. McNair of his power, but allowing him to remain in office, an outright “ripper, possibly with a popular referendum is proposed.  It may be introduced in the Senate by an Allegheny County Legislator.

   The Mayor last week fired two more protégés of the Democratic organization, Fire Chief John Heinz and Civil Service Commission Secretary Henry B. Carlos. Only a man or two of those installed in office by the Democratic organization last January remain on the payroll.

   Further impetus, the Democrats believe, will be added to the movement by the Mayor’s dismissal today of Public Safety Director A. Marshall Bell.  Mr. Bell was associated with elements backing the city manager bill prior to McNair’s inauguration, but inclined to be lukewarm toward the plan while the Mayor and he were in power at City Hall

Impeachment Considered

Impeachment proceedings also have been considered by factions dissatisfied with McNair administration but the Democrats favor the “Ripper” as a “cleaner” and more expeditious manner of removing him and ending what they look upon as absolute chaos in City Hall.

   The Democrats now have adopted an attitude of public service in this maneuver.  At first they were irate over the loss of patronage and voice in city affairs they had expected from the man the picked and elected.

   But this has changed with the Mayor’s actions of the last two weeks.  Responsible for Mr. McNair’s election, they now assume the responsibility of eliminating his clowning, believing there is something approaching a popular demand for such action.

  

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ggAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1246%2C4154166

 

Pittsburgh  Press, January 14, 1935, page 1

 

McNAIR FIRES BELL VIA WIFE, NAMES DUNN

Dismissal Phoned by Mayor, Who Tells Mrs. Bell to Inform Mate

SWEARS IN NEW AIDE

 Latest Director of Public Safety Fourth in Office Within Year

    Thomas A. Dunn, 1929 Democratic candidate for Mayor, was sworn in as Director of Public Safety by William N. McNair today, five minutes after the Mayor had fired director A. Marshall Bell by a telephone message to the latter’s wife.

  Mr. Dunn is the fourth director to hold the office since the erratic McNair regime started in January 1934.

   Mr. Bell’s dismissal was accompanied by the usual McNarian flair for the highly eccentric.

   The dismissed director was given a 30-day “economy” furlough by Mr. McNair last week, a part of the Mayor’s fight against City Council.

 

Talks to Mrs. Bell

 

   This morning as Mr. Dunn and the newspaper reporters sat beside his desk, the Mayor called Mr. Bell’s farm at Oakdale and, unable to locate the director, ask his wife to tell him he was fired.

   The Mayor’send of the conversation:

   “Oakdale 206.”

   “Is this the Bell residence?”

   “Is Mr. Bell there?”

   “Mrs. Bell, this is the Mayor.”

   “Very well, thank you, how are you?”

   “Well, if the director is not there, I want you to let him know there is going to be a change and I have to remove Mr. Bell and put Mr. Dunn in.   You know how those things are.”

   “Well, then, I’ll write him a letter and notify him of his removal.  It will be official.”

   “Goodbye.”

 

‘She’ll Tell Him.’

 

   The Mayor hung up the receiver and turned to the reporters with a smirk as he remarked:

   “She’ll tell him.”

   He immediately swore Mr. Dunn into office, despite the fact that the new director had not been confirmed by City Council, as all such appointees must be.

   Asked how he could swear Mr. Dunn into office without Councilmanic confirmation, the Mayor turned to the new director and asked:

   “Garland (Council President Robert Garland, a friend of Mr. Dunn) told you it was a recess, didn’t he?”

   “I – well – I guess it is a recess,” the new director replied.

   Questioned later, Mr. Garland said:

   “I absolutely did not say Council is in recess.   The records show it is adjourned.

   Today’s Council meeting was postponed because of the inauguration of George H. Earle as Governor at Harrisburg tomorrow.

   Mr. McNair contends the postponement puts Council in recess and he therefore has power to make “recess appointments” without waiting for Councilmanic confirmation.

   “That’s whe way I appointed Mr. Dunn,” he said.  “I’ll send a note to Council about it.”

   Asked why Mr. Bell had been dismissed, Mayor McNair answered:

   “I really can’t tell until Council meets.  When it meets, I’ll send a communication to it. I can’t send a communication to Council when all the Councilmen are out of town.

   When Mr. Bell was furloughed from his $8,000 a year job, the Mayor announced it was so that one month of the director’s salary could be stricken from the cost of operating the city.

   That was on Jan. 9, five days ago.

 

Only Four Days’ Pay Saved

 

The new director goes on full salary today so that actually only four days pay is saved the city by the Mayor’s “economy” maneuver.

