The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-13
BATTLE FOR PATRONAGE.


BATTLE FOR PATRONAGE.
A Comp dsEtat Mt the County Court
House Y esterday-The Green-Van Mort
Alderma mic Court House missioners
Fight-A Smart Lockout.
The new County Court House Commissioners
held their first meeting yesterday afternoon in
Comptroller Green's private office, In that building.
These gentlemen were nominated to their present
positions nearly year ago by Mayor Aavemeyer,
under the republican charter passed by the Legis-
lature OF 1873 and their nominations went to the
Board OF Aldermen for confirmation, in accordance
with the terms Of the charter. That body however,
laid the nominations on the table, where they
remained until within the last few days, when
Mayor Havemeyer appointed them in virtue Of the
special act rushed through in the last days of the
Legislature which has just adjourned. giving him
power to ill all vacant places in the local commits
siOns independently of the Aldermen. In virtue
OF the appointment they are the successors TO
Messrs. Ingersoll WEIGH, Conan and Norton IN the
charge OF completing the County Court House; but
in what the precise nature OF their duties If any,
as Commissioners consist will only, 1t seems, be
determined alter
BITTER FIGHT
between the heads OF departments and Aldermen
and perhaps in the courts.
Yesterdays session was secret, and it was
rumored around the County Court House that the
| new Commissioners were acting entirely under
the directions OF Comptroller Green. 1t was re-
solved at the meeting 10 take formal possession at
once OF the room now occupied on the second
floor by the clerks OF the Board OF Supervisory
and of the comnittee room of that Board on the
same floor BY this move they hoped to gain tho
mine points or the law'' on the Aldermen but
the Aldermen had been in session up stairs IN the
County Court House when the report reach ed
them that the Commissioners had been in session
and had resolved to take formal possession OF the
only rooms now occupied by the Supervisors in the
County Court House since the room OF the sold
Board" OF SUPERVISORS, OF infamous memory, on
the first floor, was given up to the General Term
Of the Supreme Court.
1T WAS DECIDED TO RESIST
any attempt at ousting them from their quarters
by the newly appointed officials Orders were
lock all the doors OF their rooms, and to admit no
| one VINO applied Tor admission on the part OF the
81 the sr the
ceeded up stairs in body to carry ont their pro-
gramme. TO their astonishment they found them.
| wished for admission they must communicate with
Alderman Van schaick. the Chairman OF the Com
mlttee on County OnlcerS OF the Board or ''Super-
vsors." body OF Commls sioners standing non
pussed in the corridors OF the. building which had
too affecting spectacle for some OF the softer
hearted among the Aldermen, and messenger
was sent to the chairman Of the county Offices at
his private office In Broad street.
/ OUT IN THE COLD
/
soners, informing them that they could have a
room temporarily ut the top of the building until
tae
fully up stairs to take possession evidently
under the impression that when heads OF depart
ments are by the ears in a fight for patronage the
/ way Of the lesser politicians Is cOrrespondlngy
hard.
Alter the settlement OF this matter 1t was re-
solved to call special meeting Of the Board OF
Aldermen for thursday afternoon next to consider
the question OF the right of the County Court
commissioners. A prominent
the Board informed HERALD reporter yester-
day Afternoon aa that the Aldermen win decide
an injunction restraining the newly appointed
officials rom inter lering with them In their man
final decision on the cOnstitutiOnaity OF the Con-
s0lldatlon act. The reporter was supplied with the
following extracts from the laws relating to this
WHO HAS THE PATRONAGE
The fourth section OF the new Consolidation act
transfers all the rights privileges, &C., to the
Board OF Aldermen which have been heretofore
conferred On the Board o. SUPERVISORS BY law
which usually accompany statutes relating to
municipal matters. Under chapter 4ss, section 2s
vested with the following powers:-
The supervisors Of the several counties shall provide
% nery s Sh na
cient for the Transaction of their Il the
The BY m 9d in carving the order
charge.
On the other hand the County Court House Com
missloners are appointed under the Tweed Charter
OF 1870, under the following section. chapter 3s2 =
sFcrros lro provide the final completion of the
County Court House in New York the Mayor
four commissioning and upoa the appointment 81 said
Of s 2 " nc ssass 81 s
House shsi cease The said Commissioners shall have
@ 2 o sss s SSSs winch 1
ss s i raise New en Ss Stock Of ss
Of sn payable @ Mn s0'f s in hs
from the passage Of tins act, and bear in.
tsrest At rate not exceeding seven per cent
Sew York County Court House stock 30 !" and The
issuing ,hS Of The same shall 50 far as appsss
relative to said Conrt House. The money raised shall
The snd to Pe
Ms se % snS the % ofer
70 s By AK ah the a y w
YORK an amount sufficient in each year pay inter
est ON the stock herein authorized and thai issued hy pre-
ana redeem Ss stock hereby and heretofore authorized
Tor the aforesaid purposes ut It's maturity
The Aldermen and Commissioner Van Mort con-
tend that under this act the entire duty Oh the
County Court House Commissioners IS TO look AFTER
the completion OF the buildings duty likely to be
cring the condition In which their predecessors-
Messrs. Norton, Welch Conan ana ihgersonncit
rights through the passage oil the Consolidation
act the patronage attached to the County Court
/ House would have fallen to the Commissioners OF
| Public Works; but TO prevent this Comptroller
| Green asked Mayer Havemeyer to appoint the
Court House Comn'.siones "hnse ss no InS
| porter Corporation Counsel. Deaheld Smith and
4 John III. strahan, VINO nave been requested by the
Doard OF Aldermen to inform them what rights
they now possess n any, In virtue OF their ola OF.
Zee az supervisors under the consolidation act,
ana whether they are entitled TO any sa.ary,
MI repor, 10 the board at their meeting on Mon.
day next when this fight, which Is "a pretty quar-
rel as Il stands.r viii probably be finally settled.
THE TAMMANY sAcHEMs.