The New York herald., 1877-11-14
ALDERMANIC DEMAGOGERY Y

| ALDEN MANlC DE M AOOGENf :.
THE NOMINATION OF HENRY @. sTEBBINs AS
PARK COMMISSIONER IEJEcrED--A row
ABOUT LADoRERs' wAoEs-TAMMANY TOAD
les RAMPANr-pURRoY's PHILOSOPHY or POL
ITIcs.
A lively breeze raised at tho assemblagc OF the
City Fathers yesterday afternoon the motion to
rcpct Henry G. stcbblns as Park Commissioner 1t
viii rccolcctcd that Mayor Ely sent In this gentle
mans uamc confirmation al the last meeting OF tho
Board.
when somc unimportant business had been trans
acted Alderman Purroy moved to take the Mayors
communication on this subject from the table and re-
ject tho nominee. Tho speaker coutended that the
people oil this city, year ago, by majprty of some
fifty thousand. had decided In favor OF permitting tho
democratic party to govern this city Last November
they gavo tho authority, Notwithstanding that
combination had been made by republicans with OFF
scorugs Of the democracy II was the duty OF every
democratic OF tho Board to refuse vote for
any nominee that was not democrat lie hoped that
Mayor Ely uld come OF his duty and
send In none bat democrats ior consideration. Tho
principal reason why he alderman Purroy) should
vote against Mr. Stcbbins was because that gentleman
was q republican.
Alderman Cowing offered a substitute to the effect
that Mr. Stebbins be confirmed Park Commissioner.
The nominee stood before tho people man OF un-
biomishcd character. Not word could be breathed
against him. Our public parks wero In Tho hands OF
democrats, and unicr thor administration had been
sEanefuily abusod Mono but capable, honest mon
should havc charge this branch OF city govern
mont. Mr.. Stcbblns was cmincntiy lifted ior tho
ace, being gentleman oi extensive travel and cul-
turc
Alderman Purroy hero launched into excited
tiraae against Mr. stebbins. why" he remarked
ssMr Stcbbins tho man who stood 1a two years
ago at meeting IN tho Mayors Office and advocated
reduction Of tho laborers wages on tho pubic works
Of this city. Wo have been consistent In rejecting
the names OF all parties Ia any way identified with
this reduction. On the same principle General
FzJohn Portcr was reJecicd for tho position OF Com
missioner OF Pubic Works" The Alderman next
brAnched on argument as TO The disTanchsencnt
proposition. stating that ''Mr Ste0ons mad recently
presided nj meeting where II was proposed to dis
franchise tho poor people OF ths city under q consu
Alderman MoKnis-I met Mr. Stcbbins the other
day and he told mo that ne democrat. lie has
boen member OF the Manhattan Club since It's or
gauization. | presume that he hus voted the demo
cratic tickot long bcoro colleague was entitled TO
votc, or probably before he was born
Alderman puRRoY--ME Stebbins told me more than
politics. SO there must be mistake somewhere;
somebody must havo told lie.
Alderman PIScKSEY-Stebbin5 was elected TO Con-
grcss ny the democratic party.
Alderman PINcKSIY-In 1854, think.
Alderman MoRRIs.-In 1857.
Alderman PuRRoy-We are not talking now OF the
gcnricman's politics IN 1854 or 1862; we want to
know what his politics arc in 1871 A good many of
the radical republican party were democrats formerly
Bcnjam Butler is one OF that class
Alderman PINcKNKY-l can state that MIR. Deb
bins was mover a member OF q republican com
mIttoo or republican organization ID this city IN his
life. AS to The disfranchseMent meeting, Samuel ID.
Babcock, democrat, presided, and not henry g. Steb-
bins
Alderman Cowing next contributed few sharp
boadsdcs to the general attack along the republican
line ssThe reduction OF laborers' wages" no said,
"was nrst started by John Kelly and Mayor Wick
ham,"
Aldermen very much. Several Of them sprang 10
their feet ut the same moment Alderman Shells
shouted :--.Can ask the gentleman question"
Alderman Cowing refused TO yield tho moor, and,
among the sarcasms flung at tho other side,
tho estimates OF tho Department OF Public
Works for paving and repairing the streets
II was necessary 10 have this properly attended
10. The money would keep largo number OF men
employed during tho whole wintor.' Resuining his
attacks on the Comptroller Mr. Cowng romarked:-
sJonn Kelly went 70 Albany aud advocated roiuc-
ton salaries paid 10 poor schootcachers police
mon and ircmen. II he tKeliyl came into tho Board
states havo doubt that my friends on tho oihor
side would feel bound TO vote fer him on the ground
OF politics. y
Alderman Purroy warmed up TO lever hoat at these
latest statements or Mr. Cowing. lie culogzcd Mr..
Kelly, and said he would certainly voto Tor bin u
nominated for tnat Office AS 10 the assertion that tho
Comptroller responsible Tor reducing laborcrs'
wages he said, 'It Is base calumny. Mr.. Kelly was
always against this action, and hc again and agnin
announced his position in This respect At the Mayors
meeting Henry G. Stebbins was the man who first
madc the suggestion l was informed OF this by Mr.
Stebbns hilnsoif, and also by Mayor w,cknam. AT
the time OF that meeting Mr. Kelly was absent IN
Canada burying his sister. WneD lie camo back 10
the city he i'm ediateiy called upon Mayor Wckham
and told that gentleman nc had made great MIS-
take"
Tho debate ncxt took the complexion oil an attack
upon constitutional comnss appointed by Gov
ernor Tilden which presentsd the obnoxious dlsran-
chisng clause IN It's report In the constitutional
mendmcnts. II was n democratic measure, and
Mr. Tildon was Responsible for IT, Mr. Babcock,
who presided at the steinway Hall meeting was
democrat.
Alderman Purroy repeated tho assertion that Mr..
Tdcn was responsible Tor tho work OF this commits
sion. Ho had named he members of the commission; /;
The controversy ovor the position Of Mr. Kelly in
reducing the laborers wages was again resumed by
Alderman Shiels asking In stentoran tones OF Alder
man. .Cowing, "Do you know personally that Mr. Kelly
was In lavor OF this roducton?"
Alderman CowiSG-It was generally understood at
Alderman SnigLs-rho day after the meeting in the
Mayors Office saw MT. Kelly. | know that he was
personally opposed 10 the reduction. Tho men who
voted fOr tho reduction were Messrs. Wickham.
Wheeler, Stebbins and Dsb0cker.
Some further sparring OF TINS description was In
dulgod in when Alderman Purroy gave not.co that
he would Introduce u resolution which must place
the membcrs OF tho Board on record as 10 their
anxiety Tor laborers Interests This resolution would
dir ect the Commissioner OF Public Works to gvo
the inying OF watcr pipes by days work.
Tho resolution was subsequently, introduced and
laid over for future consideration.
MR.. srEBBiSs KRJEcTED
voto vas then taken upon tho confirmation OF Mr..
Stebbins. when the genicmans name was rejected by
voto Of 13 democrats To 8 republicans.
ANOTHER
Mayor Ely being informed OF the action Of tho Board
over, President oi tho Produce Bank, Ior the Park
Conf missoncrsnip in place OF Mr. Stebbns This
nomination laid tho tablc by strict party votc
THE ESTIMATES FOR 1878.