The New York herald., 1876-12-08
John Kelly Nominated and Confirmed
as Comptroller
Corporation Counsel Whitney
His Own Successor.
The Courteous Way Mr. Green Received
the Tammany Chieftain.
THE CITY FINANCES.

Mayor W ioknam yesterday COmptrolicr In case o.
the withorawalo OF Mr. James Thayer attracted largo
crowd TO the OF the Board OF Aldermen and tho
ves,ibue OF the City Hall number of local politicians
were also on hand, among them Police Commissioner
Nichols. Colonel Thomas Dunlap, ex.Couniy Clerk
Loew, Sheriff Reilly, sheriff Conner. f. d. Galc
Excise Commissioner Murphy ex-Judgo Hogan
Coroner woItman, Peter McGinness, ex-Assem
biyman Patien, Coroner Croker Phillip Farley
John J. oBrien, A. S. Sullivan and others Nearly
all Of these politicians wcro Tammany men, who came
with the confident expectation that Mr. Kelly to
be the Mayors nominee The Aldermanc chamber was
crowded long before the hour Tor commencing
business
THAyER's WITHDRAWAL
After somo preliminary business had been trans
acted. the following communications read from
the Mayor
ExEcUrrvE DEPARTMENT, CRY HAIL.
NEw YORK, Dec 7, 1875.
To HONORABLE BOARD ALDERMEN
GENrLEMEN-In compliance with tho request Of
James ,. rhayer expressed In the l letter : from him.
animation, hereby withdraw the nomination made IN
my communication TO You OF the 27th uli. In which
James 5. Thayer was nominated for appointment by
and with your consent to tho Comprolership OF the
city OF New York aud head Of the Finance Department
IN place OF Anurew II. Green whose term has expired
WILLIAM H. wICKhAM, Mayor.
Tho following is Mr.. Thayer's icttcr:-
To THE HoS. WILLIAM II. wicKHAx, MAYOR THE
Cry or Ngw YORK.
DEAR SIR fully appreciate tho honor which you
have done IN sending my 10 the Board OF AL
dcrmon for confirmation as Comptroller OF :hc city
nnd however, upon consideration oil my personal and
business affairs and OF the and responsible
duties connected with that Office that cannot at this
time with justice to myself assume tho business of
tho position, and therefore beg you will withdraw my
from the further consideration Of the Common
Council Again thanking you for tho high compile
mens you have paid me, am yery sraly' yours; r
10
mating Mr.. John Kelly for the office OF Comptroller
namo received with stamping OF feet Alderman
Purroy moved the immediate confirmation OF Mr..
Kelly in the following speech
never performed any act with tho pleasure and
satisfaction with which l now move TO confirm tho
nomination OF John Kelly MS Comptroller. If stern
and unyelding sonse oil JUSTICE great that IL has
never permitted nm throughout his long pubic career
to submit Tor moment his honest convictions TO the
demands oil cxpedicncv; if reputation Tor sterling
honesty SO well recognized and acknowledged that It
has passed into proverbs if entire familiarity with
and unsurpassed moral and physical courageif these
tho qualifications essential IN tho make up OF
model Comptroller for this city, then sir assert,
without lear OF contradiction by the most bitter rart
san, that all these qualifications found united in
the gentleman whose name is now before this Board.
With him as Comptroller the reign or iavoritlsm will
end. No unus, or unreasonable claim will 90 paid NO
matter who may bo the claimant, while every honest
obligation Of tho city viii bo promptly and honoraby
MS Mayor II seems TO me that new era OF good gov
crnment Is about TO dawn on the city, and very
proud that has fallen TO my lot take part tho
Initiation OF this movement Therefore, I now move
that tins Board confirm the nomination of John Kelly
ss Comptroller.
