The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-21
The Board or Aldermen and tho Mayor
A Small Political Tempest.

A Small Political Tempest.
The action Of the Board of Aldermen yes
terday in regard to the Police Commission
has created quite commotion in local po-
htical circles. The special meeting called by
a majority of the Aldermen was supposed by
Mayor Havemeyer and his friends to mean
the confirmation Of Mr.. Rowland. the noui-
nee for Police Commissioner in place of tho
late Henry Smith. The result proved go
rious disappointment to this expectation. In
stead Of confirming Mr.. Rowland the Board
adopted resolutions alleging incapacity and
malfeasance in Office against the present Po-
lice Commissioners, and calling upon tho
Mayor to suspend and remove them in 40
cordance with the provisions of the city char
ter. This open attack upon the Police Board
was led by Alderman Ottendorfer, who has
hitherto been the warm supporter of the
Mayor, and the hostile resolutions were car
ried by vote Of eight to five. According to
political gossip this action of the Alder
men grows out of the return of Alder
men Ottendorfer, McCafferty and others
to full communion with Tammany, conse-
quent upon the discovery of q bargain be-
tween the Mayor and Comptroller on the ono
side and the Custom House republicans on the
other, by which the nomination of Mr.. How
land as Police Commissioner was to be fol-
lowed by the nomination of yet more active
republican of the same stripe as the successor
of Mr.. Russell, whose term expires in May.
With the Police Commission in proper hands,
if we are to credit this version of the affair,
the whole force Of the municipal administers
ton was to be united with the power of the
national administration in foisting upon tina
city a continuance Of the present city govern
ment.
The people care very little about these in
trigues and counter intrigues, but they will
welcome with satisfaction any programme
that promises to give us an entire change OF
rulers. 1t is notorious that the Street Clean
ing Bureau has been inefficient and corrupt,
and that the present Police Department is .
mere political hucksterage for petty trades
and bargains. The incapacity Of tho
whole municipal government is also con-
spicuous. From the venerable Havemeyer
and his ancient Matsell, through almost
the entire list Of city magnates we find tho
same wearylng mediocrity, interpreted here
and there with downright incapacity. It is
the fashion of political DISCLAIMERS to de-
nounce the corrupt rule of Fernando Wood;
but as Mayor Of the city the ''hero of the
white mustache' displayed more capacity
and executive ability than can be found in tho
whole OF the departments OF the present mu-
nicipal government put together. His admin
istrations were certainly more economical,
and, probably, more honest, than the present
sreform" regime, despite all the boastings OF
the latter Mr.. Woods downfall was due to
his ambitious attempt to become an autocrat
in his party He strove to accomplish too
much, and he raised up rebellion against
his rule which caused his overthrow. Mr..
has only succeeded in making himself ridicu-
lous, and when he retires from the Mayoralty
he will be regarded as . more absurd practical
joke than even Mayor Tiemann. His
bulls against city improvements and his
interminable letters to the Governor, tho
Legislature, the Aldermen and others will be
remembered with amusement and wonder.
At the same time, the Aldermen who are
now on the warpath have done moth
ing rs yet to entitle them to public con-
fdence Their time has been taken up with
petty intrigues and combinations that have
/ r,rvo lvv To
give way to some ''new deal" They may
change in two weeks all they did yesterday,
or before that time may call another meeting
and turn themselves over to the Mayor and
his appointees. Whether they eventually go
to Tammany or elsewhere is matter of very
little consequence to the people.