The New York herald., 1875-03-01
MUNICIPAL HOICHPOICH.
The Delay in the Reconstruction Of the
City Departments.
IGNORING THE MAYOR.
What VIII the Governor Do About the
Removals? ?
HEADS IN THE BASKE T
Sermon from Seymour and Polite Note
from Tlden-Rumors Around
the City Hail.
DeIafield Smiths Answer to
Governor Tilden.
DeIafield Smiths AnSwer to
Governor Tilden.
MAYOR WICKHAM'S DECISION CRITICISED
Mr.. O'COnOr's Observations
Reviewed.

since the TRANSMISSION OF me evidence III Tue
cases OF the Corporation Counsel and the Fire
Commissioners to the Governor BY Mayor WICK
ham the anxious democrats VINO are willing to
serve the city have been expecting daily the con-
summation Of the removal OF those officers by the
approval OF The State Executive. Ii IS very well
known that the position taken by the Governor
was designed Tor the protection or Comptroller
Green and not adopted for the purpose OF
oDstructing the removal OF any other heads of
departments II Mr.. Green should be removed
ON charges or official misconduct, violation of
law and general incapacity after such
charges had been examined by the Mayor,
ana found to be sustained, It would be a difficult
matter Tor the Governor TO the act or yhe
Mayor on the ground that the charges themselves
were insufficient II, however, the Governor
could claim tie right TO Try the case over again
aud TO decide Tor himself whether the charges
were not proven. then he might protect
Green without damaging his own record. In or.
der to establish precedent for such an emer-
gency Governor Tilden called for the evidence in
rDe FIRST removals. and has succeeded In carrying
his point, although unoer the protest OF the
Mayor. This advantage gained. there Is not much
doubt as to the fate OF the Corporation Counsel
and The Fire commissioners.
DIscoURTEsY TO THE MAYOR
There Is, however, one feature in the cases now
nnder consideration by Governor llden which
threatens q sui wider DreaCn between the State
and city executives. The Corporation Counsel and
the Fire commissioners, encouraged by the action
of the Governor to hope for their own retention In
Ofhce, nave transmitted to Albany new and ad.
ditional answers TO the charges already tried and
decided by the Mayor. The documents have been
sent directly to the Governor, and over the
head OF the Mayor. Such act on the
part OF q city oficer should OF itself cause the
removal OF the offender. since 1t is sub
verslve OF harmony and discipline and
destructive OF good government 1t is not be-
neved by the political friends OF Governor Tilden
that he would encourage INSTRUMENTATION In the
city government by considering these communi
cations from oficials whose removals by The
Mayor have already been certified to him, but
that, following the example OF courtesy set by the
Mayor, he will simply forward them to that Officer
with request thai ne Will examine them and
stale whether they are calculated to change his
previous decision. Some, indeed, believe that
Governor Tilden will pay no attention at all 10
documents thus improperly and unoficially placed
before him, Dut that the removals will be approved
early this week.
TIE CORPORATION COUNSEL.
In the case OF the Corporation Counsel. II now
appears that the suggestion OF his removal
originated with Governor Tiden himself. and the
charges put into shape by Mr.. Charles O'Conor
were, in reality, framed ov the Governor. 1t s,
therefore. highly improbable that the Governor
VIII veto act which he has himself counseled
and which appears TO have been done mainly IN
difference to his views. Rumor Is busy In select.
Ing Mr.. Delaneld Smiths successor Mr.. William
A. Whitney, young and promising lawyer, Is
spoken OF for the position. He is personal friend
Of Mayor WicKham and bears good reputation
at the Bar; but many persons regard him
~ lacking in experience and scarcely solid
enough ior the legal adviser of the city OF New
York. A singular report is circulated around the
been making desperate attempt TO ''circum-
vent" the Mayor by
STARTLING COUP DETAT.
His bompshell was to be suddenly exploded in
the Mayors camp as the rumor goes, at the mo-
Inent OF Mr. Delaheld smiths dnal removal
through the Governors approval. At that time
Mr.. Green wished Mr. Charles O'ConOr to step for
ward through the daily Journals and OFFER himself
= as candidate for tue Appointment, volunteering
to serve the city without pay Tor Inc purpose oil
insuring an immediate and vigorous PROSECUTION
Mr.. Green procured the Endorsement OF this
scheme oy Governor Tllden, and that the latter
proved OF Mr.. smith's removal in order tnat the
Ssae Mr. Mavor 0cOnS5 mfs. Says be made
portunity to fill the place. or course
Mr. Green's real object was to keep out OF the
Corporation Counsel's ONCE any one especially
selected BY the Mayer and TO secure personal
friend OF his own in that positon. But Mr..
anything to do with such a piece OF strategy. lie
was shrewd enough to understand that the people
he could be OF greater use ia prosecuting the
suits by rendering his advice and Assistance to
the Corporation Counsei gratis tnah oy niiing nat
would not lend himself to any act tnat looked ike
or s as 1e s0T Goes and M be ven
rather see Mr.. Deladeld Smith retained than re-
moved.
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS
In the OF the Fire Commissioners the
charges embraced In the report OF tue Commis-
stoners OF Accounts and the proof Dy which those
sive that the apologsts OF the Commissioners viii
probably ind that they have been the champions
OF something worse than official indiscretions. IL
Is very certain that the Governor cannot hesitate
to approve all the removals without destroying
his past reputation as a friend OF honest govern
ment. Moneyed transactions with persons furnish
exorbtant and fraudulent prices for supplies; the
employ ment OF men OF recognized bad character
"a positions Of trust; II such acts as these should
De charged aud proved against city otiicers
Wwoud scarcely become a reform" Governor 10
.od them In their positions in defiance vi the
Mayor. IL is reported, Dy those who profess to
have some Information on the subject, that the
Governor has already decided to approve he re.
moval OF all the Fire commissioners, and that
his decision will be made known THIS week. The
canvass OF the probabilities as 10 the new Board
two or three days.
curIousiy put by the seekers alter municipal pap.
and anxiously whispered by the of1ce-noders. The
commissioners Will follow closely on the heels NJ
the retiring Fire Commissioners. IL Is also PROB.
able that the Supefin tendent oil Buildings Will be
summarily dealt with on account OF his oficial
glect or lncapaclty IN the matter OF ST. Andrews
church. But IL is generally believed tnat the
MAYOR cannot longer delay the removal OF poor
Mr.. Havemeyer's Ioice commissioners, whose
tns powers tnat be and an outrage on he citizens.
The proceedings at headquarters are a. once
rdieulous and scandaous one ~ 10 eI
dsrsood that his whole business ls 70 watcn Two OF
his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ana Dnryeen ns Ma,sei Is Is
real Iifs. wnoa antics ase - eomcal - those Of