   Soon after he was sworn in, Director Dunn announced he would leave on the 2 p.m. train for the Harrisburg inaugural but would “hurry back.”

   Then he talked with Police Superintendent Jacob Dorsey – whom repeated rumors have following Mr. Bell onto the Mayor’s privates kids --  and then went into the superintendent’s office.

   There he met all of the police inspectors.  They stood at attention, then shook hands with Mr. Dunn who made a speech.

   “I want your co-operation to make this a better city.   I was telling the superintendent here that as far as efficiency goes, I’ve always admired you men.”

   Then he told them how tactfully a San Francisco policeman had warned him against jaywalking some years ago.

 

‘Be Diplomatic,’ Says Dunn

 

   “Now you policemen do that; be diplomatic,” he added.

   “I don’t know a lot about this job,” he continued, “but I do know Pittsburgh in a business way and I’ll learn this job and try to co-operate with every man of you.”

    The new director is a former president of the Chamber of Commerce, a lifelong Democrat and president of the Consolidated Ice Company.

   His appointment was reported directly due to the influence of M. L. Benedum, financial backer of the recent Democratic campaign.  Mr. Dunn feels none to kindly toward the regular Democratic organization, headed by State Chairman David L. Lawrence and Senator Joseph F. Guffey, believing that group did not give him full supporting the 1929 Mayoralty race.

   The tenures of the three directors who have preceded him under McNair all have been brief.

   Harmar D. Denny, Jr., was “inherited” from the Republican administration when the Mayor took office a year ago. He lasted until January 22, 1934 [a total of 22 days].

Ralph Smith Followed

 

Then came Ralph E. Smith, who had been named a police magistrate some time before by Mr. McNair.

   He was a particular friend of Mr. McNair but he lasted only until May 14 [1934].  Later, however, the Mayor handed him a lucrative post on the Traction Conference Board.

   Mr. Bell came into office May 13 [1934].  His appointment was due to Director of Public Safety Leslie M. Johnston and other members of the Mayor’s “Silk Stocking” advisors – then dominant at City Hall, now obviously on the way out.

   This afternoon Mr. Bell took his dismissal gracefully,

   “I hear I’ve been chased,” he said over the telephone from his farm.

   “Well, I’m satisfied.”

   “I don’t know Mr. Dunn, but from what I’ve been told he should make a fine director.

 

 

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gwAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4998%2C4490910

 

Pittsburgh Press, January 15, 1935, page 1

 

McNair Ousts City Sanitary Staff in Row

 

Mayor Suspends Enforcement of Sanitation Laws by Furloughs

SEVEN MORE LAID OFF

Action Follows Fight Over Cleanup of Beer Garden in Hays

   Enforcement of Pittsburgh’s sanitation laws was suspended by Mayor William N. McNair today.

   He furloughed seven more sanitary inspectors – three already have been given 30-eay lay-offs – in his wild “economy” battle with City Council.

   His action leaves only two employes in the Bureau of Sanitation, one of the most important of the city’s inspection units, the purpose of which is to guard the city from epidemic and disease.

   Although he handed out furloughs—some for 30 days, others for two weeks—to 20 employes today, he apparently selected them at random.

   The Mayor announced his intention of suspending all sanitary inspectors yesterday when he vigorously espoused a beer garden proprietor’s objections to an inspector’s demand that the garden should be modernized to meet the city’s sanitary requirements.

   This morning he announced he had decided to modify his order and furlough the inspectors two at a time.

   This afternoon, however, he was off on another tangent and ordered the entire force laid off, effective immediately.

   The order is but another evidence of the destructive turn Mr. McNair’s clowning has taken recently.

   Previously two major city officials—the Fire Chief and the Director of Public Safety—were fired without cause, boiler inspectors were ordered to quit inspecting, the Zoning Board was demoralized by the Mayor’s attempt to fire Chairman A. G. Holmes and replace him with O. B. Hannon, previously fired as a city assessor by the Mayor and who now is contesting his dismissal in court.  

Hannon May Not Accept 

   Mr. Hannon has said he will not accept the Zoning Board post.

   The Mayor’s latest outbreak against city ordinances followed a complaint by the beer garden proprietor whose place is in the former Hays Borough, that to obey the city’s order and bring his place up to a standard sanitary condition would “break” him.

   As in his attack against boiler inspectors last week, the Mayor saw the plumbing ordinance as oppressive and in addition, charged that Peter Caruso, beer garden owner, was being persecuted because he voted for the Mayor.

   As in his tirade against John Murphy of the boiler inspectors, he charged Thomas G. English, assistant chief plumbing, with throwing people in jail.

