New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-29
ALBANY.
THE POLICE AND PARK BILL PASSED BY
THE SENATE.

lhC AND fAhh DILL lhiooIsD
THE SENATE.
LETTER FROM MAYOR HAyEMEYER DIRECTING TO
THE MEAsURE-rTE OPPOSITION OF THE DEMO
cRATs-THE MAYORS STATEMENTS DENOUNCED
BY THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or THE BILL
BY A STRICT PARTY VOTE.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE tribune
Albany, April 2S.-The sensation in the Legisla-
ture to-day the letter Of Mayor Hayemeyer,
copies of which were sent to the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House, repudiating
all connection with the party measure which pro-
poses to confer upon him the power of appointing
Heads Of Departments without the consent of the
Board of Aldermen. The ridiculous position IN
which this letter places the Custom house
politicians and the Republican members of the
Legislature who have been caucusing this measure
and had completed all the arrangements for putting
1t through, is most keenly appreciated by them. and
they are in doubt whether they should be most
astonished at what they call the tfickery the men
dacity of the Mayor. His statement that he did not
approve of the BILL and not aware that 1t was to
be introduced, they pronounce absolutely false On
tie contrary they say that he fully appraised Of
the fact and expressed himself pleased with it, or,
as one of them says, he tckled to death about
IT," Perhaps he was laughing at the opportunity
afforded him of getting even with the men whom he
charged last Winter with spending their time in
gambling by night and cheating the people by
day. There is no getting the fact, how
ever, that portions of the letter are not
sstent with the previous record and past DECLARE
tons Of the writer. The Mayor says he is opposed
to the power proposed to be conferred upon him on
principle, and always has been opposed to 1t. 1t is
notorious that in the discussions the Charter last
Winter the friends of the Mayor all sought to secure
for him the power of appointment and removal, in
dependent of the Aldermen, and in his first annual
message to the Common Council he takes ground
substantially in favor of this power, and expressly
says that the Mayor should have the power Of re-
moval of heads ofdepartments, including the Cham
berlain :" for cause" More than this, Gov Dix, in
his annual message for 1873, advocates giving the
Mayor full power to appoint and remove all heads
of departments, and the following language in
support of the position:
In this the whole responsibility OF seeing that the
affairs OF the city honestly and efficiently admins
tered will rest with him, and failure either respect
will make him justly amenabe to public condemnation
The wellknown integrity, frmness and experience or
the present incumbent OF the Office OF Mayor give the
strongest that the power referred to may be
safely inrusted to him, and that 1t will be exercised
solely in the interest Of the city.
Notwithstanding this unexpected bombshel from
the Mayors Office the Republicans were not long in
coming 10 INC COuclublOu JudJ Jnc Couioo Aoi
them to pursue, consistent with their self-respect
was to go on and pass the bill. Accordingly when
the bill was reached in the order Of third readings
in the Senate this morning, every Republican voted
for it, as though nothing had occurred to change
the situation. The bill was not passed without
opposition, however, for the Democratic side of the
Senate opened their batteries against it as fercely
as though it was not or might not ultimately prove
to be for their interest party. Messrs johnson,
Bradley Lord, Parmenter, and Ganson spoke against
tine bin. Mr.. Ledwith moved an amendment, that
the Mayor not only have the power of appointment,
but also of removal independently of the Aldermen.
This was voted down by both Democrats and Repub-
licans. After the opposition had expended their
fire. Mr. Woodin made few remarks in favor of the
bill, which was then passed by strict party vote.
The design now is TO put 1T through the Assembly
in the same manner.
LATER.-The Republican members of the Legisla-
ture under the advice of the party politicians now
here from New-York have resolved to put the Police
and Park amendments to the Charter through both
Houses. They argue that it cannot help benefiting
the party even though it breach with their
new found ally, the Mayor, because it will leave
them in possession of the Park Commission on the
retirement of Mr.. Hail. and cannot injure their
present status in the Police Commission, even If the
Mayor should withdraw the name of Mr.. Rowland
and appoint Democrat az he will not be able TO fill
Mr. Russelrs place when his term expires. In any
event, therefore they say the passage of the bill
will be to their advantage as party.