The New York herald., 1874-12-04
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

Election Of Richard Flanagan rs Presf.
dent-A Hitch In the Law TO ChoOs-
ing an Aid ermnn to FIJI the Vacancy
The Matter Postponed.
A regular meeting OF the Board or Aldermen
was held at three O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Some interest was attached to the assemDlage in
consequence OF the fact that President was TO be
elected to Ill the vacancy occasloned by the ee-
walton OF Alderman Vance to the Msyoralty.
Alderman Billings was called 70 the char.
The reading oil the minutes OF last meeting
being dispensed with,
Alderman MoNHEIMER orered a resolution that
Alderman Richard Flanagan be elected President
OF the Board.
substitute was offered BY Alderman MCCAF-
FERrY to the effect that the election be postponed
until the next regular meeting OF the Board. lie
wished to say that common courtesy required the
remains o. the late Mayor TO be buried before q
new President was elected. There was no TN
mediate necessity for the selection, as the Board
OF Apportlonment did not meet until next week.
He therefore asked that Q sense Of deucacy might
prevail upon this point.
Alderman MoNHEIMER-The question OF delicacy
did no, prevail the other day when Mayor Vance
Alderman McCAFFgRrY was not aware OF the
necessity Tor this swearing In. BY virtue OF tile
death OF William F. Havemeyer he (Mr. vance)
The Question on the substitute for Alderman
Monheimer's motion was then put and lost by q
vote OF our In the Affirmative 10 Six in the mega
tive.
Alderman OrrESDoRFER suggested that the
proper course to pursue would be to elect tenn
porary Chairman OF the Board, who would then,
under the charter, have all the powers conferred
This suggestion as to form was adopted by
Alderman MOnheimer.
Alderman McCAFFERrY remarked there were
but twenty-seven or twenty.elght days OF the un-
expired term. ana nominated, In eulogistic terms
Alderman Ottendorier for the position. He
thought the gentleman wen deserved SO small q
recognition OF MS unselnsh services to the city.
The ayes and nays were then called, with the
following result
honhetmer @ Az, Morris, Flames Ian an and nd ks,ly-a
For For van and
Alderman Flanagan was then declared duly
elected, and, on motion, Aldermen Ottendorfer an
McCanerty were appointed committee to con.
The new President thanked the Board for the
honor conferred upon him. He knew he was In
casion but he hoped to give satisfaction during the
brief term ne WAS called upon to preside over their
Alderman MoNHEIMER then moved that Joel B.
Enrnardt be elected to Ill the vacancy In the
Alderman McCAFFERTY contended they had
no power 10 ill this vacancy under the charter
Mayor Vance ceased to be mayor on the LIST OF jan
uary next and TIE term OF the present Board was
q not ended until the 9th OF the same month"; Mr..
Vance could tnen come back and claim his seat,
wnen tnere Wouiu De sixteen Aldermen instead or
fifteen.
communication from Corporation Counsel
Smith was here handed IN giving opinion on this
very point.
Alderman OTTENDoBFHR was surprised to hear OF
an OPINION coming from the Counsel to the Corpo-
ration without being solicited.
Some discussion arose as to the propriety OF hav-
ing the communication read TO the Board, when
Alderman Monheimer fathered the responsibility
by stating II was at hH request Mr.. smith mad
written the document. This settled the matter
and the opinion was laid bef ore the Board. 1t con-
TO a dnCfaInn rd ho "A
perfect right to dl q vacancy In their body under
existing circumstances.
Alderman MCCAFFERTY facettously suggested
the printing OF 600 copies OF the opinion in six
different languages, for purposes OF distribution.
Alderman COOPER (who Is lawyer made a
the law by the Corporation Counsel. He agreed
with Alderman McCanerty that the vacancy could
not be nled He concluded ny moving the resolu-
ton as TO the election OF Joel B. Ehrhardt be laid
on the table.
This motion was carried, and the Board ad.
i0urnad