The New York herald., 1879-08-30
PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE BOARD.

PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE BOARD.
COMMISSIONER MAcLEAN CHOSEN FOR TIE
OFFICE Pro TEM.-ovRRHAULING THE CHIEF
OF THE BUREAU OF ELEcTIoNs-wHo AP-
POINTS THE REPUBLICAN INSPECTORS?
Chief Clerk Hawley looked haggard aud careworn
yesterday he marshalled the four Police Commis-
sions into the Board room at Police Headquarters
Owing to the prolonged absence of Mr.. Wheeler
from the city and Mr.. French's unwillingness in
consequences to attend q meeting Of the Board when
his colleague not present but little business had
been done. It will be remembered that at several
meetings recently Mr.. French hied himself away 80
that quorum Of the Commissioners would
not be present. When. therefore, Clerk Hawley
summoned the Commissioners yesterday he kept
sharp eye on Messrs. French and Wheeler, and. as
II anticipating flank movement on their part.
stationed sergeartat-arms by the door, Having
marshalled his forces he gave the signal for Captain
Kipp. first deputy clerk. to appear. that business
might begin without further delay. In response to
the summons Captain Kipp put in appear
ance. With patriotic ardor he unfurled miniature
Union flag. and threw its guady folds to
the breeze from q rear window. The dis
play Of bunting taken q signal
that "the ball up" and Clerk Hawley
motioned the Commissioners to their seats. His
horror may be surmised when he saw Mr. French
make bolt for the door and pass tho picket lines
while the sentry was experimenting o tough
toohpick. Mr.. Wheeler the next to disappear
before Mr. Hawley had recovered his self possession.
The whip-namey. the doorman-was sent in quest
Of the republican representatives Of the non-parti
san Board, and succeeded in rallyinR them
again.
acnrtf NON-PARTIsAN TACTICS.
When the Board called to order Commissioner
Morrison offered resolution that Commissioner
MscLean be made permanent president of the
Board. whereupon the truant republican Commis-
missioners exchanged glances and smiled sarcasti-
cally. They knew that il they did not hold the
Joker they could at least euchre their demo
cratic colleagues at their own game. When the
motion put to vote it resulted
in tie. Messrs. Wheeler and French voting in the
negative, and the motion therefore lost Mr..
Wheeler. with o non-partisan eye to business.
thought he saw favorable opening to advance the
interests of his party. and he moved that his repub
lcan colleague Mr.. French. be appointed president
Of the Board. These disingenuous tactics did not
however. succeed, and Mr.. wheeler's Intentions
mscarried. the vote again standing to 2 and Mr.
| French putting in q plumper for himself with an
honestly solictiious for the Office. Mr.. Wheeler.
Tot relishing the turn of affairs exclaimed that
| he led to believe that the Office OF pres-
| dent would alternate around the Board. Mr.
| Morrison overlooked the exception. and
came to the scratch again by moving
that Mr.. MacLean be appointed president until the
5th September. Clerk Hswley called the roll. and
the motion lost tie vote as before. Here
arose u discussion about supposed understanding
that democrat and republican should rotate in
the presidency OF the Board. but Mr.. MacLean over
ruled these objections by saying politics should
have nothing to do with the settlement Of the ques-
tion under discussion. Mr. French. to cut short the
as president Of the Board pro TEN. The vexed ques-
tion to who shall rule the official roost being in
| this manner temporarily disposed OF the Commis-
AnuyTa
business.
| DRAGGED OVER THE GOALS.
Chief OBren placed on the table the list OF in 4
spectors OF election named by Commissioners French
and Wheeler. Accompanying the list long
resolution which Mr.. French offered appointing the
inspectors named in the list, and detailing the
rious stages through which the controversy over
scribed. At President MacLean request the manner
of ascertaining the character and qualifications Of
the candidates. Mr.. O'Brien next subjected to
inQ usitiona In Investigation concerning his duties
the head of the Bureau OF Elections. Mr. MacIean
drow the attention Of the Board to the following
notice, which had been sent out by Mr.. O'Brien To
the republican inspectors OF election and poll
clerks
poLIcH DrrAHr.xsS or % sgr Sa GIr or NEW YOsk
BUREAU o ELECTIONS. NEw YORK. August -. 1873.
Of shaps ess US u so laws Of
to serve OF Election Tor the year ending Sep
S the cal. s
fully JOHN !. UBkIEN,
Mr.. MacLean demanded to know upon what au-
thorty Mr. OBrien had issued the above notice. in
asnuch as no official action had boon taken in
frmng these appontees. and also his authority for
changing the stercotyped form OF the notice: MIR.
OErien said he had done by advice OF Messrs. /.
Wheeler and French. tho latter acting by advice OF
counsel. and pointed to section Is of tho Registry
Lean requested him to read the section referred
to. but Mr.. O'Brien pleaded that he could not go
into . discussion OF the section with the president,
who is lawyer. and he did not think it necessary
to vindicate his official conduct. "But am respon.
want want to Know your authority for sending out such
q form OF notice." MIR. y Brien said he ouly
acting according to instruction and established
usages.
Commissioner Morrison demanded to know IL the
list contained inspectors of election from each
election district. and upon being answered in tho
Affirmative stated that the preamble to Mr.. Frcnch's
resolution inconsistent and was but garblcd
extract of the minutes, inasmuch 1t assumes the
individual action Of Commissioners Wheeler and
French to be the official action of the Doaro.
Mr.. French retorted that IL but mere formal |
ity that Messrs MacI.can and Morrison should con-
Arm the republican inspectors OF election. 10 this
abatement the gentlemen named oHercd their un-
qualified protest. Mr.. French said that he aud Mr.
Wheeler were satisfied with the list OF republican I'm
spectors M selected and published In the CITY Record
and that should end the discussion. Mr. Maclean in-
quired of Mr.. French il he had made any inquiry
into their character and qualifications The latter
replied he had made sufficient inquiries to sat
isfy himself on thatlpoint. MIR. Msclcan considered
no better to give than that. he Mr. MacLean
would be Obliged to vote against the resolution
Mr.. French ulBclolmeu bil lntentlon OF DelnB us
courteous, but insisted that when no and Mr.
Wheeler had presented the republican list of In
spectors Messrs. MacLean and Morrison had no
other option than to confirm them, and that IL
obligatory on tho entire Board to do Mr.. Nor
rison thought tho provisions of tho law governing
the appointment or inspectors of election had been
disrcgarded inasmuch as there was no chance given
for public scrutiny into the qualification and ante
cedents of the persons named, and effort had
been made through official channels to investigate
the characters OF the nominees.
THE CORPORATION COUNSEL TO DECIDE.
'.In that case" said Mr.. French, ''and failing to
ceive the cooperation of the democratic nemUcrs of
this Board to confirm tho republican inspectors,
move the following resolution":-
That the nominations just offered bo rcfcrred tho
Counsel the Corporation with the request that he will