The New York herald., 1873-10-03
A REFORM LAUNDRY.
Washing Dirty Political Linen In Pub
Hc-Aidermnn Kehr Arraigned.


Alderman Peter Kehr, one OF the recalcitrant
reform Aldermen, who has been ''kickingn against
Mayor Havemeyer's nominees all the summer, and
promises TO do so all winter, was arraigned before
the Executive Board Of the Seventeenth
Ward Council of Political Reform last night, on
a demand by that body that he should
explain his course with reference to the nomina-
tions for Police Justices There were present some
eight or ten gentlemen, mostly OF the s'od fogy'
age. Mr.. Tatum presided, Mr.. Hawes acted as
secretary and mr.. Boune olciated as chief inter-
locutor. The general nature Of the citation being
set forth by the chairman, Alderman Kehr made
quite lengthy explanatory statement of his
reasons for declining to take action on the nomi-
nations, taking substantially the same grounds
and traversing the same line Of
argument exactly as he did in his recent speech
before the Board OF Aldermen. pamphlet copies OF
which he handed to each gentleman OF the COM
mittee He held tnat the act was unconstitutional,
lnasmuch as the constitution provides that the
Legislature shall have power to establish criminal
Courts OF inferior jurisdiction in the city, but the
removal OF the Justices was made subject to the
general law OF removal by the Senate and Lcgisa-
ture. After some debate the Chairman suggested
the appointment OF committee OF three TO take
testimony and hear in full Mr.. kehr's explanation
and defence and to report at the next meeting
The ALDERMAN stated that he had been invited
here to explain and he had done so. II that was
him, as court for trial. They might take what
ever action they chose upon his explanation
already given.
Mr.. BouSE said 1t was the function OF the courts
and not OF the Aldermen to pass upon the consti-
tutonality oil the laws. The Legislature directed
that the Board should either confirm reject
these nominees.
Alderman KEHR said he was not bootblack to
the Legislature, ana they might direct him to do
good many things he would not do. He denied
that this act was in any event the work OF the
Legislature. II was the work OF the obbymen,
concurred IN, for reasons, by the Legislature.
Mr.. BEERS then made a long statement to the
general effect that In the interest OF good govern
ment and TO throw sop 10 the Germans
he had several intervals with the Alderman, in
the course OF which the Alderman finally promised
to vote for the nominations. One OF the consider
atfons was that the Mayor and heads OF some or
the departments should use their influence to have
Sergeant Siehert promoted to captaincy OF police
Another was that in case OF any rejectons Of police
justices two Germans should be put on the list Of
new nominations.
Alderman KEHR denied the conditions asserted
by Mr. Beers, and claimed that Siebert was pro-
NOTED as recognition OF his (Kenr's) past SER
vices and to cultivate the German good opinion.
He said he had begged till two O'Clock in
the morning at the Mayors doorsteps for some
recognition for his German constituents, but the
Mayor always said, ~ know no Germans-we are
all Americans in this country He had been
euchered all through in this matter and now,
finding the consttutionality OF this law TO be a
sound objection, he made use Of II as an Offset.
A committee, consisting OF Messrs. Beers, Hawes
and Boyer, was appointed to Investigate and re-
port.