The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-28
May Vacancies and Mayor wick
hams Appointments.

The anxiety to discover who are to be the
new tenants of the well furnished official fats
TO be vacated by the present occupants on the
1st of May increases as the great moving day
approaches. All attempts to fathom Mayor
Wickhams depths have, however. hitherto
proved futile. He persists in keeping his own
counsel only indicating by wise winks and
knowing mods that he understands what he is
about and will astonish the natives when he
makes public his programme of patronage.
The brogans kick impatiently on the stone
steps and poultice walks of the City Hall
Park, and their uneasiness indicates an ap-
prehension on the part of their owners that
the patent feathers are again to get the best
of them in the race for municipal patronage.
The only consolation they appear to have
springs from the recollection that the Alder
men will have something to say now in the mat
ter of the appointments, and they express the
conviction that these representatives of the un-
terrified would not dare to confirm any of the
Imperial Tokay and Schloss Johannisberg
nominees who may spring from the dinner
tables of Fifth avenue but whose names are
unknown to the voters who stand at the polls
on election day from the rising of the sun
until the going down thereof. The appoint
ments to ill vacancies, they say, were in the
gift of the Mayor alone, but now we have our
Aldermen to look to for justice, and woe to
them if the hard workers, the iron-fsted rank
and file of the party, are to be ignored after
their four months of patient waiting in the
first regular distribution of the spoils that
has been made in the camp of the victors.
The Police Commissioner to succeed
General Duryee is, of course, discussed
with more interest than any other coming
official. Is he to be q military man
or civilian? Is he to be well-gloved ex-
quisite or hard-handed voter2 Is he to be
selected to satisfy the pride of Manhattan
or to gladden. the heart of TammanyP
Is he to be one approachabe only
by broadcloth or free to corduroys
Will he make his appointments on
the force on the strength of gilt-edged recon-
mendations or on the strength of good SER
vices in the democratic cause? If he should
be person unknown to the working demo-
crat, although highly respected among the
select few who have the honor Of his acquaint-
ance, will the Aldermen confirm or reject his
appointment? Will Shandley, Blessing
Guntzer, Lysaght, Reilly and Mccarthy Ego
back on the boys" and place dilapidated APP
pollos and unknown ''swells' at the heads of
the departments, to the exclusion Of the @fel-
lows who do the work, " and who have had no
pay for it for three or four years? These are
the topics Of conversation among the agitated
groups of politicians in barrooms and on park
benches, and the commencement Of May is
looked for with anxiety to furnish an answer
to the questions. Then the still unemployed
laborers ask with concern who are to be tbs
new men in the Departments of Docks and
Parks, which give employment to thousands
Of individuals, and which have here
tofore been under tho control of
Green and his republican allies? Are
they to be Of the non-approachable
character, or are they to be democrats who .
have feelings and sympathies in common
with the democratic masses? The solution
Of the question is known to be in the hands
Of the Aldermen, and they, even moro than
the Mayor, are held responsible for the
answer.
1t will be well if Mayor Wickham can at
once satisfy the demands Of his political
friends and deserve the approval of the citi-
zens in filing the May vacancies. 1t is very
well known that the politicians are awaiting
his action before taking sides as between him
self and Governor Tilden in the matter Of
removals from Office If the May appoint
ments satisfy the earnest men Of his party
they will openly denouncc tho Governor
should he persist in his refusal to act upon
the Mayor removals Should Mayor Wick
hams present selections, on the other hand,
disappoint the working democracy, Governor
Tilden's refusal to create other vacancies will
be applauded by the party. But the Mayor
has o matter to attend to still more i'm
portant than the favor or disfavor of his
political organization. His own declarations
have placed him on record as ''no mans
man" and his appointments must be such as
to satisfy honest and Independent citizens
that they are fit to be made. He must place
at the heads Of the departments, SO far as his
present power extends, gentlemen of estab-
lished reputation and admitted ability and ex-
perience Let him DO this, and public SEN
timent, independent Of the politicians, will
compel from Governor Tilden proper re-
spect for the Office Of the chief Executive of
the metropolis and proper regard for the
interests Of the people. If the Mayor proves
his disposition to give rs thoroughly good
local government Governor Tilden will no
longer stand in his way and obstruct his ac-
ton for the qualification Of personal objects.
says Private Mcguire.
1t seems that Mr. jeremiah Mcclure,
Speaker Of the Assembly, does not fully SYM
pathize with tho sentiment Of a member of
another branch of his family who told Us dur
inc tho late 11nrlno canfnepg.