New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-28
ALBANY.
A CHARTER FOR BROOKLYN.


SUCCESS OF A sHREwD MOVE IN THE ABSENCE OF
DEMOCRATIC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HIGGINS CHAR
TER NEAR THE TOP OF GENERAL oRDERs-ALL
ELECTIVE OFFICIALS EXCEPT THE MAYOR AND
CONTROLLER LEGlsLATED OUT OF OFFICE-IHE
BILL FINALLY PASSES THE ASSEMBLY.
lrRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, April 27.-The Ogden Charter cor
rupon investigation has reaped its harvest and the Hg
gins Charter will passed by the Assembly The latter
BILL be remembered, is sweeping out OF exist
ence all the commissions in Brooklyn, leaving no officer OF
that city elective except the Mayor and Controller, all
the others be appointed by the Mayor with the consent
OF the Board Of Aldermen, both Of which Republican,
and all within 10 days after the passage of the present
bill Such sweeping measure has never before been
seriously introduced legislative body but SO disci-
pned Republican majority become by the threats
OF the Investigating Committee, that 1t is morally certain
to be PASSED by the Assembly, and much certainly
by the Senate.
In view of the probable passage Of the Ogden Charter
this BILL winch introduced in January by Mr. Hlg-
gins. mas been kept under bonds in the Committee on
Cities since time, and only reported when the
Ogden Charter defeated Then II was reported dur
ing the absence of every Democratic member OF the
Committee except one at Utica, and Immediately an
attempt made to advance to the next Committee
of the Whole. This defeated by the protest OF
Messrs. Lyons and Talmage and the fairness OF MI
soan but to-day device 10 serve the same purpose
was eessful.
Mr. Higgins moved that Bill No. $50 be recOmmitted TO
the Committee Cities retaining It's place IN the order
of third reading-an apparently innocent proposition as
BIZ No. $50 merely provides TO amend The Brooklyn
Charter by election of constable In each ward for
two wears instead OF one. Mr. Higgins himself was
matter OF suspicion the Democratic members from
BROOKLYN and his motion caused general overturning
Of fes and Mr. Lyons astonished to find that the
bill to be rccOmmitted introduced by Mr. Brad
ley a Democratic member from Brooklyn. Naturally
he inquired OF Mr. Higgins If he wished 10 amend the
bill No, Mr. Higgins did not wish TO do that exactly
Then what did he wish to do with itl He wished 10
make some additions TO IT, What were the addiuonsf
Mr. Higgins fbustered few moments, and then ad
mitted that he wanted Bill No. Al (Which is the Higgins
Charter) added TO the BILL
When the uproar began MI. Bradley jumped out OF his
seat and thought it was a wonder Mr.. Higgins wac not
put under arrest for his behavior. Mr.. Tanage de-
nounced the trick as and dirty for which he was
called TO ORDER and various other Democratic members
entered their vigorous protest IL must be understood
that this maneuver advances the Higgins Charter from
its position at the bottom of general orders 20 very near
the top and was the only by which the measure
could be reached this session LOrin Palmer and Coun
seor Perry Of Brooklyn supposed to have originated
the idea OF this sharp practice.
motion was subsequently made to reconsider the
above motion, but lost. An agreement was made
that no political measures should be touched during the
absence of the Democrats days before their de-
parture for Utica and Mr. Sloan excused himself from
voting and was excused The action of the majority to-
day. therefore, proves to be breach of trust well as
shrewd trick The further progress OF the bill will be
fought at every STEP anc it is believed the Governor VIII
finally veto it, The Commissioners legiSated out are
nearly all Democratic and the Mayor and Aldermen who
have the appointments arc Republican.