The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-03
The street Commissionor Imbroxiio.

The street Cousmissiencr Imbrosiio.
The Street Commissioner imbroglio which
30 long occupied public attention and which
seemed to have been set at rest short time ago
by the unexpected confirmation Of Mr.. George
w. Mclean, has suddenly promised revival
through the announcement Of the appointment
of the new head of the department to the Office
OF Agent Of Internal Revenue. A brief his
tory Of the facts bearing upon this new phase
Of the affair will probably ease the minds Of
those who at present seem bewildered by the
complications which it presents.
Upon the resignation of Cornell il was deter
mined by the "ring" that Brennan should be
his successor in the Street Department II was
well known that he could not be reelected to
the Comptrollership, aad the complimentary
card requesting him to be candidate was con-
cocted only for the purpose Of aifordiug Mayor
Hoffman justification for nominating him as
Street Commissioner. In tn, meantime num-
Der Of ornamental nominations were to be
made, all Of which were to be rejected by the
Board OF Aldermen. A certain set Of Alder
men we're associated with Hoffman, Brennan
aud Sweeny in this arrangement, but in order
to secure the rejection Of the several nominees
by the remainder Of the Board each candidate
was required by the Mayor to pledge himself
in advance not to enter into any arrangement
with the Aldermen in relation to the patronage
Of the Office. When the list Of fancy nomi-
nations reached mr.. McLean's name he
was sent for by the Mayor and the usual
pledge required Of him. The singular condi-
tons imposed upon him disclosed at once the
fact that the nomination was fraud and a
cheat, and was to be made only for the purpose
Of carrying on the deception until the time ar
rived for the nomination Of Brennan. Mr.. Nc
Lean, we understand, required time to make
up his mind as to his acceptance, and left the
Mayors Office. Some few hours afterwards he
returned and agreed to allow his name 10 be
used, and gave the required pledge. The nomi-
nation was therennon sent in. when, to the az
constituent and chagrin Of the "ring," it was
confirmed by the Board ofAldermen.
This was terrible blow to Hoffman, Brcn.
nan, Swceny and the 'ring" Aldermen, and they
were thrown into confusion and CONSERVATION.
How the result was brought about they were
al loss to conjecture; but way to remedy
the evil occurred to them. Some four or Eve
months previously the name Of Mr. Mclean had
been pressed at Washington for Agent Of Inter-
nal Revenue; but he was opposed by HoF
man, Brennan, Sweeny and all the Tammany
"ringv and Manhattan Club influence. A sud-
den change now came over the sentiments Of
these gentlemen, and some Of them proceeded
at once to Washington, withdrew their oppos
ton to Mr. McLean's appointment and urged
favorable action upon his application. The re-
suit was the announcement that tho Office Of
Agent Of Internal Revenue was open to Mr.
McLean's acceptance.
This Is the whole history Of the affair. The
bargain between Mayor Hoffman and the "ring'
is the appointment of Brennan as Street Com
missioner. But that cannot be carried out so
long as Mr.. Mclean occupies the Office. IIc has
not yet resigned II, and IL Is not probable that
he will. The ueoDle are satisfied with bis ap-