The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-17
GREENBAcK ALDERMEN.

L.
Biumenthai. Peter Bows. Michael Norton and John
AcCoo.
GREENBAcK ALDERMEN.
The Eighth Senatorial District Biair-Con molly
Greonback- LABOR Adermanio Convontion met last
night and nominated as candidates for Aldermen
James Crawford and Patrick Langdon Tho third
andidato VIII be nominated at q future meeting.
Tho Aldermanic Convention of tbs BlairConnoly
faction OF the Fourth Senatorial district met at No.
So Market street Tor tho purpose of nominating two
aeImen. ano rmss, oeoono, .n.au, SOURI, aua
T. Aasterson was called to tho chair The meeting
was very harmonious Thomas J. Masterson and
Roger Burke wore unanimously nominated.
The Aidermanic Convention OF the Blar-Connolly
faction Of tho Grecnoaek.Labo Party OF the Sixth
Senatorial district mot last evening ut No. Is avenue
A. The nominations of Mr.. Michael O'Farrell ano
Mr.. Edward Costello were made unanimous
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION ON THE
QUESTION OF VOTING FOR THE ALDER
MEN-vIEws OF ALDERMEN AND OTHERS.
The opinion Of tho Attorney General as published
in the HERALD declaring tho minority representation
clause In the charter OF 1873 'unconstitu tional was
much discussed In political circles yesterday.
good many lawyers and others agreed with the view
of tho question taken by tho Attorney General, but
there was Considerable dissent as 10 his method Of
bringing the law 10 judicial test Tho oversight
he suggesting that the electors directly
Tor three Aldermen Ia each Senatorial district, and
that the persons having the highest number OF votes
could thcn In the courts claim that they had been
constutionally elected, without thinking that
the canvassers OF election had something to
say In tho matter, did not pass without
grave comment. Assuming that either Of
the political parties decided disregard
ing tho clause under discussion and voted
aecording to the plan OF the Attorney General the
canvasssrs would BIO bound according to the law
governing the present method OF electing Aldermen
to cast their ballots aside being null and void. II
both parties acted on the recon mendaton mentioned
tho Board Supervisors would be obliged 10 declare
that there election The Attorney General, 1t
IL thought carried away by the strong conviction
no held Of the laws unconsu ttonality and plain
did 1t appear to him that 30 fragrant violation OF
fundamental principles must be easily reached and
remodisd that no forgot all about the simple but
serious barrier that stood in tho way. This barrier
was composed Of the canvassors of election, who
have no judicial powers and can only act
ministerlaly. The general expression among tue
politicians At the City Hall like Sir Charles
Grapdson's opinion Of the world, "there's nothing
In IT," There was no alarm as to tho effect Of the Al
tornsy Generals opinion, but the subject itself ap-
peared to provoke animated discussion. Nobody was
found expressed any desire carry out the
OF Judge Schoonmaker, and Is deemed unlikely that
any but fugitive attempts tho case 10 pre-
vous years, viii BIO made to contest the constitution
ality OF the law
rnoUBLxsoMn AND EXPENSIVE LITIGATION
1t is troublesome and expensive At best, and hore.
tofore the lgants have had little hope encourage
mont givon thom. One man VINO believed, ike Judge
and claimed 10 be elected Alderman on
the principle laid down by tho Judge,
sai. before he Court Of Appeals .na Ssn failed IL
his object. Both tho political parties Will be gov
r y q %
HERALD spoke said, ats TOO isng to walt Tor q do
cslon and VIC must maKethe best Of the Law 1t
standg Is unlikely that any serious effort will
courts. Now. however, that It mas been touched
upon and ngitatcd Il Is moro than probable some
prospective member OF Assembly seized upon It
as . good thing 10 urge the repeal OF by the next
Legislature.
WHAT JUDGE WATERBURY, THINKS Y
Judge Waterbury said the Attorney General was
mistaken in supposing the clause about minority
in the charter sepsrable from the
rest OF IT, The only separaoe clause was that al the
1icted II. 1t would DO Tor the electors,
by voting tor three Aldermen In place of two, sup
pose they wore exercising their constitutional rights
They exercise no rgnls ~ all voters Here they
arc presented on enc side with two candidates, and
on tho other with one TO vote Tor ana they nave no
choice In tho matteL The voting 10 mocksry,
Tor the candidates nominated under this
au.l-repubiican system Of election arc al.
The real source of compiains with this system OF
clecting officers that ths candidates IRE the
one side for two ana on tor one OF tho nomi
nces set up by the organizations, and they have TO
u. a.
constitut,onaiity OF one portion OF the charter
viliatcd the whole instrument
TnE PRAMER OF THE CHARTER
Ex-United States District Attorney Bliss who
drew up tho original draft Of tho charter
OF 1874. said that The clause no inserted regarding
the election OF the Board OF Aldermen provided for
fifteen Aldermen TO DO elected on ono ticket, nve
for one year, i've for two aud I'VE for three years.
At was altered after Il lett my hands," said
Nr. Bliss, .probabiy at the suggestion OF coun-
sci Tor the Committee OF seventy | was awars
OF the change ut the time never quite cesr
. ".
menls made IN Albany In its behalf appeared very
plausible, Minority sontaton is Of course an
advantage for the republican side, t gives them
sevon eight Aldermen where otherwise they would
have only threo or iodr 10 tneir interest 10
VIEWS OF TUE ALDRRnRN nsal&
President Roberts, Of the Board Of Aldermen,
we'll as remember the Court Of Appeals settled tho
pout couple OF years ago. and, as the HERALD says,
was long ago known tho Board OF Supervisors ana
attempt nauo TO disturb IL II Is my opinion
on Inc suoisc. of minority reprcsen,st,on The Al.
torncy Gonoral may DO as much mistaken IN ths
opanion no VAS IN tho ono he rscedod from deciar
ing that npporii0n ment Of tho State could take
place alter tho yoar nxod by law Tor sUch apportio
ment mad passed until tho next census"
Alderman Morris said :-"fhero was minority repre-
sontaton tho old Board OF Super visors, and that
established precedent Il was never contested that
know OF. They have been coptesting the Aidernanic
ntation but don't that any thing
oii. The contestants loso time ana money and mako
nothing out OF IL 1t takes long time TO
cs,ou, ami DENT suppose enhsr party viii care 10
taxe any RISKS Ia tho matter mis- year"
Alderman Lewis said:-"I road tho Attorney Gen.
erals opinion, but that don't decide anything 1
don't thu of election can do any
thing elso than couDt tho ballots they receive accord
ing the law that they have guido the M aud 10
throw out such Daols as are not IN accordance with
that aw.n 1Ff
Alderman Herman said:-.T always believed that
law unconstitutional, and believe stiii, Uut
don't soc unless you 60 TO tho Legislature how you
TO remedy IL Nothing DO dono this yoai
that's CERTAIN"
Alderman Sauer said :-"Thsro's nothing 10 It. 1--we
10 10 what The Attorney General says We niQnt
Ind ourselves lois out In tho ced, and II tho other
side TO act the same way thcre would BE- board
Of Aldermen at ALL"
any thlug IN IT, and agree wish the oil Alder.
maa Sauer.b
GEMS OF INTERVIEWS.
HERALD REPORTER TO a mombcr Of tho aniLTam-
many comfy dcnocracy)-wnich OF tho thros anti.