New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-18
MAYOR HAvEMEYER's OPINIONS.

MavOr Havemeyer was evidently IN good
hurnor and communicative mood, and, in reply 70 the
inquiries Of the reporter who called upon him, SAID
other things ana critical OF the Charter,
on the whole probably good one as could
have been obtained from the present Legislature he
believed the Governor would sign it, but probably not
before the expiration OF ten days from its passage
BY the Legislature. There many things in
the Charter which are wrong and should be ~Dr-
rected. This could best be done by means OF
a supplemental act, and such one he had reason To
believe would be introduced before the close Of the
session. and IL passed. would be likely 20 meet with the
approval Of the Governor There were some things in
the Charter inserted the confusion Of its nna passage
that might require modification or change BE had not
vet had time 20 closely examine the Charter and could
not therefore az yet crlticse all its sections fully.
With reference the matter OF appointments or nomi-
nations had nothing 10 say yet, except that be
would endeavor IN each case 10 good
men for all positions OF trust and im-
portance The Charter gave him % days
from its passage before he required TO make nou-
nations so that it might be nearly month before any
material change made he had not been approached
as vet relative 20 nominations probably for the
that the Charter had been recently passed. 10 was
not likely that all the nominations would be sent in 10
the Board OF Aldermen in a batch. It was more probs-
bic that they would be taken up separately
and acted upon The Mayor questioned
the expenses OF his ofice-whether it consider
ably less than expended during the regime OF Mayer
Hall. He said he believed IL was, but he deemed the
$4,000 allowed by the present Charter ampie-mOre,
in fact than would probably be called for unless
unforeseen emergency arose urging expenditure OF
money Tie attention Of the MayOr called 20 the
first part Of Sec. 25 which reads as follows
''The Mayor shall nominate and, bv and with the
sent OF the Board OF Aldermen, appoint the heads OF
departments aud all commissioners save Commissioners
NJ
lowing commissioners ana 0hcers WHO neld Oice
"a such on the LIST day of January in the year 1879 that
is no saw the Controller the Commissioner OF Public
the Department OF Public Parks and the President OF
the Department OF Police which said Con
troler, Commissioners, and Counsel 70 the Corpora
non shall hold their respective offices. as such
Controller Commissioners and Counsel 10 the Corpora
aforesaid, until the expiration Of their respective
terms OF office for which they were appointed, unless
removed for cause herein provided, and the said
Mayor shall in Ike manner appoint all members OF any
board or commission authorized to SuDerintend the
erection or repair any building belonging 10 be-
paid by the citv whether named In any law or ap-
pointed by any local authority ana Also members OF any
other local board and all other officers not elected by The
people. including the Commissioners Of Jurors. whose
appointment IS not in this act excepted or otherwise
provided for
He was asked whether, in his Judgment this action
continued officers the heads OF their respective
departments or whether It merely continued them n
Office as Commissioner leaving TO the Boards OF Com
missoners the choice Of their officers, heretofore
He replied that his opinion the Boards had the power
10 elect their officers and that the persons named
we're retained merely Commissioners. the Office being
used as title 10 designate the particular 70 be
retained The wording OF the section, he thought
planned this clearly. The Controller and Commissioner
of Public Works were, OF course, by virtue OF their
Offices the heads OF their respective departments.
With reference the abolition OF the Board OF Assist
ant Aldermen. he thought the question lar the
future-it taking effect until Jan l. ls75-that
hardly worth discussing at length future Legisla
ture might pass act continuing the Board in exist
ence He was in favor OF the retention OF the Board
order that all sections might be Represented in
the Common Council, and tins might not be
the case were the Board OF Aldermen alone
retained In the present Board Of Aldermen
which, before the death OF Alderman Glsey,
contained IS members. there three from the slN
eenth Ward alone while the lower part Of the city was
represented by only two members. Several large
and influential wards 50 far as population ana wealth
are concerned had representation in this branch OF
the Common Council. This is wrong Each Ward should
have representative In the other OF the branches
OF the Common Council who will look oa for III inter
ests This IL absolutely necessary; otherwise the inter
ests OF section OF the city might De saeTnced iOr
another.