The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-01
ABOUT THE CITY HALL.
Looking for Police Justiceships-Is the Law
Straight3-The Aldermen All Abroad
Still Another Hitch on William
son-What Does It Meant

Iuere was u lulnL Ilpple Vi luteTeSt uUOuL Tue
City Hall yesterday morning in consequence OF the
fact thata special meeting Of the Board Of Alder
men was to take place at hafpast one O'Clock, ana
there was also quite O numerous crowd OF callers
upon Mayor Havemeyer, the presumption being q
fair that they were nearly oil looking after the
Police Magistrates to be filed by His Honor's ap
pointment. 1t is now said that there viii be quite
o "kick" made against the ousting provisions OF
the bill under which these "Police Magistratesn
are to be appointed 1t appears that the bill provides
for the adjustment Of the Office OF "Polce Justces
in the city Of New York. 1t then goes to create
q Board OF ten police magistrates, and further
specifies their duties and powers, which, 1t is
claimed, are in substance and effect precisely SIM
liar to the powers and duties OF the existing JUS
ticeshps. 1t Is asserted, therefore, that the real
effect and object Of the new law was neither more
nor less than
MERE RUsE
to Dust the present incumbents, as creating new
form of authority, when in fact, the change relates
to nothing more than the name, and that the effect
and result OF the bill achieves no specific public OBJ
ject, either as to the forms Of minor criminal
law, its administration or operation. The be-
lief Is asserted by numerous persons, whose
opinions are entitled to consideration, That
such an enactment is unconstitutional; that
1t Is contra 00nos n,ores and Is sham and
sinister IN It's b e OBJECTS ana
course, and indeed probable that the point
taken Is little too thin, but 1t is at least being
looked ut, considered and perhaps strained some.
Of the Board Of Aldermen did not turn out to be .
meeting, when hali-past one O'Clock came. Almost
to the second, President Vance ascenCed the dais
to the presiding officers seat, aud there were pre-
sent at their desks just two members OF the
reporters were present in force. as 1t was deemed
just possible that there would be little sparring
nation Of David B. Williamson, for PARK Commits
sioner, confirmed. IL was well known at least that
there was no other business OF any consequence to
come before the Board and that there was quite an
element OF opposition to its success. The Presi-
dent sat for, perhaps, half minute In his chair.
"The Board win please come to ORDER" he said.
Aldermen Flanagan and Van schaick came to
order. They looked orderly enough before the
President had said word about il.
1.-THE Clerk will call the roll" said the President
Colonel Pinckney laughed little and called the
roll mildly, and Aldermen Flanagan and Van
schaick replied mildly Here" as their names were
Then the President cast mild
LOOK ABOUT THE ROOM
and two members, and said, rising from his seat =
"There being no quorum present this Board will
stand adjourned until Thursday next, at halfpast
Tap came the gavel to complete the formal ad.
journment, the President put on his hat and lett
Everybody else remained to find out the reason
OF the absence Of SO many members and the rapid
action OF the President. Everybody said 1t was
''sharp work." The Board was opened and ad-
j0urned in one minute nineteen and quarter sec
onds by stop watch time. Two minutes later
Aldermen Reilly and McCanerty came into the
chamber, then Alderman Ottendorfer and next
Alderman Clausen. Tie six present were all
democrats, and even ii the President had remained
would still have been insufficient to form quorum.
Nevertheless it was claimed to be ''sharp work.
Only fifteen minutes before the HERALD reporter
saw
ONE OF THE ABsENTEEs
going up Centre street, which. OF course, was the
wrong direction II he was looking for the Alder
manic chamber. and there were several longing
about the Mayors and Keeper Sutton's offices,
who did not show up at the meeting. Those who
did were all democrats; all the republicans, save
the President, stayed away, and 1t was o dem
confirmation. Some people, unkind OF course, said,
'"rhat tells the story" others said. II guess they
want to get the nomination, In place OF the with
drawn nomination Of Church, before they will take
ACTION ON WILLIAMSON
"What Is the reason the Board was adjourned so
quickly" asked Alderman Reilly
because the President didn't want to have a
meeting,' replied Alderman Van Scfaick, and that
Was about all that was said.
Alderman Van Schaick obtained some signatures
to a call for special meeting to be held on Mon
day, but for some private reason abandoned IL,
though he might easily have obtained the sigma
lures. The fact is, he was disguised with the
whole arrangement.
Meantime the Mayor has message, which the
Board ought to receive sOon IN regard to the civic
reception OF the remains OF Minister Orr, the de-.
ceased representative OF the United States at the
Court OF st. Petersburg. His body left Europe by
the steamer Thuringia on wednesday last.