   Caruso’s place at Mifflin Road and Interboro Avenue, Thirty-first ward, had been investigated by the Bureau of Sanitation after complaints and had been found far below requirements.  Caruso was given notice to correct conditions within 10 days.

   Instead he walked into the Mayor’s office yesterday with his tax bills and the notice and said he could not afford to make the improvements.

   “Send for Tom English” the Mayor ordered.

   Mr. English, the brother of the former Councilman W. Y. English, arrived a few minutes later.

   The Mayor denounced the ordinance as oppressive and changed Mr. English with playing politics.

   “Why wasn’t anything ever done about this before,” the Mayour demanded.  “This man has only owned this place for two months.   Because he voted for me you are going to try to break him.

   “This is not Russia.   People in Hays borough don’t have to have the modern plumbing facilities required in the downtown.  These things must be stopped if I have to get rid of the whole bunch.”

   He interrupted every explanation Mr. English offered.   In between, however, a crowd in the Mayor’s office heard Mr. English say that there is no persecution: that the ordinance is the law; that offenders are given a reasonable time to meet requirements.   But the Mayor would have none of it.

   “Furlough all the inspectors,” he snapped. “That will give this man 30 days at least.

   Three such inspectors previously had been furloughed – Thomas G. Lambert, chief; James Marsh and Maurice A. Coll.

   Today’s layoffs leave only Mr. English and C. A. Gray in the bureau.

   Records in the bureau show that Caruso’s place is below requirements as to sanitary facilities and that sewage is spilling on car tracks.

   Neighbors today repeated the charges of the plumbing inspectors.   The cess from the building rises directly behind the sub-postoffice in which two women clerks work and flows in an evil-smelling stream down a gap through which the street cars pass.

   The trouble apparently arises from a stopped up cess pool.  The city sewers do not run through the immediate neighborhood, the neighbors said.

   Records show that Caruso owns, besides the beer garden, the building in which the postoffice is located.   There are no facilities in the postoffice.

The 20 Employes Furloughed 

   Here are the 20 city employes furloughed by Mayor McNair today:  James J. McKee, Edward Baker, Frank E. Carrol and T. F. Johns, sanitary inspectors at $2,350 a year each.

   Mary H. Markey, William McCourt and Charles A. Snyder, sanitary inspectors at $1,690 a year.

   Minnie O. Truesdale, clerk, in division of plumbing and house draining, $1,650.

   Pauline Ruin, stenographer’s clerk, Morals Court, $1,650.

   Joseph A. Sloan, plumber at Mayview City Home, department of Welfare, $12 a day.

   W. C. Batchelor, superintendent of recreation, department of pu[b]lic works, $3,000.

   J. J. Payne, chief engineer, bureau of test, department of public works, $3,750

   Robert Hutchinson, patrol inspector, bureau of building inspection department of public safety (two-week furlough), $1,750.

   Frank E. McManus, elevator inspector, bureau of building inspection, department of public safety, $2,000.

   Vaun C. Neff, sign inspector, bureau of building, department of public safety (two-week furlough), $2,000.

   Harry Klein, warm air furnace inspector, bureau of building, department of public safety (two weeks furlough), $2,000.

   Edward F. Roth, electric wiring inspector, bureau of building, department of public safety (two weeks), $2,000.

   Jayson P. Ferns, electric wiring inspector, bureau of building department of public safety (two-week furlough), $2,000.

   Florence Rubinoff, clerk, bureau of building, department of public safety (two-week furlough).

   Thomas L. Ryan, zoning clerk, bureau of building, department of public safety (two-week furlough).

  



http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5P8cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n44EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4011%2C6700

 

Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 23, 1935, Page 1

 

McNair Wants To Be President;

He’d Show ‘Em 

Mayor Says He’ll Run in 1936—Calls Roosevelt a Socialist 

   Mayor William N. McNair would make a much better president than Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

   The Mayor said so himself today as he addressed the Inquiry Forum at the University of Pittsburgh.

   He revealed he would not support Huey (“Kingfish”) Long for President in 1936 because e intends to seek that office himself.

    He said:

   “I can do better than the man who is in there.

   “That doesn’t mean I’m against the Democratic Party.

   “Franklin Roosevelt isn’t a Democrat.   He’s a Socialist.

   “Roosevelt ought to do what I’m doing, furlough a lot of people who are sitting around in Washington doing nothing.”

   “The Pittsburgh Police Department isn’t disorganized.  If a big criminal would come to town I’d appoint some one to be boss.   I’d know if a big criminal came here today.

   “I’d like to furlough all city detectives.  They don’t do anything anyway.

