New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-02
THE PARTISAN CHARTER.
. IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE SENATE.

IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE SENATE.
THE APPOINTING POWER GIVEN TO THE MAYOR
MEssRs. srEBBNs, VAN MORT, HENRY SMITH,
AND L. DEIAFIELD SMITH TO BIZ RETAINED-TiB
cHAmBERIAN's TERM OF OFFICE TO BE FOUR
YEARs-FrvE POLICE COMMISSIONERS INSTEAD
OF -FOUR ..
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUsEl
The Senate has been in Committee all day on the
Charter This morning, Mr. Woodin Withdrew his
proposition to vest the appointing power in the
Presidents of the Boards Of Aldermen and the
Mayor aud offered as a substitute for Mr. Lowery's
proposition, to allow the Mayor TO appoint and the
Aldermen to confirm, but retaining in the office the
Commissioner Of Public Works, the Presidents Of
the Board Of Police and Park Commissioners, and
the Corporation Attorney. This amendment was
carried without division.
D. p Wood moved to substitute for retention the
Controller IN place of the Corporation Attorney.
The motion lost by vote of 10 to IL. MIR. Chat
field offered to add the Controller to the four officers
retained which was also lost by vote of II to H.
Office which was lost by vote of Z to 10.
Mr.. Lowery moved to strike the President Of the
Board of Police Commissioners from the officers re-
tanned. The person who now fills that Office is
Henry Smith, for several years a member of the old
Board of Supervisors, of which Mr. Tweed was Pres
ident. During the latter part Of the existence of
that board Mr.. Smith was chairman of the commit
tee which audited and reported many Of the fraudu-
lent bills for plumbing furnishing, and other work
on the New Courthouse. He is also well known
as the President of the Bowling Green Savings
Bank. Mr.. Lowery's motion received three votes
only
In the evening, on motion of Mr. Woodin the term
Of Office of the Chamberlain made four years in
stead of two, and the number of Police Commission
ers was increased to five.
The above changes include all the amendments of
any consequence which have been made to the
Charter to-day. Intellectual attempts were made to
transfer the control of the streets and avenues above
Fifty-ninth-st. from the Commissioner Of Public
Works to the Commissioners Of Parks, and
to give the Department Of Public Works to
three Commissioners. The discussions were
not very spirited, and call for no
particular mention. Senators Palmer, johnson, and
Scoresby were absent in the morning, though they
all appeared before the Senate adjourned tonight
1t is quite possible that Mr. Green may be retained
when a vote is taken by Yeas and Nays in full
Senate. According to current opinion here, Messrs
Murphy, Bliss and Davenport have been badly
beaten, though some Of them pretend to be satisfied
with the action of the Senate. 1t is regarded as
little strange that OBren voted for the retention of
Controller Green and Weismann for that of Henry
Smith.
According to the action of the Senate to-day, and
to well authenticated reports of the proceedings OF
the caucus, last Wednesday night Henry Smith has
more friends in the Senate than either of the others
who are 10 be kept in Office. On the other hand,
some Republicans in the House say they will never
vote for the Charter IL Smith is to be permitted to
continue in the Police Board They say he attempted
to create 81 row" in the Republican Convention at
Syracuse, two years ago. and that his reputation is
so bad that his retention will injure the party
through the State.
All sorts Of speculations are INDUCED in to the
ultimate fate of the Charter some saying that the
Custom-hOuse men will attempt to kill it, especially
If Green is retained; Others that some new plan of
appointment will yet be brought forward and others
still that Messrs. Bliss and Davenport will carry
their points by some juggle in conference COM
mittee.
There is, however, strong party in the Assembly
in favor of accepting the Senate amendments and
getting rid of the Charter as speedily as possible
They urge that the hundred days have almost ex-
pired; that most of the important business of the
session remains untouched and that it is impossible
at the best to pass charter which will last more
than 10 mouths. Things are badly mixed as ever,
the only assured fact being that the managers on
the part of the Customhouse sgnally failed TO carry
out their designs and have seriously jeoparded
their supremacy in the councils of the party.
AN AMENDED TwENrY-sEvENTH SECTION FINALLY
ADoPTED-CoNTRoLLER GREEN DISCUSSED.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l
ALBANY April 1.-The special order the New-York
Charter was taken up in the Senate, this morning,
and Mr.. Woodn stated that when the Charter was
up on Friday last he offered amendment to the
9th section which he desired to withdraw, and
offered the following instead:
THE Mayor shall nominate and, by and with the con-
sent OF the Board OF Aldermen, appoint the heads OF all
departments and all commissioners, save the Commits
sioner OF Public Instruction, as well as all members OF
any board commission authorized to superntend the
erection or repair any building belonging TO OF to DO
paid for by the city, whether named In any law or
appointed by any local authority, and also all members
of any other board and all other officers not elected
by the people whose appointment Is not In this act ex'
empt or otherwise provided for The present ncumbens
OF the offices OF Counsel to the Corporation President OF
the Board of the Police Commissioner OF Public Works.
and President of the Department of Public Parks shall
continue TO hold and occupy their respective Offices until
the end OF the terms thereof unless sooner removed
herein provided"
The amendment was carried.
DIP Wood moved to further amend by striking out the
latter half Of the section. Lost.
DIP Weed regretted to see an indication among GER
tain Senators destroy all the work Of reform which
had perfected the last few years In NewYork He
panied to hear the Senator from the xth MR. Mad
aen) make nsnuations against Mr.. Green during the
debate last week.
Mr. Madden--No insnuations. They were assertions.