The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-06
TIE POLITICIANS AGONY.
Runners as to the Changes To Be Made
in the Departments.
COMPTROLLER GREEN'S CASE
The Police Commissioners and
Their Fate.

Smith and the latter reply were the chlei topics OF
discussion among the politicians yesterday. The
Mayors action was generally regarded as pre-
monitory symptom Of some very extraordinary
changes to come during the next few weeks in the
departments. Mr.. Smiths friends commended tnat
the Mayor had taken an undue advantage OF the
Corporation counsel. The charges they said, had
been prepared with great care and must have
taken a long while TO be put III shape, yet they
we're only sent to Mr. Smith early on Monday
morning, with the purpose or compelling him TO
make answer fully and completely with only two
days preparation. However, as Mr. Wickham
yesterday wrote a letter TO Mr.. Smith, granting
his request of a week from to-day during which to
prepare his defence. the assertion that the Mayor
was ANXIOUS to
SPRING A TRAP
upon Mr.. Smith goes for nothing. The latter
stated yesterday that he would be able to dis
prove the allegations made against him. The office
he held was one that required great labor, ana MS
health had suffered much from the attention he
had gwen to It, and therefore, he would nave
cheerfuny given 1t up If Mr.. Wickham had eX.
pressed wish that he wanted it; but as be had
been attacked, he now intended to 90 into the
facts alleged against him, and show how I'M
founded were the charges made against his char
acter. The opinion among the politicians, it may
be OF interest to some people 10 know, Is that
Mr.. Smith has got 10 go, and that Judge
Abraham r. Lawrence win certainly be
his successor. The Judge, 1t is well
known took the nomination to the office
he now nolos much against his WILL and has been
anxious to be relieved from the duties which 1t
puts upon him; SO, Notwithstanding the belief that
prevailed lew days ago in certain quarters that
he would not accept the Corporation Counselship
offered to him, the assertion was freely made
yesterday that 1t is now understood he should be
JnAr md
of the Superior Court, IS certain to be elevated to
the Supreme Court bench on the resignation or
Mr. Lawrence. AS to the other changes that are
to be made by the new regime, there was very
little Yesterday that was definite The Mayor
positively stated to the HERALD reporter that he
had not as yet accepted-rather that he mad not
as yet recelved-the resignation OF Mr.. EDWARD
L. Donnelly, recently appointed Commissioner OF
Charities and Correction, although somehow the
intimate friends ofMr Donnelly stoutly main tanned
that he had absolutely resigned 1t IS pretty GER
tain Arthur Leary will succeed Mr.. Donney.
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS,
too, whom everybody supposed would get their
otficiaI quietus yesterday afternoon, are yet In
power; but as it Is the INTENTION 1t Is UNDERSTOOD
OF the Mayor TO give them a fair opportunity OF
defending themselves against the charges made
against them in the report OF the commissioners
OF Accounts before he takes final action, this
may account for the delay in their case. The re-
port Is so damaging however, according to all
accounts, that it is the common belief OF people
who are said know positively OF what they
affirm that no reasonable defence can be made oy
the Commissioners and That the very best mat
they can do Is 10 resign The probable fate OF
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS
was also the subject or much gossip during the
day. and 1t is now asserted on what seems
very good ess a1'hG Within 'ha' few Sal
and that IL he does not matters Will
be so officially arranged within week or
80 as 10 make MS place in the Board legally
vacant. II Mr. Matseil should go-and last even
ing tue rumor was that charges had actually been
preferred against him. or at least, were being
prepared for presentation 10 the Mayor-hs place
win have to be filed by republican, II Mayor
IN bis Message, that non-partlsan police is just
what ought to have IN this city, since the GUST
ing OF Mr.. Matse!l would leave the Board with
two democrats and one republican. Still. II Mr..
Matse Is 10 be put out or must get out himself so
as not to be put out, 1t Is believed that certain
other commissioner will be notified to prepare TO
60 also, and thus Mr. Flanagan, who Is considered
AS booked for the first available vacancy, VIII be
abe 20 secure pace when ne "oaiu oe wel.
anoat concerning
COMPTROLLER GREEN
He called at the Mayors ONCE during the day
ana was closeted with him for upward oil al hour.
This circumstance very naturally gave rise TO con-
siderable gossip among the wiseacres, and 1t was
not long before the statement was made and gen.
orally created in all the departments that charges
had been preferred against Mr.. Green, and that ne
had called upon the Mayor to make arrangements
as the OF his shroud and as to the Particular
spot where dead officials can be buried and yet De
aiive on good salary. There was no truth about
any charges having been made, however,
Tor the Mayor explicitly denied that the
interview between him and the Comptroller
had covered any other more important topic than
the proper way OF having the warrants signed, as
the Mayor believes that great many improve
ments can be made in the general mode hereto
lore adopted in the signing. counterslgnlng ana
drawing up OF the documents. IL was at one time
given out, by parties generally reliable IN their
statements that the Comptroller had that very
day received notification from Governor Itlden
TO the erect that no matter howsoever inclined
Mayor Wlckham might be TO remove him, he (the
GOVERNOR would stand between him and decapl-
tation; that certificate OF his removal,
based upon any Cause no more serious
than the many causes that have already
from time 10 time been advanced against hin Dy
various parties. would rot receive his approval,
when Is, under the charter, essential TO the abso-
lutte removal OF any head OF department. OF
such notification, but for all that, nine persons
put OF every ten among the politicians yesterday
seemed thoroughly 10 believe that Mr.. Tllden
would stand by MIN. on the other nand 1t may be
that there was no other ground Tor this rather
exuaorolnary notincauon story tnan Una PILOT 10
MI T1den's departure Tor Albany IL was said that
Mr. Green endeayored 10 get the Governor TO
give him pledge that in case Mr.: Wlckham
should remove him he should refuse his consent
TINS the Governor as the story goes refused TO ac
cede to, and IT was said that Mr.. Green, thereupon
finally got Mr.. WIcKham TO promise that no at
tempt should De made TO have him removed until
AZ least three weeks after the first day OF DIS Mr
Wicknamsl term OF ONCE should begin; and tDat
before that time Mr.. Green would
RESIGN TIE COAPrRoLLEBSHP
and take q position on the Park Commission,
beng careful beforehand to make people believe
tnat MS resi- gnauon was really made Tor the sake
oil harmony IN the city government But TINS
story, IKE many others that we're IN everyo0dy's
mouth yesterds concerning the various probable
changes 70 be made by the new powers mat be.
must be taken with very large gram OF SAT-.
Until Mr.. Wekham startles the politicians again
the way ne did yesterday by his letter 10 MT Cor
poraton Counsel smith, the rumors concerning
hls intended actions, 80 far as removals OF oom-
missioners are concerned. that VIII continue 10
prevail Tor weeks 20 come, must needs be looken
upon as not p1~sd upon fact entirely divested OF
tctlon.
RULES FOR ALDERMEN.
The Committee OF tue Board OF Aldermen-con-
slsung OF Messrs. Vance Purroy and Gro5s-was
called for TWO O'Clock yesterday, with view oI
modifying the rules 30 az 70 agree with tne con-
soldation act which leglslates the Assistant Al
dermen out OF once. Mr.. Purroy sent q note stat
ing that he was too III to be present. MessIs-
Vance and Gross, however held an informal ses-
sion, in which they discussed the points involved
and endeavOred 10 harmonic the rules so as 70