New-York tribune., 1874-11-18
THE CITY UNDER NEW RULE
POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE LOCAL COM
MISSIONS

POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE LOCAL COM
MISSIONS
4 CAUTIOUS POLICY FAVORED BY THE DEMOCRATS
MODERATE BUT NOT SWEEPING CHANGES IN
THE CHARTER AND COMMISSIONS PRoPosEp-A
possrRI.E COMPROMISE WITH THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY IN THE sENATE-vAcANchS ina
WILL OCCUR DURING MAYOR wICKHAMs TERM
VIEWS OF Ex-MAYoR TIEMANN AND JOHN
KELLY.
~What use will the Democrats make OF
their victory in this city r. This Is the question almost
universally asked and Of politicians As areauy
Indicated in THE TRIBUNE the chief interest cen'er9
on the question whether or not the Commissions "cn
now IN a great measure govern this city VIII
no materially changed. Tho Democrats will
have. at the approaching session OF the
Iecs,ature the Governor and the lower
House aud the Republicans will have In the Senate
majority of as there are Is Republicans ana IA on the
opposition side II the Republican Senators hold to-
se,her the Democrats will be efectual,y prevented
from making any changes the Commissions; but Is
well known that tho Republican leaders are not en-
trey satisfied with the composition Of the leading Com
missions. Mayor Havemeyer with the peculiar Ideas
OF nun cpal reform which he was supposed to repro
sent at time Of his election, organized the Comms
slons so as to SUIT himself, and since
The announcement OF the original appointments
he has made changes in the same spirit
fact that representatye Republicans Democrats
were recommended for place by the leaders OF each
organization was apparently deemed by the Mayor good
ground for refusing TO nominate them AS ma''er VI
course the result Of this policy was to aenate ro ~
the support of both sides, and lie has been standlng
aone 40 far as political support is concerned The Re-
puhan Legislature OF last Winter contributed to this
result It was known that the majority OF the
Board OF Aldermen were resolved that they would
not confirm any nominee unless he was entirely unop
jectionable them and it was exceedingly doubtful
whether any Republican would be confirmed Hoping 10
overcome this opposition and believing that the Mayor
could be induced to appoint exJGdge Henry e. Howand
10 fv the vacancy in the Police Board, caused py
tho dcath Of Henry Smith, the Republican Legisla'
ture gave the Mayor absolute power to hl va
cances which might occur in the Commissions createu
or by the charter The Mayor TO the intense
disgust OF the Cusomhouse faction, took advantage OF
the power thus conferred upon him to appoint Abraham
Disbeckcr compiler Of The Oily Record instead OF
Judge How land. The appointment Of George W. Mat
sell and John voorhis TO m the vacancies created py
the last designations Of Commissioners Gardner and
Charlick held by many TO be Illegal. After their
conviction OF misdemeanOr in removing election In
speotors, without giving the latter formal no.
tice many influential lawyers held that the
conviction OF the Commissioners vacated their Offices,
while others further and held that under the pro-
visions OF Section 95 Of the Charter the convicted Com
missoners were prevented from ever holding ONCE
again under the City Government The Mayor con-
suited with the Assistant Nu 'no
absence OF the head OF the Law Department. and the
resut OF their deliberations was that Commissioners
Gardner and Charck rendered their designations They
were accepted by the Mayor and after the lapse or
few days reappoined Messrs Gardner and Charlick
Police Commissioners. Their positions wore cif-
ferent however, from those they had formerly occupied
Mr. Gardner was appointed TO I'LL the vacancy caused
by the resignation Of Charlek, giving hun the long
term the Board. and Charliok appointed to I'LL
the vacancy caused by the resignation OF Gardner The
Mayor laughed long and heartily at the manner In
which he bad, he believed evaded the law and dsap-
pointed the expectations OF John Kelly and the other
Tammany magnates. But there were other indictments
hanging over the heads Of the Commissioners similar to
the one on which they were convicted and It was
understood that II the Commissioners retained their
offices. these would be pressed to. trial. and that II
conviction found there strong probability the
convicted Commissioners would receive the full SEN
tence allowed by law which is 81 900 fine and imprison
ment for year in the Penentiary. Fearing the re-
suit of another trial. the Commissioners deemed 1t best
TO again resign The Mayor, acting under the power
conferred upon him, appointed Messrs Matsen and
VOOrhis TO Ill the vacancies thus created II is held by
many the Mayor had right to reapDoint Messrs
Gardner and Charlck and that his action In this par
tcuar was Illegal Consequently he had no legal right
to appoint Messrs. Matsell and VoOrbis to fill
the vacancies created by the second resigna-
ton OF Messrs Gardner and Charlick What he should
have done entirely ignored the reappoint-
ment of Messrs Gardner and Charc and gone back to
the vacancies created by their first resignatons Should
this view be found TO be correct Messrs Matsel and
voorhis will be removed by legal or by the Gov
ernor and the vacancies thus created will be filled by
Mayor Wici Lam and the Board OF Aldermen.
It's no secret that there will be thorough investga
ton OF the various departments soon after the
advent OF the Mayor and Board of Alder
men, Grave charges have been made by the late
Commissioners Of Accounts against the workings
OF the Department Of Charities and Correction Alder
man Monheimer, at O recent session Of the Board Of
County Canvassers made serious accusations against
the Fire Commissioners with reference to the admins
tratiOn Of that department. and 1t is understood that
the report of the late Commissioners of Accounts Will
be very damaging TO the Fire Commissioners. There
are other departments which, 1t is alleged, If
hauled, would show grave Irregularities and to
tain how much truth there in these allegations will be
one OF first duties or the incoming legislative branch
of.the City Government.
1t therefore possible that both political parties
agree upon change in some of the Commits notably
the Police, Fire and Charities and Correction. Prominent
Democrats, including John Kelly, Mayor-elect Wckham
and Others say that they do not want TO have par
san Police Board They willing that both sides shall
be equally represented the safety Of the community
demands this. MI Kolly has declared on several oc-
casOns that the police should be far removed as
sible politics and parsanship and as he speaks
the majority is believed that the Republicans who
are In the minority, will acquesce.
ELEMENTS or THE PRESENT COMMISSIONS
The Police Board constituted consists Of Pres
dent George W. Matsel, who has not for many years
past been identified with either political party; Abra
ham Disbecker who was formerly an Apollo Hall DEM
ocrat but has acted for thee years with the Re
pubeans, aud is the only Republican In the Board
John II. Voorhis, Reform Democrat, who Is too inde
pendent 10 acknowledge fealty either OF the Demo
cratic faetons and Abraham Duryee. Democrat, but
not a member Of Tammany Hall, although on good
terms with its leaders, and probably in closer aa,ion
with that organization than any OF the other members