The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-10
CITY POLITICS.
The Weeks Work Of the
New Regime.
THE COMING CHANGES.
The Cases Of the Fire and Police Commissioners
and the Corporation Counsel.
THE POLITICAL HACKS HANKERlNGS.

There were month ago very many OF the city
politicians and many others who are not poti.
clans, who were sanguine enough to believe that
| by the end OF the first week Of Mayor Wckham's
term every commissioner and head OF department
| VINO was not OF the right sort In party sense or
just to the peoples liking In moral sense would
be retired to the shades OF private life, no,els
pOlels. Already the first week OF the term IS more
than over, and the too hopeful ones have been
doomed to disappointment. The fact is that
Rumor during the week has made more removals
and changes than the Mayor has apparently as yet
ever dreamed OF making; for. while Mr. Wickham
has taken active steps for the removal OF but one
head OF department. the trrepressiDle 'lt IL said
gave him the credit OF a determination to make a
clean sweep before sundown yesterday. 1t s idle
10 deny that 1t was the general belief that the
very first object OF his tender solicitude would be
Comptroller Green but
THE CONTROLLERS FRIENDS
now say, and say 1. boldly, like Mr.. Pangoss, that
he is stronger than ever, and they base this con.
vlction on the notion that Governor Tlden has
actually promised to stand between the Mayor
and his removal. some OF them. indeed. have
gone so far already as to assert that Mr.. WICK
ham does not 'dare"-tnat Is the word, does not
dare-to remove the Comptroller. AS for the
Mayor he has not during the week committed
himself one way or the other the subject
although he has been frank enough to declare
that thus lar no charges have been preferred
against the Comptroller. Those who claim to
know what Mr.. Wlckiam's sentiments are con-
corning the matter state that the Mayor is quietly
bidlng his time, and while ne feels that he would
be justified In removing Mr.. Green, and that
he has ample reasons to base such action upon,
yet that he does not want to act too
hastily nor at time when the Comp.
troller might be looked upon as a sort
of martyr to the new reOtnae They claim that
when he does make up his mind to move on the
Comptrolers works he will do 80 regardless OF
any bargain that may have been made between
Mr. Green and the Governor. But what the
Mayor actually intends to do is as yet mystery.
and what his friends claim are his sentiments can
be taken simply for what they are worth 1t may
be mentioned in connection with this subject that
the Comptroller has been compelled at any rate
to acknowledge the ract that he is
NO LONGER THE MAYOR,
as he certainly was TO all intent and purpose
under Mr. Havemeyer II was his custom, for the
purpose Of annoying people against whom he had
grudge, or whenever he desired TO show some
rather independent politician or contractor that
| he was the Grand Mogul OF the city government
: to keep them out OF their just dues for months at
o time; and one OF the ways he adopted
to make his little game was
to have the Mayor sign warrants which were not
dated at all not even the month being written on
/
out by him and signed by the Mayor, say in June,
the Comptroller, by simply refusing to have the
month and date put in the warrant, was enabled
to prevent the party in whose favor 1t was drawn
from getting his money until 1t suited hts pleas
ure IL was over this little peculiarly OF his that
Mayor Wickham had his first grand talk with the
Comptroller during the week; and as the latter
tried to argue in MS old style. and to prove Ia his
own domineering way that he was right, the In
tervlew was quite lively one. TIE Mayer got his
back up and his loot down, and although he did not
swear 1t Is quite probable that he ielt very much
q Dig tiea in his ear; but, Stubborn to the last, he
had aiterward warrants made out only half follow.
the month put in but not the day: These war.
rants, when thev reached the Mayors office. were
tion," and the result was another powwOw in the
Mayors Office. the climax was that warrants
form, and men who earn their thousands In doing
work honestly for the city, as well as the poor
a month, will no longer be at the mercy OF the
whims and iancles OF Mr.. Green Tor months alter
their bills have been audited and signed.
CORPORATION COUNSEL SMITH
This gentleman, VINO received unexpectedly
such an interesting letter from the Mayor on Mon
day, 1t Will be remembered, was given until next
Wednesday to frame his answer. WHAT tnIs Will
, be. II 1t is made atHall, there are. OF course.
there are many who incline to the be-
, Lief that. instead OF making any defence
IN ertepsO TO the charges made against him Mr..
Smith Will content himself with a general de.
Nal, aud. claiming that all the hue and cry about
though he could show That there was not the
slightest foundation Tor any one or them, his place
would be made untenab,e-resgn. On the other
r hand, it Is gwen out by some or Mr.. smiths
I, friends that ne VIII make a very exhaustive de-
shake up among the dry bones the democratic
side OF the House, and at the same time he will
almost settled fact now that WITHIN week or
two the Corporation Counsel VIII be democrat,
upon wnat may be called 10 party sense a
firm basis. IT. Is deemed necessary that the
, man upon whose counsels the Mayor Is to
depend in great measure for any new moves
on the chess board lie Is to make should be In mar
} douotlcss, that made Mr.. Smith say in his letter
TO Mr.. Wickham, acknowledging the receipt OF the
he you'd have given it up In other words. feel
, ing that he was IN the way, and, so feeling aud
mind rather hard to have charges preferred
against him. even II they were true. Taxing 1t as
corporaIS Counsel very ye shortly It
to suppose that until tnat time no great changes
NONE &c otmer aa n have 'n Deem probable
this week by charges already preferred. When
Mr.; SMITHS case mas been decided eitn ,s by tne
by the Mayor Or by his resi- IN alton alter defend.
Ing himself success uly, II tnat be possible the
nrst department tnat Will come under the ban IL
T certain 10 Oe
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
II the Mayor does not act first IN prefefring
charges against them 1t Is more than PROBABLE tnat
a committee OF the lower House OF the Legslat ure
viii De appointed 70 take them ID hand, aud on the
Q strength OF "points' FURNISHED tnem-and which
1t is SAID member OF the present Legislature has
already handed 10 the May Tor his consldera.
tlon-glve them shaking that may do the pubic
: good II II does them no harm. Oi course Change
. In the entire Police Commission would make q rev.
oluton In the Board OF Health, and since 1t has De-
, come pretty well UNDERSTOOD that the members OF
the former must be made TO stand aside and that
q no matter what measures may be taken by the
Mayor ana me Governor to accomplish the desIIa.
' ole end, the community, without regard to party,
Will be devouty thankful. The health officials and
! their subordinates In the department are
/ beginning TO trombe In their boots. Men
4
!. republicans and the hundreds OF others VINO have
Tor years obtained good living at the public eX.
pense ny being their humble followers. nave all Of
. sudden discovered tnat they voted tue demo.
q cratic ticket last fall and always had sneaklng
!. regard Tor lts leaders even when they were COM
4 PEELED to applaud their opponents.
. THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS.