New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-02
THE TANAIANY ALDERMEN ROUTED.

l.
Conan chair and after transacting little routine
bu sness adjourned until II o'clock. Most Of the men,
bers however remained in the aud held private
caucus the purpor OF which kept profound secret
Soon after the adjournment was ruInored
that at the next meeting, serious
conflict for the possession OF the room would
take place between tho New Board Of Aldermen
and the Old Board This rumor drew 70 the City Hall
large and excited crowd Of the friends Of both Boards,
who inpauently awaited further Developments When
the hour arrived, and admission 70 the room occn-
pied by the Old Board refused the impotence OF the
crowd grew mOmentarily greater, and would probably
have eliminated IN attack the doors had they NOT
been opened about 11i The friends OF both parties
rushed Immediately in such numbers that they densely
packed the ROOM and IN some instances stood upon
one anohers shoulders Order being partially restored.
Mr. Conan rendered his resignation az President OF the
Board, and 1t was unanimously accepted. Alderman
Plunklt then nominated Alderman Woltnan for PTesl-
dent Of the Board, and the latter was unanimously
elected Upon taking the chair he thanked the Board
for the honor conferred upon him. and then resigned.
Mr. Conan was Immediately reflected and, the confu-
sion incident to such proceedings having subsidized Alder
man Woltman presented the following report Of the
Joint Committee on County Accountsi
THE TAMMANY ALDERMEN on THE TAMhANY FRAUDS
THEY RESOLVE TO MAKE THE MAYOR VICTIM
The Special Committee appointed by this Board 70 ey
anime the financial condition and accounts OF the city
and county in conjunction with IKE Coi1thietee ap
pointed by the Board Of Supervisors respectfully report
that your Committee desiring to make t9oroaga ana
counts selected the following gentleinen all OF whom
were citizens Of TflknoTn character anu LFeprotca2-
HE lteRry TO act with them ia conducting their exam
nation and investigation, yz William A. Booth. Royal
Phelps Paul n, spofOrd Thomas " PeaTsall Thomas Thomas
I&nhox Kennedy H. d Cladin, James a. Roosevelt,
William II. Osborne, Samuel WlIess gohn d DonaldsSp,
the said Committee Of Citizens appointed, after having
carefully ana o, o, month"; Sd
the their Investigations with this Committee In
That the said COMMITTEES report that lross frauds have
been practiced in the management Of Our city and
ocais OF rssSSpd that any SPECIFIC action be token
by the city &bd county authSrtes other than mat "a
transmitted TO mis- Honor the Mayor.
OF the COMMITTEE Of Citizens and to various reports OF
their suO-COnmttees, upon which the said report is
based having to conclusion that the report
fully Justified and called for ny the facts developed upon
the investigation Of the city and county ears dld nos
until they had carefully considered what would
be proper for your Committee TO rsSonpe9d TO this
atons Of fand developed by the Investigation instituted
Your Committee had hoped thar the various orgnnizs
tons Ostensby formed for the purpose OF exposing cor
rupon and bringing those o1clsls guilty. Of fraud 70
punishment would have consulted and advised with
your Committee 70 what course ought 70 be pursued
BIZ the city and county authorities II Ordeg ~ punish
those who have been gity Oh Irau anu ROs $500 70
recover back the money fraudulenty Obtained trom tae
Slty anu Goul1 d ySons ar ali Hines 10 recon.
mend action should best subserVe the interests
quarter any ntimatOn that the cooperation or assist
ahcc of The Common Council was desirable OF requisite,
or could made beneficial 20 the interests OF the Guy Ut
the Of justice OF reform, ..
and sincerity having called 10 their assistance number
of the abes and citizens in city and had there
y caused the whole machinery OF fraud III the City and
Ser NAT er No doaSt Whatever IN the minds Of the @
zens OF this city that the Investigation had been thor
Of the opinion that the Common Council should not be en-
trely inactive under the circumstances out tha
Law permits and the circumstances OF the case
And n.this connection II is proper TO state thht tue COM
mon Council In no manner Responsible elther
directly indirectly for any Of the frauds shown by the
Committee Of Cittens 70 have been pFacSed nor yers
existence much less Of preventing their being COMMITTED
The present gives the Common Council no con-
troll whatever over the Departments OF the CITY Govern
y them 10 the Common Council, does 1t authorize
the Common Council TO call for any reports or I1orIna-
ZION rn the different Departments. This power OF oou
trolling and supervising the various DePaT OF the
Council by the present charter vested ~ the mayor
who alone has the power TO appoint the heads or aud
quarterly reports OF the warrants frop the City Treas
S SqT te n"T furnished to the Mayor and thus
Common Council pad no means 81 Ano"lnS III """'
manner the publfc money was expended 49, - 4.
The evident intention OF the present charter was 70
concentrate power tue hands Of the Mayor and to
make HIM specially il not almost alone responsible OF
tbe good order and efficient government OF the CITY Sec
97 OF the Charter OF 1870 provides, II snail De the
duty OF the Mayor TO communicate with tue Conilol
CoHncii AZ Least once year; recommend measures
connected with the security OF the city protection ana
aI IN causing the laws to executed aud generally to
perform all such duties may be prescribed IoT hm 1y
the laws aud ordinances. See 81 provides that tine
shall when cal ed on by the Mayor report
to him their operations anu action sec. % ~ s
days Of every person II whose FAVOR an account
hss been audited &c &c it tnns VIII oe seen oat I1S
in al matters relating to the government OF The Guy ana
vested with AL the authority 70
power ysstso y, LIZ 1bcb ID1r NAV he excrcised by
resolution Of twothrds OF al the members elected in
each Beard after mature and deliberate consideration
Your Committee have to The CONCLUSION that the
facts brought 20 the knowledge OF your COMMITTEES ana
which forth In the report OF the Commltee OF ~
impeached by the Common Council ane hsSor Deips
vested by law WIN the M o. a. ts ,aemest ~
their financial accounts and having the authority 20 eai
for such further Information as lie might IegGre anu
ment Of these Departments, and frsndsot TIE k"Ts
kinds hayns been pro. gu, A., Mstor ioJ be held
responsible and deemed liable Tor the frauds that nave
heep committed Your Committee therefore, recon-
mend mat The Mayor iupcacned Tor mafeasance aud
misfeasAnee IN office ia not having properly discharged
The dntiee Imposed upon him.
The charter Of 1910 makes the duty Of the Court OF
Common Pleas Ia dehns ny lue the mode o. ImpeNI
msnt and trial OF charges This Court 20 lar as your
tue mode OF Impeachment aud, IN the absence OF any
sue rule your Committee recommend that reson ton
OF peaeiment be passed aud that counsel he drsig
mated Ia prepare the necessary Sftlces OF imIeaent
and prosecute the same before the Court OF Common
Pleas in accordauce with any rule thai may hereafter
he adopted by the Court Of Common leas Ine repoFt
ooncluaes witt recOmms ndaton that vote oil thanks
be accorded 10 the Committee or Citizens Who acted
with Committee OF tIs Common Council ia al
eating the Uity aud county accounts Te~19 On ~
accordance Herewith Was gDan lnou-Iy adOpied.I
JAMES G. DINoND,
FDwAKD kChLICnIIAO, Corr,,t,.,e
&. W. PLUHArg,
HEhRy NOLTGAh,
This report was acccpted, ana Alderman Wc!einSn
then offered the following ut,,
isFEAcnIA0 TnE MANOR.
p.s.I..,l Thai A Cak.sX H. !. hu.ay ~ the tity