The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-02
The Mayor and the Aldermen-The New
Board Installed In Office.

The Mayor and the Aldermen-The New
Board Installed In Office.
II WAS strange s'New Years" yesterday at
the City Hall. Instead Of the usual ''cakes
and ale," with happiness all round and the
compliments OF the season thrown in. there
was an abundance Of discord, with fighting
within and broils without. The Slowing cup"
was not passed round, but the jeer, the threat
and occasionally the oath was literally dis
tributed. There was gathered within the
walls of the time -honored building an excited
assemblage Of politicians, each party of which
was determined to have its own way. The
Mayor appeared I'm the character of "peaoe-
maker, and by his commercially prompt and
wise action prevented an unseemly fight as to
who should occupy the Aldernanic Chamber.
Gu Saturday an order of prohibition had
been served upon Mayor Hall, forbidding him
to swear In the old Board of Aldermen on the
following Monday. Whether the Mayor would
obey this order was mooted question. That
he did not intend to obey it is now known /;
for he told the newly elected Aldermen yes
terday he was we'll advised not to do so. The
old Board was the only one of the two con-
tending Boards who had had given to them
anything like the pabulum of belief that the
Mayor would decide in their favor On Satur-
day the Mayor had handed to their clerk the
needfal blanks for filing up the oath of Office,
and he did everything but say what he would
do. He LETT margin on which these Aldermen
might rest their faith, and trust Lin, if they
would. They met as early as nine o'clock
yesterday morning, earlier even than that had
they been in secret conference; they ad-
journed after transacting formal business to
half-past ten o'clock.
AT their second session their faith In the
Mayor gave way. A diabolical whisper had
reached them that the Mayor would play them
false. They yielded to the evil suggestion,
and they made an unseemly haste to be even
with their supposed hetrayer. They would
impcach him, and 10 the amazement of the few
privileged spectators who were permitted to
represent the public in the Aldefmanic
Chamber, these Aldermen assumed virtue if
they had it not, and were Mortified to find the
Mayor had been guilty of malfea-
sance in Office, ard were animated by
only one desire, and that was to
cleanse their pure and unstained official
robes of a blemish that was so hideous in
their sight. The report setting forth the
articles OF impeachment, the resolutions that
were Immediately and unanimously passed,
will be found in another column. When the
Mayor heard Of this action Of the Common
Council he promptly decided that if they
could not trust him he certainly could not
trust them with any heightened term of
official life. He decided to withhold from
them the oath of Office and to swear in the
new Board. How this was done, with what
dignity and business tact the proceedings
were characterized, our readers can judge.
That the new Board has been elected by the
people there can be no doubt, that they have
been appointed by the Mayor is equally Ger
tain. That no unprejudiced person ought to
deny their qualification for the places they
have been called upon to ill was evidenced
by their conduct yesterday in the first moments
of the flush Of victory. The Mayor is of an
opinion that this Aldermanic body will be
idle speculation to discuss the ultimate result
of the proceedings in the Supreme Court.
With the active cooperation of the Legisla'
ture and the executives Of all the city depart.
ments it would be extremely difficult for the
Courts to displace them. Their initiation into
Office was attended by circumstances that
should stimulate them to faithfulness of duty
and the ultimate ''well done" of their fellow
citizens.
A MoTTo FOR THE TAMMANY ADuERENTs-