The New York herald., 1875-01-05
T H E f r E S H d E AL.
Rumors Of Changes. Good Bad and
Indifferent. sgs.
Mayor Wickham's Views on Official
Lobbyists.
FHR VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT ALDERMEN EXCITED.
Affairs in the Departments of Parks and Public
tN Works. r.

Works.
1t was a regular moving day among the city
politicians yesterday, and what with the gong out
OF two boards, the incoming OF q third, the buste
and confusion which prevailed in the Mayors
old quarters, where the wOrkmen were tearing
down and tearing up partitions and walls which
the new powers that be considered In the way OF
Official convenience and comfort, stranger drop
ping In at the City Hall would have been led to
believe that the departments had been captured
by some worthless enemy bent upon general dis
order and destruction. The Mayor and his private
secretary, Colonel Burnton N. Harris, owing to
the success Of the carpenters in pulling things to
pieces in the large room formerly used oy the
clerks, were compelled to occupy Q small rear
room, where they tried TO make themselves COM
Portable. 1t is almost needless to state that the
politicians about town, great and small, were IN
state OF much excitement over not only
THE ACTUAL CHANGES
that were made, but over the rumors which new
Ihlck and fast as to changes that are PROBABLY to
be made within few weeks. The members OF all
the commissions were very naturally on the
"anxious sea" " and 1t Is more than likely that the
many visits they paid to the City Hall were not al
together prompted BY desire to tell the new
Mayor how very glad they felt that he and rot Mr.
Wales or Mr.. OttendOrfer had obtained majority
Of the pop uar vote last November. In fact, there
was not one OF them who was really at his ease
not that MIR. Wickham had In any way given any
one Of them to understand that he ought to feel
badly, but that the wags set 80 many ingenious
stories anoat as to the removals that were sure to
be made that not a few OF even taHI
TBE LEADING WIRE -PULLERs
were mised themselves. A certain Commissioner,
whose ONCE is not 100 miles away from the
Mayors, heard by chance in the morning that his
removal had been decided upon. He pooh-pooned
the idea, but his friends say he was seen to ar
range his private papers very nicely, as If to be In
readiness lor whatever might belal him. In the
afternoon q messenger from the Mayors once
dropped In, handed him a large o1lcial envelope
containing a weighty document The poor Com
missioner changed color, and with smile that
was meant to be "child-ke and bland" he tore
the envelope open with trembling hand. The
document was only copy OF the Mayors Message,
with the compliments Of the author. 1t seems
that the Commissioner had been honored
In no special way; that copies had been
sent in like manner to all the heads Of
the departments; but 1t may be mentioned that
the Commissioner was one OF the nappiest looking
mortals in the neighOorhoOd Of the city Hall dur
ing the remainder Of the day. No removals, how.
evt r, or appointments were made by the Mayor
and none oi an. note VIII be made, il is believed
Tor several weeks to come, as Mr.. Wickham be-
day. waen questioned on the Subject, that he
wanted to look around little before making any
changes even In his personal stan OF clerks. As TO
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS
1t is generally conceded that they wlh be made to
Walk the plank very soon, although II can DO
stated that the report OF the Commissioner OF
Accounts has not yet been read through by the
Mayor The notion OF their friends tnat the
Mayor viii have to give them notice Of the
charges mace against them in the report before
removing them Is an erroneous one, as the Mayor,
under the cnarter, can remove any commissioner,
and as he and the Governor are the sole judges OF
soSsrs oSe Wso believe shey can keep Their nIacss
until they have been proven terribly bad men on
evidence submitted to themselves, may oe little
unpleasantly surprised before the close Of the
present month. Tne Mayor keeps his own coun-
sci as to his Intentions and so far as candidates
eminent are concerned he states frankly that ne
considers no person candidate. However,
great many persons In connection with some
OF the commissions, and II every rumOr that
Gay had been founded on TACT there Is not Com.
missioner now in ofdce who would he IN power
1pe o e
dpes even, was that Delaneld Smith was to be re-
moved and Judge Lawrence be appointed In his
place. AS The salary Of the Judge Is ST. 500 year
and his term OF once fourteen years, and the Cor
pOration Counsel IS appointed for three years at
that the Judge has the slightest Intention Of leav-
ing the Bench Tor the counseisnip or any other po-
slton. Colonel Fellows name is also freely spoken
MR.. sMIrH's PLACE.
The story that the Mayor had been heard TO say
20 before weeks time was canard pure and
slmp e, although the impression IS general
among the politicians who pretend to know
thing or two that the Commissioners Will be got
rid OF sooner than most people suspect. Mr.. Jonn
sor to Mr., MOulton in the Tax Commission, and
ex-Alderman Flanagan as one OF the folce Com
talked OF as the two who Will most likely be made
Fire Commissioners strong effort Is being
.o %Ads Femsn sH nH0cs IN the A
ana it will probably be M successful Ma ~ As
rnmor ana speculation was rife late In tue day.
The Comptroller. 1t was stated by some, would re-
sign soon In order to avoid being placed on the
shelf rather abruptly. and that Mr.. Arthur Leary,
in case OF mis- removal or resignation, Will be ap-
pointed IN his stead
DYING HARD
The communication to the Mayor, signed by the
only two persons VINO ran for Assistant Aldermen
at the last election, created great deal OF amuse.
Mayors ofice, for while opinions we're divided as
to whether the sgners were really serious or only
that they are in dead earnest. and that when the
two can settle the question as to who ought to be
be q quorum, then they will take active proceed
ings to get nineteen other patriots to JOIN them
Its old standpoint. For the Denent OF those politi
Clans who believe that there is yet chance Tor o
resurrection OF; the dead Board 1t T. may be stared
spoken to on the subject laughs at The idea OF any
such attempt being successful.
1t Is pretty certain that the new Board of Alder
men can get along very well without the oficial
assistance other Boards OF Aldermen had to suner
from IN the past, ana that the people generally
feel quite thankful that the Board has been so
enectually wiped out. In couple oil weeks, when
the new wheels rct into working order and Mayor
Wickham OBTAINS elbow room in his new once to
sign the commissions OF the new powers that are
expected TO be, the politicians IN all probability
win have to deal instead OF with rumors with facts
that may be rather unpleasant to not few gen.
tlemen who now feel quite secure IN their places.