The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-07
the Delay In tho Removal OF Comp
troller Green.

The Delay In tho Removal OF Comp
troller Green.
The statement of Mayor wickham, soon
after his election, that in his official action he
would be nobody's man, was warmly ap-
proved by the public and was construed to
signify that he would be governed by his in
dependent sense of duty, without servile
Difference to party leaders in Office or out Of
Office. The tenor of his Message and his first
official acts were in consonance with that
satisfactory declaration. But he does not
quite meet public expectation in postponing
an act which his Message clearly foreshad-
owed-the removal of Comptroller Green.
Nothing could be more evident than the
Mayors utter want of confidence in the
Comptroller, as disclosed in several striking
passages in the Message He was virtually
accused by the Mayor of concealing the true
state of the city finances, of vexatious
litigation in opposing the just demands
Of the city creditors and of obstructing
necessary public improvements. The aid
of the Common Council was asked in
procuring correct balance sheet which the
Mayor did not expect from Comptroller Green.
One of the Mayors earliest acts was to ap-
point Mr.. Martin, friend and bondsman of
Mr. Van Mort to place on the Park Com
mission, which was regarded as having q
marked significance in view of the Comptrol-
ler's bitter and venomous hostility to Com
missioner Van Mort throughout his admins
traitor. The community, therefore, felt some
surprise that the Corporation Counsel, and
not the Comptroller, was the first officer whom
the Mayor undertook to remove
We cannot credit the rumor that his hand is
stayed by the intercession of Governor Tilden
in Green's behalf for that would be incon-
sistent with the Mayors declaration that he
would be the Chief Magistrate of the city in
fact as well as in name. According to the
charter the Governors sanction is indeed ne
cessary to complete removal; but that is the
final act andis not included in the preliminaries.
The charter does not say that the Mayor must
consult the Governor or act conformity with
the Governor in making removals. It would
be contrary to law and an assumption of func-
tons that do not belong to him for the Gov
ernor to interfere in such matter until after
the Mayor has acted and decided. Until the
Mayor has actually made removal and SUBJ
mitted it for approval the Governor has
nothing to do with it more than any other
citizen. For him to attempt to forestan the
action of the Mayor would be an illegal inter-
ference with the duties Of another public
officer. We are unwilling to believe that this
is the cause of Mayor Wickham's delay. But,
be the obstruction what it may, we are con-
fdent that it is merely temporary. The Mayor
will do his duty in pursuance of his own con-
viction Of right, and when the Comptroller
has been removed Governor Tilden must take
the final responsibility of approving or an
nulling the Mayors action. He can be re-
ieved of that responsibility only by Green's
resignation, which it is futile for anybody to
expect. If that is what the Mayor is waiting
tor he will wait in vain.