New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-15
BROOKLYNS POLITICAL STRIFE.

OF HIS RESUMPTION OF OFFICIAL DUTlES-A
TUMULTUoUs SCENE AT THE MEETING OF The
COMMON COUNCIL-SO NOMINATIONS RECEIVED
-IHE BOARD ADJoURNs IN GREAT CONFUSION.
The question who is to act as Mayor OF
Brooklyn was still unsettled yesterday Acting Mayor
Ray the Mayors Office in the City Hall early in
the day and expressed determination to continue
there until Mayor Howell should appear in person. In
addition the notice sent Wednesday TO the City
Clerk, directing him to give notice TO all officials OF
Mayor Howel's resumption OF his duties, personal
served upon Mr.. Ray at his residence yes
erday morning informing him that the temporary dlsa-
mlity which had prevented Mr.. Howell from performing
his duties had ceased exist and relieving Mr.. Ray
from further responsibility To this Mr. Ray paid no
attention. AT the Mayors Office he told by MI.
Rice secretary 10 Mayor Howell, that he would not he
recognized In reply to this, Mr. Ray said that Mayor
Howell could not carry his Office around in his hat"
He said that the notice served him had evidently
been carried around several days, and the date filed In
when needed. So far as could be learned yesterday
none of the city officials were allowed TO Mayor
Howell, and I've transacted business. His condition
has not improved.
said by friends OF Mayor Howell that all the acts
Of Mr.. Ray after the notice was served on him
VIII be treated as Of no account II President Ray should
refuse TO receive communication from Mayor Howell,
tits said ne would violate his duty President OF the
Board Of Aldermen and would thus be liable to indlct
ment. During the occupancy OF the Mayors Office by
the Acting Mayor yesterday several policemen were IN
attendance IN the outer room.
The special meeting OF tho Common Council, sum
by Acting Mayor. upon the request Of eight
Republican members, was called TO order by President
Ray shortly after 2 p. m. All the members, except
Alderman BuTnet, OF the First Ward who is Ill and away
from the city, in their seats The LOBBY filed
with the usual throng OF local politicians and place
seekers while the particular friends of certain Alder
men were within rail. outside of the Council Cham
baIfu tho Hall
with interested persons, who eagerly caught all
and speculaed the probable result Of the
meeting The proceedings began with the reading Of
he minutes aud OF the call for the meeting President
Ray then announced communication from the Acting
Mayor An objection to the reception OF this was made
by Alderman Kenna DemocraU Of the Fourteenth
Ward, on the ground that Mayor Howell had resumed
the duties of his office Being ruled out OF order Alder
Keuna appealed TO the Board Tue vote on the APP
peal stood II to ~ Messrs Powers, PctTy and Smith
lal ReDublicans) voting with the Democrats.
President Ray declared the char sustained, and
dered the reading OF the paper TO proceed The City
Clerk proceeded and read the nomination of exAder
A. Stewart Rowey for president OF The Board of
City Works, in the place OF Frederick S. Massey. Al
this point Alderman Kenna again objected, and said
that his previous objection had been sustained Pres-
dent Ray consulted with the Clerk, and acknowledged
that his decislOntnat the Chair had been sustained
After few routine matters were attended
to AderLan Kenna again took the floor, and, in
cited manner SAID that he had communication 10 read
which would show that Mayor Howell was in the per-
Torrance Of his duties. He hereupon read the nomlna-
ton for president OF the Board OF City Works OF Fred
erck S. Massey the present incumbent. Mr.. Kenna
declared order by the chairman, but persisted III
reading the document. President Ray threatened to
order the SerGeautat-Arms to take Alderman Keuna
from the ROOM but the Latter stepping from his seat
and advancing front of the clerks desk, began read
ing the official notification of Mayor Howell to heheads
departments that had resumed the duties Of Mayor
at his house. President Ray called the Alder
order, and raped loudly With his gayel drown
Ing Mr. Kennas No heed being taken of the calls
for order and the continued rapping President Ray
dered the SeTgeant-atATms TO arrest the offending
ber Tnercupon arose a OF tumult. As the Ser
gcaut-at-ArnIs approached AdermaL KeDna and said
" Come along with me- Aldermen Kane (Dem) or the
Sixth Ward aud Mccarthy (Dem.), OF tho Fiftn Ward,
sprdng from their seats, rushed forward, and Loudly
protested They began 10 loll up Their sleeves, when
The seIgeautat-ArDs fell back, While every person IN
the room was his feet. Nothing could be distinctly
heard amid tue confusion Hopeless Of restoring
the semblsuce Of order, President Ray, who had not
ceased calling order, ana rapping loudly with his
gave, shouted above the uproar t is impossible TO
adjourned" He and the Republican members OF the
Board with the exception OF Aldermen Powers, Petry
and Smith, then left the room,
As they departed Alderman Kenna appealed from the
declaration Of the President and the clerk assuming
the Board To be SIM In session, look tue NOte lac
twelve present voted against tue decision and az the
name OF Alderman Dieyer Rep), OF the Twcuy-fOurfh
Ward, was called, some one answered aye" Count
ing this vote there quorum still present and tue
clerk declared the decision not SuS dlUed, In the di-
senee OF the President, Alderman Black Dem OF the
Fourth Ward. called TO the chair. The roll was
again called and only twelve members answered 10 their
names Alderman Black thereupOn declared the meet
Ing adjourned for lack OF quorum until the next regu-
Lar meeting on the first Thursday in September.
The diSgracefu scenes in Common Council Cham
Der general topic OF conversation after the ad
iOunmenL Acting Mayor Ray said that the whole OF
Alderman KennaS attempt 10 get communication
from Mayor Howell before the Board improper and
Of order, II was necessary that all cUmnunica-
tons should come through the chairman. Alderman
KeDni also In contempt because that order Of
linz q Ngi yfI
almost rot ana SAID that he could not single
policeman in the when he called upon the Sergeant
alarms act. II mad not bcea dete mined By
Republican members, although they were in caucus
Immediately after the adjournment, what their next
movements would be. He expressed his determination
% act Mayor until he knew Mayor Howell could re-
his duties by coming to his office and declared
fhat he would today attend TO the MAYORS duties as he
another meeting OF the Board President RAY also
said that he had heard the Inspector OF Street Cleaning
Nldinc, who received an appointment yesterday from
the Board Of City Works, tell Alderman Smith, OF his
Ward. the Fifteenth not TO sell out 10 The Democrats
for him, he would not take the Office Alderman
smith voted with the Democrats yesterday, although
he met with tue Republican members IN caucus
yesterday.
Alderman French NepJ, OF the Twentieth Ward SAID
10 attempt at uObrue IN defiance of all author
ity would encourage those who had 10 respect for
the laws. The majority OF the Board said had the
night 10 take such action as they chose. II there
anything Illegal IN their action, the proper remedies
lay ia the courts. AS men elected the Board to
represent political parties, they Of necessity be
partisan. and the majority must rule. As future &C
lOn, Alderman French said that the Republican mem
beers would await developments IN his mind there
no doubt OF the right Of President Ray 10 Mayor
until Mayor HOwePs physical condition such that
could personally resume his duties. The section OF
the charter providing for an Acting Mayor cOucus
i've the point OF hls right TO act dunng the illness
OF the Mayor.
A SLIGHT HINT, Aunt Tabitha-" Tell your
81 "A