The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-06
THE CITY FATHERS PLAYING OFF,
They Lay on the Table the Nominations
and Some Of Them Talk
Ugly Afterwards.
TEE swARHI OF oFFICE-sEEKERs
Mayor HaVemeyer Not Surprised by the
Aldermanic Attitude.

The excitement which has been fermentlng anu
seething around the City Hall for the past TWO
weeks eliminated yesterday, when it was under
stood that Mayor Havemeyer would decidedly make
his long discussed and long waited for appoint
ments The early morning brought crowd of
persons down to Mayor Havemeyer's office. They
were met with the unwelcome news that the
Mayor was not In. Momentarilv the crowd In
creased and in such proportions that only the very
distinguished las that word is understood in local
politics) were admitted to the Office at all. The
smaller people, attended by their familiars and in
Inmates spread around the corridors down the
broad steps, into the Park.
THE TAG, RAG AND BoBTAIL
The regular rir ran congregated stn farther out
and waited humbly that the next in grade should
give them the honor OF nod or the tnexpressibe
10y of a 'shaken 1t must be confessed, II truth
ts to prevail that this crowd, taken all in all, was
not whit better than the old rough and tumble
crowds who, in the gilded days OF Tammany, did
precisely the Micawberlsn work OF waiting for
for something to turn up. Indeed many of the
the same veteran faces, just as lean and
as hungry, just as anxious and expectant,
Just as obsequious and as humble. could
be recognized in the crowd, while many OF their
old bosses and leaders, whit less sleek and beiew
elled, perhaps, than in the old days when they
waited upon His Honor Mayor Hall or Mr.. William
N. Tweed were now dancing attendance In the
antechambers of Mayor Havemeyer. Not only had
the class not changed, but in many cases the faces
were present. not as bold nor as defiant, but still
there. What wonderful evoutions they have since
performed. what very small holes they have
crawled through, is only known to themselves,
Heaven knows; but there they were, as familiar as
ever and with the self same wants.
What particular object brought certainly forty
City Hall yesterday morning must remain forever
q mystery. 1t was as certain as fate itself that
there was nothing in store for them. But then they
knew best. Like the stone which rlcochets over
the water, an appointment might strike them on
the fourth or fifth bound and benefits indirectly
accrue to them 1t Is the old story OF
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS
until the smallest man In the crowd probably felt
some distant interest In the appointments. Ali
s.Appointmentsn that was the big word in every
body'smouth. Who were the coming menY Was Bill
this or Tom that to "get shown" Was the Mayor
going to "shake the old gang" or lido the
square thing" by them2 Wasn't Alder
man x. quitting up job'' on the
whole crowd Would the others ''drop If the house
tumbled,n and many other such mysterious quo
tatons from dictionary not perhaps, as familiar
to the general public as to potnouse politicians,
the Queens English and such an utter adherence
Of plain language that any but strong mans
heart would have quailed before such an avalanche
OF slang.
They sat on the steps, leaned up against the
walls, lounged about lstessly, did all things but go
away. There was an evident determination in all
their attitudnizations to see the thing out and 10
wait for the Mayor II 1t took all day. AT
about twelve O'Clock the wagon arrived. The
old gentleman walked up the corridor
with quick step, only nodding to two
or three, and passed into his private Office before
any one had had a chance to "buttonhoe'' him.
Once in the oflce the Mayor Is as impregnable as
In bastile, and cards fly In like hailstones. with
out even the satisfaction OF coming out answered.
There were some persons whom the Mayor did not
object to see; among these were Attorney General
Barlow. His interview with the Mayor was entirely
relating to the matter Of legislating MIR. Have
meyer ont Of Office and some legal talk was in
dulged in. Mr.. Thomas G. stewart also called, bat
only remained few moments. General Cochrane
was closeted with his Honor a few moments. The
rumor had spread through the crowd that
THE MAYOR HAD ARRIVED
and there was general rush to the office to see
him. But at the door they were met and even
their cards not sent IN. The usher contented him
self with saving, "The Mayor is engaged and cannot
see your This was meant as a general hint aud
was SO understood by the crowd, which murmured
and grumbled but could do nothing more effective.
corridors leading to the place an inside view OF
which was 80 much desired. There were all kinds
ex-Coroners, ex-Assistant Aldermen, ex-deputies
OF oil Kinds gamblers and loaiers, all chronic office
seekers, by the cartload the whole representing q
very vast amount OF former power but Ia itself
very nugatory In influence at present. They
fretted and fumed. perhaps, for but
many Of their cases never 60 come back. The he
motley assemblage was comprised OF many ele-
ments, which mingled in one common misfortune.
and
cidedy not be seen all the attention was concen-
trated on the coming meeting OF the Board OF
Aldermen. II was supposed that Mayor Have
meyer would make all his appointments In the
afternoon and considerable curiosity existed TO
know what would be done with the Police Board
and that OF Charities and Correction. 1t was
thought that at all events in other respects the APP
pointments by the Mayor would DC satisfactory.
As the result shows this expectation was disap-
pointed and
MATTERS rURNED.o OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY.
To each gentleman who would come from the
-Afsyor's office the question would be propounded
,"What about them appointments aud all the In
formation that could be elected was that the
Mayor would have them ready by half-past three
O'Clock, and that they would not be made public
before being submitted to the Board OF Aldermen.
empiiaed, and the hands OF the City Hail clock
seemed to move unaccountably SLOW 10 the Two or
three hundred who were waiting about for the
great hour to come. But II did come at last, and
in nled tine Aldermen to their seats In the Board
lnen the curious phenomenon was exemplihed OF
300 trying to get into room which by any pos
ynarter Of that number. Then the corridor
became 80 hlled with people that 1t was
with great dl1culty even the late Aldermen could
get inside The report OF the meeting itself will
DE found below. Wnen the appointments or nomi-
1atiOns were made there was a general sigh OF re-
lief In the crowd. What 1t meant seemed to be ex-
pressedin what one very fierce person said to the
HERALD reporter bad enough; but they amt
half so bad as we expected. That's something's
With the Aldermen themselves the signs oil dts
satisfaction and disgust were very evident. That
they didn't appreciate the nominations OF the
Mayor was almost Immediately made evident by
The laying Of them over. But after the meeting
was over HERALD reporter went among them
md here and there. cangnt gltmnae Of the nafnre