New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-08
POLICE BOARD AND THE ELECTIONS.

POWERS OF IRE MINORITY-HOW THE LAW
MAY BE NEUTRALIZED.
The subject of the possible influence OF the
existing complications in the Police Board npon inc al"
ponment of Of elections continues 10 occupy
be attention OF politicians of both parties throughout
the city The peculiar attitude at this juncture Oh e
several factions. namely the Ant-Tammahy ana ne
pnhcan combination OF last Fall, the more recent an
anoe between Tammany Han and a certain WING Oh 'no
Republican party, developed at the time OF tue ou
frmation Of Mr. French, and the continued ana ouV
spoken hostility OF Tammany to the Ilideh interest
render it, in the opinions of the most experienced po
tcisns almost impossible calculate with any degree
Of certainty the result the series OF iDtrigues mat
have led TO the present crisis.
The existing registry law was passed May u, 1872
since which date several amendments have been made
Section 3 of this law provides that;
All inspectors OF election and poll clerks In the CITY
aud County OF shall hereafter DC seleeteu anu
appOn by the Board OF Police, VINO shali aso naYc
power to make all necessary removals ana uans.Gfls'
and an ain vacancies which may, from cause, arise
m shall be the duty Of SAID Board OF Police, III the
election district in said city and county TO select to
serve as inspectors of election four persons two Oh
faith and opinions from their associates and those APP
poined represent the party IN pohcai minority o9
State issues in the said city aud county, TO ne naneu
solely by such Comm ssoner or such OF the COMMISSION
ers OF Ponce ia SAID Board as are me h
such political minority who shall be citizens OF INC
United states, and Of the state OF New UI Eo
character and able to read write and speak the Engn
and comfy ana not candidates for any office to be
yneS for 6y the electors OF the district which they
shr be selected; but person snail he required 10 e
resilient the election district LOT WHICH Ho
SHAH be appointed an Inspector
Section Is OF the same provides for the appoint
ment in the same of poll clerks, who snail De
two persons of different political fath for each election
disrictin the City and County Of New-York ana VINO
shall hold office for the same period OF time and upon
the same conditions prescribed for inspectors
MIR. HAwLBY's VIEWS.
Seth c. Hawley Clerk of the Police Board yesterday
gave the following expression Of his views on the stu
alton
As 10 the vote Board necessary to confirm the
inspectors he sa'di
"The clause in brackets in section 49, seems to lay
down the rule by which the political faith OF the parties
shall be represented. This says that two OF the lhspee
tors on state Issues. shall be Of different political iatl
and opinlons from Their associates, and those APP
nointed to represent the party in political MI
norty on State issues. to be named soieiy
BY such Commissioner or such OF the C4hnssioqIi III
Police as are the representatives OF sueh po.IOai
minority. This clause would seem to provide snal 50
far AS one-haf OF thu inspectors are concerned the cO
msstOuers representing the minority on oate ~
nave right TO nominate their men lPt IL may ~
held that the appointment, to be goOd shOuu ue e-
iected the Board, because tue statute say tna M
one commissioned representing the minority seem 10
have the power Of nomination IHls "O.u seYi "
1lyp sI of nominations, and l suppose the Board pos
sesses the power non-concur as TO any particular
names i'm which case the minority commissioners VIII
be under the necessity Of naming others
Has it been the CUSTOM" asked " for the com
mssioners representing one parry 20 assent W 'ho no
inations OF those OF the opposite party T. ~,
IL has been the CUSTOM" was the reply, ioT t1e
Roard Ia the nominations made by a majority
of the commissioners but nave known OF objections
beng made one side or the other as 10 Ihe
there has been discussion and generally the CORRECTION
has been made unanimously. 90 iar as . lIS
extends, Board has never had any troupie n'aIS
Of this kin H. po,,,,,oau ooo,.,,s.,onara should
refuse to vote for the Democratic nepeetors anu me
Democratic Commissioners should refuse 10 vote tor
Republican nominations, now "oulu tne ~PPOiA'l'''
&c There ne You'd fan 10 be any appointments unless
could given TO the law 10 the effect tha
the nomination was IN fact the apron ~ 70
ent OF the vote OF the Board n ba minority would be
made and the others might not be: In the oaee
Of a read-lock a construction Of the statute
MIGHT possblv be obtained holding that the minority
nominees officers and lhe others "et ere a NO. H
do not think construction OF the statute eouu ne
gwen TO the eject any form Of appointment not
ooDcurred in by majority OF tle boaru oi nsyVy
OF a quorum OF tIe Board would be good 40 MOI . -
leye that there is any danger OF any Apo
ing made without the concurrence OF Ine Do "a az y,
Individual case think lhat Ine WIoI us iiself
safe do not think that any body can eke upon itseI
tne work of making fraudulent appointment Oh tnesd
officers aud live after it. Ihey e1nn9 D1 ftr
i'm batch all atiOnce. There are 5000 OF theu Alter
the men are selected they have to be seat Tor ana exam
med as their qualifications ana eRlDty anu, VII
accented have TO sworn in The power OF reuloNdi
ana transfer exists up 10 the time they e9er uoI
which the first day OF registration, ana tne VI
removal exists at all times during repatriation ana
election. have no doubt thaI any ya1 cO1 r2rI
made against one OF these O1cers
apce OF his duties Will he immediately recIueu ny any
commissioners who may be here
HOW THE LAW MAY BE NEUTRALIZED.
A gentleman who Is quite familiar with the work OF
apponrng inspectors said yesterday In referring 10
e CHIT of transfer reposed in the Board that late
Commissioner. representing the minority ON State
hut who was not honest representative OF his
PARTY was so situated that he had the right TO name inc
two inspectors for his party. He shrewdly nominated
rstcass men to represent that minority ali over inc
CITY In every case. however. he sent them en-
tirev away from home into districts where they did not
know a voter This very near rendering their IN
teoritv useless because they had not the knowledge
necessary to enable them to guard against mischief
But there is section which provides that inspector
of elections or poll clerk shall be transferred from one
election district another after he has entered upon the
performance of his duty. Before they enter upon
their duties the Board has the unlimited power OF
transfer In this case IT is said, the plan beng dscov
cred In season. that power exercised by transfer
ring the INSPECTORS TO their districts, and where
tbeir poltlcal acquaintance was valuable 10 prevent
frsnd The transfer made by majority vote OF the
Ros which at that time consisted OF nye members
This power of transfer and the possible mischief eK
listing therein being called 10 tue attention OF Mr. Nv"
iev 6e said. might illustrate the possible mischief
resulting from that clause In the Ia" Dy Ins
there was a collision ia Board where mere was ma
iority OF Of tue parties suppose utre Welo tIee
Under that power OF tansIeratcr inc APP
nontneut OF these INSPECTORS they could transfer hem
Wherever they N ght choose. Though the spirit OF inc
la would plainly be that these inspectors should not
be transferred to break up the balance OF power
they mi nj transfer them that all OF Que party Would
be In one district In which they might want TO pOu
heavy vote"
THE WALLACE COMMITTEE AT FORK.