   “The Press threatened to have me impeached for removing people.   It can’t do that.

   “The City Manager plan wouldn’t work in Pittsburgh. If the manager dared to fire anybody that was a friend of City Council, he’d get fired himself.”

   While the Mayor was telling of his Presidential aspirations, some one in the room started to sing – very softly – “Wintergreen for President!” from “Of Thee I Sing.”

  

MAYOR AGREES TO QUIT FIRING 

Dunn for Bell Last Change McNair Says and Staff Starts to Worry 

Removal of A. Marshall Bell as safety director is the last cabinet change in the administration of Mayor William N. McNair.

   That was his announcement after City Council decided to meet in special session tomorrow to confirm the appointment of Thomas A. Dunn to the job, the fourth safety director in little more than a year.

   And for that reason a worried city payroll expect the newest McNarism was simply a warning of impending removals; they have long since learned that McNair’s statements are frequently reversed.

   “I think the Bell removal will be the last—until they rip me out of office,” the Mayor said.

   Then, taking advantage of his temporary powers as “Acting Safety Director,” this morning he dismissed City Detective John Gallagher, a brother of Councilman John Gallagher, a brother of Councilman Thomas P. Gallagher, and appointed in his place Jesse W. Ullom, chauffeur for both Mayor McNair and the late Mayor Charles H. Kline.  Police Superintendent Jacob F. Dorsey said he had not been consulted about the change.

   The new job increases Ullom’s yearly salary from $1,700 to $2,450.

   This development increased the doubts of many that peace had descended on City Hall at last, particularly in light of what Mr. Dunn told Council yesterday would be his attitude toward the Mayor.

   Mr. Dunn said he would refuse to take one of the 30-day “economy” furloughs the mayor is forcing upon all city employes.

   “Mr. Dun said he would tolerate no interference.

   Mr. Dunn said he would use his own discretion, and not that of the Mayor in the conduct of his office.

   Council also heard Mr. Bell informally but unceremoniously; dismissed a week ago, charge that Mayor McNair had broken his promise not to interfere with Mr. Bell’s administration of the safety department.  Council also heard [missing]

   They also heard Mr. Bell accuse “an acting magistrate” – who Council believed was McNair – of disrupting law enforcement by wholesale discharges of prisoners arrested in a safety campaign. 

   Councilmen expressed some doubt as to whether the confirmation of Mr. Dunn tomorrow will end the turmoil the Mayor has imposed on the safety department since his furlough of Mr. Bell.

   They believed Mr. Dunn’s statement that he would resign before he would accept a furlough might arouse McNarian anger.

   “There was a great lack of support from the police force, particularly regarding arrests for reckless,” Mr. Bell told Council yesterday as that body sought to iron out the tangled safety director situation.

   “Often police inspectors came to me and said:

   “For God’s sake, how can we keep on arresting people when we know they will be discharged the next morning?”

 

Reasons Were Discussed

 

   One of the reasons the Mayor gave to Council for firing Mr. Bell was that he lived to far from Pittsburgh on his farm at Oakdale, 20 miles away.   Another was that Council did not approve of Mr. Bell.   The third was Mr. Bell had refused to move to Pittsburgh where his town home is in Ridge Avenue, North Side.

   Did the Mayor ever insist on you moving to Pittsburgh?”  Mr. Bell was asked.

   “No.  We discussed it and I said if necessary, I would move to my town house.”

   The Mayor’s charge was that Mr. Bell’s administration was not satisfactory to Council was taken up next.

   “I don’t know why the Mayor would speak for Council,” President Robert Garland remarked.

   Councilman P. J. McArdle got a laugh when he replied:

   “Because we are always unanimous.”

   Mr. Bell told how the Mayor had called Mrs. Bell by telephone and told her to tell him that Mr Dunn had been appointed in his place.

   “Did the Mayor complain about your administration when he placed you on furlough?” one of the councilmen asked.

 

‘There Was Interference’

 

“No,” Mr. Bell replied, “but I didn’t think it was satisfactory although he didn’t say so.  I just had an idea.

    “I took the job with the understanding there would be no interference.

   “There was interference

   “I had to make vacancies in some minor jobs, none of them very important, and I was ashamed of agreeing to it.

   “It never occurred to me the Mayor did not have the authority to furlough me, therefore, I didn’t give any thought to the bond or to whether I was still head of the department.”

   He reiterated a statement made when he was dismissed’ that he had no desire to return to the directorship nor to cause any delay in the appointment of Mr. Dunn.

   Councilman McArdle, grinning wryly, commented

   “Mr. Bell’s troubles end when he walks out of this room but ours continue until there is a change in policy.”