The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
A POLITICAL MIDDLE.
Alderman Ray Makes a Bold Attempt to
Supplant Mayor Howell.
QUESTIONABLE REPUBLICAN TACTICS.
Disgraceful Scenes in the Brook
lyn Common Council.

The political clements of Brooklyn were agitated
yesterday to an unusual degree over the conflict OF
authority existing batween Alderman Ray. the Pres
ident of the Board of Aldermen and Acting Mayor of
the city. and His Honor Mayor Howell. The chief
magistrate of the city. Mayor Howell. taken
sick with malarial fever about month ago. aud
President Ray. by virtue OF the power vested
IN hiH by the charter Of Brooklyn. and
also at the request of His Honor, as
sumed the discharge of the duties of the
Mayoralty. There several commissionerships to
be illedthe presidency OF the Board OF City Works.
three Commissioners OF Police and Excise three
Commissioners of Fire and Buildings and the Collec
torship of Taxes and Assessments. The term OF the
present ncumbents of these lucrative offices expired
May l. but under the charter the incumbents hold
over until their successors shall have been APP
pointed. The law confers upon the Mayor the power
to nominate, and the Common Council are to con-
firm. The Mayor is . regular democrat while the
republicans have majority of six in the
Board of Aldermen. When Mayor Howell was
taken sick agreement made with several of
the republican Aldermen that they would not vote
to confirm any nominations to fill vacancies during
his enforced absence. The protracred absence of
Mr.. Howell, however. aggravated the hungry seekers
after the plums OF Office. and the temptation break
faith and to apply the republican party whip the
shoulders Of those who were in favor of abiding by
the agreement too strong to be resisted The
greatest possible political pressure brought to
bear upon the Acting Mayor. President Ray. who
is himself strong partisan republican. to call
q special meeting and to send in the names
Of straight" members OF his party for nomination.
He stood out for long time. and in the meantime.
the three republican Aldermen who were regarded
uncertain" by their fellow members wore
"canvassed' and urged to stand by their party in
the coming assault upon the democratic works in
the effort to capture the patronage. The "uncer-
tain" Aldermen were:-ldermen John H. b. Smith,
OF the Fifteenth ward Matthias j. Petry, OF the Six
teenth ward, and James G. Powers. Of the Twenty
fifth ward. 1t rumored that President
Massey. democrat. OF the Board of City
Works. removed q brother Of ex-City Works
Commissioner Whiting yesterday to make place for
q friend of Alderman Smith. which might have had
Its influence upon that city father. Alderman Petry
who spoken OF rs an aspirant for Justice Of the
Peace in the Third district is said to expect demo-
cratic votes" should he get the nomination of his
party. The opposition to the confirmation OF any
candidates that Acting Mayor Ray might send in on
the part of Alderman Powers is said to be owing to
his friend Captain Oliver B. LEIGH sent in
for Police and Excise Commissioner But
whatever may have actuated these dissenting
Aldermen are best known to themselves. The Ques-
ton generally regarded by the rank and file of
democratic political 'bone hunters els the
democratic party to lose the patronage the best
departments Of the city government the of
practice
OF the republican President of the Common Coun-
ell. who Is but temporarily holding the rens Of the
executive OF the city governments"
REPUBLICANS BREAK FAITH.
The republicans who thirst after power and emol-
ument. the other hand. felt that all was far in
politics. rs i'll love and war, and that If the Mayor
unable to take possession of his seat
in the City Hall by reason of sickness or TOR any
| other cause then it the RICH. of their nc ting
Mayor to send in the names of good republicans"
to fill the positions. which would otherwise have
be divided by compromise with the democratic
| AND rOn-
Mayor Howell had sufficiently recovered from his
| sickness Wednesday afternoon, stated in yes
| terday's HERALD. to cause u notice to be be sent
| through the City Clerk to the officers the city
! government informing them that thereafter all
| business connected with tho Mayoralty would be
transacted by him at his house. Before this notice
had. at the request OF several republican Aldermen
| issued call q special meeting the Common
such official business as would be laid before the
Board. He also filed with the City Clerk official
sealed communication addressed to the Common
| Council. Rumor Immediately circulated as to
| the contents of the document. which was said to
contain several nominations of candidates.
Before leaving his house yesterday morning Act
ing Mayor Ray served with u notice from Mayor
Howell, by messenger. relieving him from all further
action in the premises, His Honor wrote, The
temporary disability which induced me to call you
to transact the ordinary daily duties of the office of
Mayor has ceased to %, exist The acting Mayor
before eleven o'clock and was asked by Secretary Rice
whether he proposed to continue to act Mayor,
|
acting Mayor, II do" Then" said Mr. Rice. II
have to inform you that you will not be recognized
Mr.. Ray subsequently held long conferences
with republican Aldermen and with delegations of
citizens who were urging nominations upon him.
MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
As early as O'Clock ia the afternoon Sergeant
Rogers. of the sanitary squad. arrived with ten
officers at the City Hall and stationed his men in
charge OF the stairs leading to the Common Council
chamber aud also at the doors. The politicians
sembled about the steps OF the Hall and in the COR
ridors and discussed the situation. specializing at
random to the possibilities of the republicans
being able to win over smith, Powers and
acting Mayor Ray had in calling the special meeting
Six officers assigned to the duty OF guarding
the entrance to the acting Mayors Office Shortly
before two o'clock about three hundred ward poll.
ticians admitted to seats the lobby, and
about one hundred privileged characters
Aldermen entered and took their respective
seats they looked serious. and several members
evidently unusually excited. Alderman Gunder
took on his coat Alderman Kenna, the democratic
leader in the Board was exceedingly pale and held
before king his seat. Alderman smith conversed
cxcitcdly with Patrick Hayes. the independent demo-
crat, or the Sixteenth ward. ana conferences
held on all sides until ten minutes after two
o'clock. when Acting Mayor Ray took his
seat and called the meeting to order. The
roll then called by the Clerk and tho
following Aldermen answered to their names -
Dwyer. Atken. Black, McCarty, Kane, Stewart.
Mcintyre, O'Conneil, Gunder. Graham, Donovan
Ray, Kenna smith. Petry. Waters. Williams. Baird,
French, Hooker. Fritz, Seaman, Dreycr and Powers.
The oniy member of tho Board absent was Burnett
who is sick. The minutes OF the preceding meeting
were then read and declared approved. The Clerk
next read the call for the special meeting.
"a communication from the acting Mayor, said
President Ray, handing the clerk the communities
ton.
The Chair had no sooner made the announcement
than Alderman Kenna rose. and in loud voice said
81 object to any communication being read at this time
from the acting Mayor. There is no acting Mayor.
The Mayor has resumed the discharge of tine duties
of his office. and ask. therefore, that the communi-
cation be returned to the from which 1t
emanatcd." Applause from the democrats in tho
lobby.)
al rule the gentleman from the Fourteenth out OF
order. The gentleman will take his seat The clerk
will proceed to read the unicaton," cried tho
President. and he struck his desk with tho gavel.
ALDERMAN RAY MAKES MISTAKE.
'"Then appeal from the decision of the Chair"
exclaimed Alderman kenna, who had remained
standing. ~ call for the yeas and nays" The rolf
was called, and tho clerk, amid applause from the
democrats, announced the result 1.-THE vote stands
| IL O l2.n Aldermen NINTH pntry nd Ind