The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-10
The Never-Ending Grasping
After the Spells.
MORE ABOUT THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS,
Comptroller Green's Crisis a Very
Severe One.
he rs YET TO LIVE A LITTLE WHILE.
The Familiar Buncombe About Parties
and the City Government.
Assembly Discussion on the Po-
lice Justices Bill.

Assembly Discussion on the PO-
lice Justices Bill.
ALBANY, April Q, 1873.
The Senate Chamber was crowded to-day to hear
the battle OF words and votes that the charter war
presaged, and every Senator except Madden and
Ames was in his seat On calling up the charter
question Senator d. P. Wood moved to strike out
all in section relating to the retention Of
THE BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN
He thought the universal voice OF New York city
was in favor OF its abolishment, and did not doubt
that 1t would be cheaper to repay members their
election expenses than continue the present Beard
| to the end OF Its term.
Mr.. Weismann thought the Board ought to remain
until the expiration OF its present term.
Mr.. Benedict said In his view 1t was the universal
desire OF New York city that the Assistant Alder
men be retained. He thought the next Legislature
| would take steps further upon this matter,
but ne would not himself accept the respon-
sibility OF aboishing 1t now. 1t had been in
use for forty years, and had been established by
convention of wisdom and worth unsurpassed In
similar bodies since. Its abolition Is q project of
the Committee OF Seventy in order that cumua-
tive voting might be put in use.
Senator Tiemann favored the Board. Every Sen
| ator here whe has been u member OF the Common
Council is in favor OF retaining both Boards, and
he was in hopes they would be retained.
The motion was lost. Ayes 8. nays y, as fol-
Iows-Mr. Cock having paired with Senator Mad
den, who has gone home on account of death IN
his family.
YEAs.-Messrs. Lowery, MCGOWAN, Wager, wlesman,
psen Foster , Graham Hg,o%s J"s"ssn Lewis Mhy
WHISKY Wood %oSd cSsss and i Ssrais
in Italics
Senator Murphy proposed his amendment making
THE CONTROLLERS OFFICE ELECTIVE
as follows: The head of the finance department
shall be called the Controller of City OF New York,
and shall be first elected on the first Tuesday in
June, 1s73 and take his office the LIST day OF July
succeeding, and hold such office until January !,
every four years succeeding commencing at the
general election in 1877.
THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS ALL ELECTIVE.
elective the offices OF Commissioner OF Public
Works, President OF the Board OF Police, Presi-
dent Of the Department OF Parks and the Corpora
ton Counsel.
senator MURPHY opposed putting the purse and
the sword in the hands OF one man. He thought
the Comptroller stood on peculiar ground apart
from all other heads OF departments
statement but he saw no reason why the Comp.
troller should not retain his place as well as the
ay N made bV ne nS
from the Twentysecond (Mr. ID. +. Wood) should
not be adopted as well as that of the Senator frem
senator d. P. Wood said he favored keeping the
Comptroller an Independent officer; but when you
put him In the
CAULDRoN OF ELECTIVE POLITICS
you make him dependent upon the most tyran-
nical OF masters-a voting population only one in
ten or whom have interest in the strict guar
ship of the public treasury.
Senator Lewis said he had not been consulted
outside the Chamber regarding this matter, but he
desired to suggest the proprlety OF electing the
Comptroller OF New York Just as we do the Comp
senator Temann said it was only few years ago
that all the heads Of departments were elected.
from the Eighth (Mr. Tlemann) ought to be better
informed than any OF us, but he was mistaken in
statutes relative to the methods OF selection
Of such heads, showing that the Croton Aqueduct
other heads had never been elected except once,
under the laws of ls4e He thought Messrs. Flagg
and Hail. who were elected were the best Comp
troers New York city ever haG.
Mr. Wemann very promptly And Connolly was
also elected, and he was the very worst.
Senator d. r. Wood said, nevertheless, 1t only got
Senator Murphy said there were nine.
Senator Palmer thought the suggestion good
one. Dick Connolly was the last Comptroller
elected but It seems he began his stealing after
he was appointed. There can be no check where
the Mayor countersigns the warrants drawn by
his own appointee Millions OF dollars are drawn
every day, and the little close Corporation, in
Guiding the Mayor and Comptroller, have the
sole jurisdiction over them. He favored the
retention OF Mr. Green, but he also favored the cleo
ton OF the Comptroller. A great princi lie was in
voved in the question.
Senator Benedict thought that the Comptroller
should not be elected any more than cashier OF O
bank, Tor he Is cashier OF the city OF New York This
proposition never presented itself to me until 1t
was suggested by the senator from the Third. |
have.heard OF the Custom House
Senator Murphy said he had not had any con-
suatiOn with any one about this proposition, and
certainly not with that gentleman OF high char
acrer from the lobby whom the Senator rom the
Mr. Lowery-If the Senator will allow me, left
the thigh Character out.
Mr.. Murphy-The Senator from the Twenty-sec-
ond says the Comptroller II the Office were elec-
tive, would have TO go down to the people. And
has It come TO this Is It going down to receive
Senator himself hereS Did he go down, descend to
nus as No T. to secure his
where worth and honesty is concerned, and If the
NOT rAMPERED WITH
they will secure honesty and worth In their officers
have not presented their suggestion in view of
| any difficulties pending In the dominant party, but
| / have presented IL solely in obedience to the
democratic principles OF my whole political life:
Senator D.. ,. Wood thought as the Senator from
the Third was so eloquent over the rights OF the
people in regard to the election OF one officer, that
the election OF the four other officers included
In his (Wood's amendment.
/ THE VOTE
The vote was then taken Senator Woods
amendment, adding the four departments to the
list Of elective officers, and was lost by Is to o. as
Italics) =
A SS; sm BsEs S sns p Sssa Cha
field bl Dleknson Foster Graham, Lewis Mcgowan
J. Wood and Woodin-IS
| CLOSING IN
Mr.. ID. p Wood then further amended to make
the election OF Comptroller take place only at the
| expiration OF the term OF the present incumbent,
In 1875 lie said there was reason why any dis
| junction should be mace against the present able
incumbent and nc was willing to suppose that this
| was not a personal attack upon Mr.. Green.
| While the vote was being taken IL was seen that
! IL would De very close and Senator Johnson re-
| quested that the sergeant-atArms be requested to
invite senator's I'm. The Lieutenant Governor i'm
mediately gave the requisite order.
/ Mr.. Winslow-1he rules give the President no
authority to require the attendance OF senators.
Mr.. Johns0n-lf the Senator from the Eighteenth
| wonld read the rules he would learn differently.