New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-02
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONS.

EFFECT OF TILE POLICE AND PAfSn DILL
AS TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE iER"' VT
OFFICE OF TIE OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS -
VIEWS OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT "A"DNI"'
AND COMMISSIONER RUSSELL
Tho massage of the Police and Park bill ana
its nronpt signature by the Governor was the topic "
.rsa,ion Yesterday among the politicians ana olc"-
noldera The act really does not make 80
much OF n change as many had supPoseu'
reduces the Police and Park Commissioners 10 iou o
instead of five hence the vacancies created by 'ho "
rirotion of the terms OF Police Commissioner anu
PARK Commissioner will not be hled Inc ohly 'aca"o'
,o he filled IA that OF Police Commissioner III
49,, ,aoo ~ Henry Smith, deceased No one Is
Io,sl.tod ont OF Office by the new act The following
vas, the original composition of the Police ana fath
Commissioners, as appointed and confirmed ny '"0
Board of Aldermen: n,,
Police CoInmissIOners-Henry Smlth, Iresiuep'' ~"
over nv the terms OF the Charter, term expired In 1871
o,,ror Cnarlck term expires in 1873; Hugh Gardner'
form expires in 1876; Abram Duryee term eApro' :"
1873. John r. Russell. term expires In 1874.
Park Commissioners. Henry G. SteDDlns' freSiuon'
held over by the terms OF the charter Term oApio
1877; Philip Dissinger, term expires III 49,! Jaw -
Williamson, term expires IN 1876; Salem H. "dios'
President on the resignation OF COMMISSIONER 0'oVD'
farm exnires in 1875 Samuel Hail. term expires III 1871
,rsa o,,ioI terms OF Messrs Russell OF the Police
pa,d and Hall of the Park Commission are supposed 10
have expired yesterday. 1t is question: however, VIZ"
many able lawyers, whether or not the terms oi o "
these commissioners were not to end one year RON o
day OH which the sworn into ONCE iho 'o'i
% oe,ce Of these Commissioners was for one year.
The Police Commissioners were nominated by inc
Mayor on Msy 40 1873, confirmed On the same
nav and sworn into Office on tue io"o"i"H
day. The Park Commissioners were nominated Oh 'n'
came d,v but were not confirmed until several days AZ
torword Section % of the Charter provides that the
persons appointed shall take office on the eAraou Vi
the terms of Office present incnmoens as heeru
after provided and shall hold their offices until the t
day OF May in the year IN when II IS hereln pioiou
that their respective terms shall expire"
Cation 90 Of the Charter provides that "he Police De
hartmann shall have It's head Board to consist oil
five persons to be known as Police Commissioners oi 'o
CITY OF New York, who, except those hrst appointed
shall hold their Offices for six years. unless sooner re-
moved as herein provided; but those nrst appointeu
shall DO appointed and hold Office for one, two three
and five years respectively" Tnc provision applying TO
tbe Park Commisonersis similar 1t is held that under
this section the terms Of the outgoing Commissioners are
for one year from the date OF their appointment
MAYOR Hayemeyer was called on yesterday by re-
porter of Tue TRIBUNE, and questioned IN regard 10
these matters with reference to the date on when the
terms of Office Of the outgoing Commissioners expired
he sid he Was not prepared to speak auhoratiyey as
vet He had been informed by lawyers that
the incombents could claim the Office I'M
iii one wear from tho date OF their
being sworn in There was diversity OF opinion on
this point. He asked whether the new aPp0lntee
would be Republican, the outgoing Oohlhls ItL
being "A Republican, and the late Com nissOner ohIh
also having been Tie Mayor repcu tHat no coulu
not saw there had been change OF front all the way
round and he preferred TO wait while ana survey inc
field before making an appointment ,-,. A..
President Gardner OF tue Police Board Thought tne
act was an exceedingly good one. IL would make .th'
Board OF Police n0n-partisan Ihere are now Two DuI-
Ocrats In the Board, and he presumed the new
Commlssioner would he a Republican, to restore
the balance. There would be no more OF the
ternal wranging over tue hlth Commissioners, Inv
OF politics and could not but tend TO MAKE the as
cpline of the better so long as any party had
majority OF the COMMISSIONERS ~ rue ard IL To,t Us
held responsible for the action OF inc lter III every
way believed u would be an Improvement
Commissioner Russell said he had been INFORMED Dy
several awJ his term OF office was Tor one year
from the date OF appointment $. C. Hawlcy, Chlef
Clerk OF the Police Board, had however, lhiOrntu MN
that in his opinion, hs term or ONCE expired yestef
day. lie had no WISH To make iactJus opOsitiop' ana
was willing 10 COnccde tnat us term OF Once ha eA
pred il tho Mayor construed the sectlon or the
Charter relating 10 the appointment OF Poh Soim ni
sioncrs. He had been asked Dy huhDet u IuIItl'l
friends TO allow his name TO be presented 10 Mayor
Tor appointment 10 I'LL the vacancy occaslone oy Com
missioner smiths DEATH lie felt great interest III the
NAME and the Mayor deemed linn WORTHY or ledppolht-
ment he would accept the position lie dd not przo IL
sufficiently. however, 90 ask FOR II.
thought by those best able 10 Judge mat the Mayor
will not appoint Police Commissioner Tor several days.
As the appointment rests entirely with hlm he can
appoiat whoever he peases without being compelled
10 consider whether not the name would please
the Board Of Aldermen as IN the past FOR TINS
reason there many who question whether the Mayor
will appoint Henry T.. Rowland. whose name was sent
10 the Board OF Aldermen. The name OF Henry G.
Leask Republican OF the Custom house, Ia spoken Of
a. likely he pressed for the position Others say that
the Mayor cannot III justice 10 Dit hoWahd refuse 10
appoint him, while stl others mention the name Of
PltIck H. Jones. II is possible that none OF these men
will be appointed.