New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-30
THE CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS.
HENRY B. LAIDLAw APPOINTED.
THE RESIGNATION AT THE MAYORS DISPOSAL FOR
,errK-A PREsENTMENT BY THE GRAND JURY.

~yr prerny.TIoN AT THE MAYORS DISPOSAL FOR
wEEK-A PREsENTMENT BY TIE GRAND JURY.
The resignation of J. Nelson Tappau; the City
Edson For some months Mr. Tsppan has been un-
able to attend to the duties of his Office and In the
latter part Of APRIL he took to
still i'll, although greatly improved. few days
sftcr hi, return came the failure Of Grant
the Marine Bank, in which the city
had deposits amounting to $1,300,0OO When
Il became known that Mr.. Tappan was creditor
IF Grant & Ward for $32O,O06, a disposition TO
blame the City Chamberlain for carelessness IN
his duties TO the city was manifested. On May 10
that h he would he required to obtain a new bonds
man in place of James ID. Fish the president OF the
Marine Bank The letter called forth no Response
aud on account of his rapidly failing health, me
following letter was placed yesterday IN me
Mayors hands by an intimate friend OF Mr.. lap
pan who had it III his possession since the day ON
which it was dated
No. 337 LExNGIoS-AvEr May %, 1884.
Honorable FRANKLIN Epson, Mayor Of me C'B o. Aec
DE sn Of a Se CITY of
the appointment and qualification OF my successor.
great reluctance but am impeed TO ii by sense of
duty to myself TO my family my friends and the city
depends upon my having as absolute rest and
ouieude a. possble and that shall probably be unable
mcntSs 10 come IT, therefore becomes my duty to
ieve YOU Mayor OF the city from all embarrassment
IN relation to the Office OF the City Chamberlain.
Thanking you for your many couresles to me. l. ain'
dear SIR very respectfully yours j. NELSON TArrAS
sor Henry b. Laidlaw. The appointment was
accepted Mr. Laidlaw was recommended by,
number of business men, including Eugene Kelly,
c. p. Huntington, and {. NJ. Fry. The, appoint
ment was made for the unexpred term, which ends
on MAY /. 1855. Mr.. Laidlaw will be required to
give bond of 100000 secured by four suretles.
lie has ten DAYS III which to qualify.
The Mayor declined to say who gave him the let
ter There was suspicion about the City Hall that
Foreman Trmble of the Oyer and Tcrmner
Grand jury handed in Tie following preSentment
Yesterday as the result of investigation IN
winch Ferdinand Ward and James ID. Fish were
examined.
Tenaner do hereby present and make known to the
Court that opinion of the Grand Jury that the
sumed ard the financial obligations and speculations
into which he has permitted himself to be drawn are IN
charge of the duties of his Office and we therefore recon-
mend that TIE Mayer SSs , EesS ms
tons in resari to The business OF the Chlpoerialns
distely revised, 2l that the provision OF law fixing
the limit % $2Oo0OOO the lrgest amount to be de-
posted IN any one olnk or trust eqngIny oe enahScd
FL onehalf OF the capital and net surplus OF sien bank
o. company; 90 the repeal OF the act providing
tat The city deposits shall be placed only in Institutions
which viii pay two and 1De-haH per cent interest on the
rate interest to be allowed the citys deposits shall
be- fixed by the Mayor Controller AMI Chamberaln quar-
terly according the market rate IL is the opinion OF
the jury that the small amount received by the city for
cured by the city through the unwllngneSs OF the
stronger institutions in certain conditions OF the money
market pay this rate OF two ard one-half per cent
and through the competition of weaker institutions for
the custody OF the clty's moneys.
This presentnent came to the Mayors notice soon
after he received Mr.. Tappan's letter 10 IRIB-
UNE reporter the Mayor said
1.-THE action of the Grand Jury had no influence upon
had acscGcd 10 Lis wishes before heard Of the present
men; The letter has been AZ my disposal since the I'D
VIII Mr.. Tappan's resignation remove him from re-
Th responsibility Mr. Iappan is relieved Of, because
in choosing bank he acted according to law The ex
pcrs OF the Graud Jury have been examining Mr. Tap
pans since the trouble began and nave found
them TO he absolutely correct
What are Mr.. Laidlaw's roitics"
Of The man whom chose to Ill Mr. Iappans place. Mr.
Lsdlaw's politics have rail 10 attention To-"
Did you Oder the position to any one besides MT
only one gentleman, but his name am not at liberty
J. Nelson Tappan was appointed by Mayor Wick
ham in 1879 70 fiji the 1nexpred term OF chamber
was reappointed by Mayor Ely and in 1SSl he was
appointed for the third time by Mayor Cooper.
Co., OF 80. IA Wall-st. agents of the Bank of Cali
lrnIa, was born and bred in this city. lie was
hardly more than boy, when he began his bust
mission house of Lees & Vale The firm was one
Of high standing and il its employ Mr. Laidlaw re-
ceived his business training. lie remained with II
until 1864, when the Bank of California was
agent of the bank, founding the firm of which he Is
perence of thirty years he has had really
only one business connection. lie has
always been a Democrat in his political opinions
Mr.. Laidlaw said yesterday afternoon when a
tribune reporter sought an interview with him:
Ihave not been informed officially Of my appointment
City Chamberlain and consequently think il would
be best for nothing at all The information
bring probably correct, but IL highly i'm
for signify acceptance OF on Office when
have Official knowledge Of the appointment.
The General Term of the supreme Court yester
day appointed ex-JudGe Horace Russell referee to
examine into the present condition of money or
funds belonging to the court, on deposit loaned
on securities and to ascertain the amount thereof
in the bands of one connected with the court |
or of the City Chamberlain. or which ought |
10 be how such funds situated, etc. |
whether safely secured whether any portion has |
been improperly deposited invested. The clerks
of the court and the deputies the Chamberlain and
his deputies, and banks and trust companies and |
other repositories holding any of the funds are |
directed to furnish the referee all books vouchers
ETC., in their power, and all other information |
which shall enable the referee to pursue his in |
veStigatiOns