Alderman Purroys motion was seconded by Alder
John Reilly. Complimentary remarks were
then made rs to Mr.. Kely's character by Aldermen
Cole, Tuomcy and others from tho democratic side
The nomination was confirmed by the vote Of fifteen
woft rfat irs
ative Alderman Hess being excused from voting
TESTING THE LEGALITY APPOINTMENT
Tho following resolution was offered by Alderman
Morris and placed on nle:-
Whereas grave doubts exist the lawful power
Mayor and Aldermen to appoint Comptroller OF this
appointment Of the Comproicr or this city dspends upon
Ss o nss ar. " ny M os sS
trolc involves other than local consideration
sss % The 's o % on
nss ina and appoint o. ns as sy b. Re
FULLY requested TO give 20 this Board his official opinon
prehenanr Mi the points involved and submitted 70 .o
decision before his Board take any
premises
WILLIAM @. WHITNEY coxrnMED.
Mayor wickhum next sent in communication nam.
ing William Z. whitney for Corporation Counsel for
four years term. This nomination was also promptly
confirmed by vote Of 21 TO l. Alderman Morris alone
being recorded in tho negative.
few minutes after the appointment was an
nounccd Mr. John Kelly accomp MED by his uretcs
Mcssrs August Belmont and Mr. Augustus scheII, ap-
pcarcd before tho Mayor and In. The lhrcc
gentlemen, companlcd by tho Corporation Counsel,
then proceeded TO the Comptrocrs ollco in the new
Court House.
ssnATL TO THE CHIEF"
During the afternoon the Comprolcrs Office bore
the customary busy aspect Clerks engaged their
desks and boys hurried from place to place in the
usual discharge OF their duties. Thore were hardly
any visitors, save those who came IN on business.
About three oc.ock, however, the Office was gradually
filed with a crowd OF men, most OF them politi-
They remained standing In little groups
about the room and anx'ousiy awaited the new
Comptrollers arrival to see show he looked" and to
congratulate HIM the honor that had been conferred
upon him. At half past three the doors were thrown
opca, and In walked Mr. Kelly, who at once became
tue cy nosuro Of all eyes Ho accompanied by
Mcssrs. August Belmont and Augustus SchclI, his
suretes, and Corporation Counsel W. G. Whitney.
Tho party walked into the Comptr0ller's private
office, where Mr. Green was seated at the time. As
tho gcntIemcn walked up to Mr. Green's desk az whcn
himself TO Mr.. Kelly, II understand. sir, tnat you
are my successor s'Ycs, SIR, | am" replied Mr.
KcIly, showing his certificate OF appointment: Mr.
Green merely glanced at the paper in Mr.. kclly's
hand, looked over s0mo papers desk at tho iur-
thor end OF the roou called Tor his hat ovcrcoat,
and walked out without saying word. Mr. Kelly
then made himself comfortable, as tho saying Is,
and quietly took tho seat which his predecessor had
vacated He had scarcely seated himself when tho
democratic Aldermen came 10 body, and presented
their compliments TO the new Comptroller. Mr. Kelly
shook hands with each OF them, and, inviting them to
the whole afternoon Tnmmany poitcians surgci IL
aud out eager to be among the first to wish Mr.. key
success In his new career.
TnE uxTEHRIFIRD ExUBERAxr
The recipient OF all these attentions looked perfectly
calm aad happy and di the honors OF the house II
bc had been Comptroller during hts whole life. In tho
course OF the afternoon Mr. whitney introduced tho
Comptroller TO tho Deputy Comptroller Mr. Earle,
Mr. Jackson, Auditor OF Accounts and other officers
the department. Mr. Kelly told them that he hoped
they would remain ailhful the discharge OF their
duties as they had hitherto and that they would act
II no change had occurred In the Office.
Before the arrival OF M Kelly number OF men
had congregatcd near tho desk oi the Deputy Comp
troiler, Mr. Earlc and loudly exulicd over the sup
posed TACT that his place would 10 occupied by
what they termed n better man." In conversation
which the HERALD reporter had with Mr.. Enrc he said
that no dtd not pay any attention TO the numbers
around and Ia consequence had not heard any OF their
conversation. ''I do not expect change before to-
morrow, but am sure IL will come have
known change in the regime to occur without cor
responding change the personnel OF the Office. As
regards myself II should be notified that my ser.
are longer necessary would leave the Office
chcerfuy. believe bir. Kelly to be man fully COM
petent ior the oicc he Is about 10 enter aud