The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-31

"bCnesn cast int their kennels than they had
gnawed upon even In the pamy days OF Tweed and
this Senator became suddenly impressed with the
danger OF leaving the selection OF city oficers to
tSs Of be
absolute power Of appointment to the Mayor and
the other found grave objections to ab0lishing the
Board OF Assistant Aldermen. The secret OF all
this confusion was that many OF the Senators be-
lieved the promises OF the democrats, and were
anxious for middle, In the hope Of being .seen"
sage OF any charter during the present session.
HOW THE MIDDLE WAS HELPED BY REPUBLICAN
All this time however the republican leaders
were deng their part to increase the difnculty
The Weed and Morgan interests became Jealous Of
the Murphy Bliss and Davenport influence, or, as
1t Is called, the influence OF the Custom House Ring.
priety OF taking full possession Of the city govern
ment and placing all the offices In republican
In which it should be done The Weed and Nor
gan side said, 1--WE have already some good repub-
licans in once In the city OF New York. Here are
Smith, who we regard as good officers ana useful
party men; new let them be retained and only turn
competent men, OF whom the city ought to be
rtd." The new republican leaders, representing
the federal administration; have not desired to
Willingness that the present republican 0ffiCials
shall be reappointed, but have insisted that all the
by whatever appointing power may be finally
agreed upon. But the other side have argued, '.ff
you honestly intend to reappoint Messrs Van Merit,
Stebbins and the two Smiths, why 90 through the
farce Of turning them out only to put them in
AGAIN." The truth is, the Custom House leaders
cheat at least some OF these present oficeholders
and the Weed and Morgan interest have resolved
that 1t shall not be done.
THE POWER BEHIND THE SENATE.
While, as ! have said, certain hungry Senators
were quite willing thatthe charter should meet an
obstruction on its way, In the hope OF the repeti
ton OF the profitable Ventures OF last session. 1t is
also true that the power behind the senate is to be
found In some Of your city departments which
have named. Unless Messrs. Van Mort and Smith
are assured that they win not be cheated no
charter can pass the Upper House. Messrs. wOodin.
that the city government should be republican,
bat they can see no reason why good republicans
be he q s
low weed Governor PAW Morgan s a sSn the ike
managers, however faithful and competent as lead
ers. There are many sound republicans who do not
with the custom House party, but who are not pre-.
pared to place unlimited power in their hands and
to suffer them to take entire charge OF the city pat
THE REPUBLICAN soUABBLE ONLY ABOUT INDIvID-
Still the republican squabble is, after all, only
about individuals, and will no doubt be overcome
without serious consequences in the end. The orig
through the intractableness OF the New York
Board of Aldermen, many of the members desiring
pa Vc. On
his associates were ready to agree upon such ap.
pointments as the republican organization
might approve; but others were greedy and
exacting. One mOdestly insisted upon naming the
Chamberlain. another demanded the selection of
Works, and 40 on through the list until the whole
OF the departments would have been partitiOned
among the personal friends OF the Aldermanic
Board. This would have necessitated the halt of
the Assembly bill in the Senate committee under
any circumstances, even If the personal greed OF
some OF the Senators and the intrigues of the
present democratic Ofice-holders had not placed
an obstruction in its way.
THE NEW PLAN OF APPOINTMENT
The new plan OF appointment agreed upon this
week was partly the result Of the grabbing spirit
Of the Aldermen and partly brought about through
the Custom House leaders are all in favor
Of 1t and have been laboring to make it
success So The only point Of disagreement a
tion In the charter of Messrs. Van Mort, Delafeld
Smith, Stebbins and Henry Smith, or the sweeping
away Of all the present officers. In the latter
event these gentlemen would Of course, have to
take their chances of reappointment by the Mayor
and the Presidents Of the boards Of Aldermen and
Assistant Aldermen To be sure, the Custom House
leaders promise that they shall be restored to
their several positions: but there is much peril
why go through the farce OF removing them at all ?
Their friends fear that the promises OF the new
Wisdom Of the old saying. "a bird in the hand is
worth tive in the bush is not probable that they
will suffer them to be removed. They have the
power to hold the Senate and they will do so, and
the Custom House party will no doubt agree in the
end to the retention programme.
GOVERNOR DIX IN FAVOR OF THE WEED POLICY.
The Weed and Morgan policy receives much
strength from the generally credited report that it
synpathlzes with the sentiment that refuses to
ignore the tme-hOnered leaders of the party, and
has all along insisted that Messrs. Weed and Nor
the charter should be passed. The report that the
Governor will not approve any chayter that does
f M as
belief that the people, in electing SO large major
ity ofrepublican Assemblymen, have pronounced
policy, and he will not interpose his veto on
any personal grounds when bill has received the
support of the republican legislators as q party
measure. IL was the wish that the majority OF
the Legislature might vote sOlidly in favor OF the
charter that induced the desire on the part OF the
Governor that the Weed and Morgan interest
should be studied and satisfied in the bill. Indeed,
It is sad that Governor Dix has expressed the
opinion that while Mayor Havemeyer might be
fully trusted to appoint none but honest compe-
tent and faithful men to office, the policy of giving
uncontrolled power OF appointment TO the Mayor
OF New York would be exceedingly dangerous in
view OF the great power OF the democracy and the
chances OF union OF the party That might elect
strong partisan as chief executive officer OF New
York at not far distant day.
THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF THE NEW PLAN
OF APPOINTMENTS.
There are, however some difficulties in the way
OF the new plan OF appointment decided upon by
the republican leaders and agreed in by the Senate
CAUCUS THAI pldn proposes Jndt tine neauS OF the
city departments shall be elected by the Mayor,
the President of the Board of Aldermen and the
President OF the Board OF Assistant Aldermen by
majority vote. Mr.. Vance is at present the presid-
ing officer OF the former Board and Mr. Wade OF
the latter Board. Neither can command majority
of the Board, and either may be displaced at any
moment. 1t has been the Intention OF the two
Boards, as soon the charter shall have been
passed by the Legislature and sent to the Gov
ernor to change their presiding officers. The law
dates from the time the Governor aflixes his
signature, and when he signed it the Presi-
dents would not be Messrs. Vance and
Wade, but two other Aldermen. II the
charter, should seek to guard against this danger
by providing that the present. Presidents should
be the men, that would only mean the Presidents
in Office when the law was signed and not when IL
was passed. II 1t designated as the appointing
power the two Presidents elected when the boards
were first organized no such officers would be In
existence when the charter became a law. and
hence the provision would be q nulity and the
present city officers would remain in office under
the common law until their successors should be
appointed. II, however 1t should be decided that
IN aha ALL.