New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-19
THE MAYORS ADDED POWER.
COMMENTS on THE SIGNING OF THE BILL
REJOICING AMONG THE FRIENDS or GOOD coy
ERNMENT-POLITICIANs DIsPLEAsED


There was general rejoicing yesterday among
the members OF the Citizens Committee Of Fifty and
others who have been urging refomatoy legislation 1t
Albany over the Governors action in signing tho biz 70
deprive the Aldermen OF any share IN the appointment Of
city officials But tho politicians were, a rule, de-
pressed the outlook Democratic city Official SAIL
thar John Kelly had remarked to him that Cleveland
had done very foolish thing II he expected 20 come up
for rcnomnatlon." Hubert o. Thompson apparently
shared this yew a. he remarked that the measure
not Democratic one, and would not meet with the ap
! proyal Of the party Sheriff Davidson speaking for
irving Hail. expressed surprise that the Governor should
sign such This the general tenor o. tho
remarks OF the who have prOhted b tho Continn-
ance OF the present system.
Some OF the Tammany Aldermen asserted that u w0un
result in making John Kelly Mayor. But such talk was
evidently meant for braggadocio rs M kciy's con-
hdentl friends rdlculed the idea OF hi becoming call
dldate "Tlc talk Of John Kelly running Tor Mayor"
said ex- Congress James OBrcn, Is about tAc most
ridiculous and absurd OF anything have heard. Why
he would no more permit his weakness 90 hi, city % be-
come known by running a candidate for Mayor than
he would attempt TO fly. That nonsensical talk was
started 10 Governor Cleveland into vetong the Dill
But fortunately be amt that kind Of Governor II any
Democratic boss candidate for Mayor next Eau 40
will be beaten ny 10000 majority"
Ex-Mayor Grace thought that tie Governors reasons
FOR signing the bill ably expressed Said he:
am reloced at the result so for OF the agitation on
other bills before the Legislature particularly ne 'Rt
Service bill which will also do great deai OF gooa
they become laws. The Ci'il service OH WIZ 90 lar 10
break up the traffic in patronage ana that more Iah
almostany thing else wifi assist the downfall ot bo-,-
in local politics Howevcr good government can Only
iow from the active interest At the polls 81 the mti.-
gent think the next Mayor VIII be Democrat
but not OF the strictly partisan stripe.
MoyOr Edison said quietly:
have really little to adj 70 what have heretofore
said Thebl does not 20 far enough 10 I5S, a.
tive the Mayor should nave u" pow, ~. ,,,,
well as appointment. The one Is necessary se'eu,"
OF the other IL the Mayor Is 10 be he'd re oL'f lot 'o
sSm'u Of the city government lho'L li' li
eut law commission consisting Of three or oqr mcn
Myor In oIcc It : not likely that al would work in
harmony with the Mayor ana he would be poWere" -
re.tlfv il. Sngle-hctded commissions are What ,h
needed and their terms should expire WIN ~ Oh r
Mayor who appoints them. The Roosevelt OH zoe to.
take effect until first ~ January next Cbnei lho
I 5T 70 ronrrmation hv The Board OF Aldermen,
Control Ter in the place OF =. II. Grant commissioner on
Public Works ia the place OF Hubert o. thompson 'lu@
Corporation Counsel succeed the successor to George
p andrews. who win take Office a. a supreme t"uie
judge I'm June. II the nominees Tor thore pos oaS
Mayor viii have no voice IN their selection. and they VII
through most OF he term OF tAf ucfrfhf sy",
sble for the actions Of these officials. The 'obtf@ff
and Corporation Counsel 'Hona not ne n' iyi'aSIe
to keep the positions free from politics 'l'ee 'n'it
rolic. n l subject 10 All the deal, and OBJ
jcctionalle methods by which nominations ale sometimes
Obtained
Controller Grant expressed the.e views;
7 am Of the opinion that the bin does not 20 i!f
enough Noi nealn5 sne Io"'I n9ch tle, a. At present
Give hm the power OF removal A. wen q, p1oj quo
and he can h$n d be r4ng where the
o the heads departments eNlehH over noo ''a.i ~
icspor-ibc for their actions n may h,pin IIt INV
Mayor will Only have appointed Que % ~, ' Irartn,ouf
The Offices Of Controller and CorpoI2'loh ',nlIe
not De elective. They should DE ItHo ca Us l' 90
possible from politics.
John Kelly said that he did not wish % say yhh5 az
present in regard 20 the new law
Hubert o. Thomp,on said that he h'd not read the il,
text OF the Governors message approving me bill ana
therefore he could speak 40 length lie had opposed tno
Roosevelt bin, however because lie lAO'eAl il "4o"s 81
principle.
President Kirk Of the Board OF Aldermen said;
lido not care individually about taking away the power
OF ofIrnaton ana think thi, j. the general opinion ~
he members 81 the Board have been member %
the Board several terms and have aided IN conn,
many heads of departments. have received 40 pvs-ea'
patronage in than year. The power OF conhlha-
lion has not helped me politically Oppose" u, o'l
This is not in accordance with Democratic Prncpes n
certain extent takes away the lo-i,ica. ~ ".
people. think tho Governor has n'le grave I9''No
In signing the bill
other expressions Of opinion regarding the signing o;
the bill were follows:
Alderman Shells independent Democrat: Tie Gov
ernor has made the mistake OF his lie lie has signed
his political death warrant In my Assembly D'idc,
carry district Tomorrow. do not care ANYTHING
about the power Of confirmation. But te 1iu SIhesln
Mayor too much power No man should be given -
much power o. this bill cOnfcrs. "
Alderman Jaehne County Democracy: hoped that
the Governor would veto the bill II Is "a Republican
measure passed by a Republican legislature Inc lhito
prominent Democratic organizations denounced IN" bH
rs wrong I'm principle. The Governor certainly has not
strengthened himself politically 10y signing u.
Alderman O'Nen County Democracy; Inc Governor
has disappointed al, friends by signing this bul II Is nm
experiment. and may be very costly one 10 ue CIV
Good arguments made to the Governor 10 convince
him that the bill an uuWlSe one nc Aat e' Iv.."
made up mind from the start 10 sign the bill ndr
Il the MAYOR I'LL the various Offices Win MS menus
and secure a continuous tenure of Office
Alderman Dempsey UdmInanyl; Tho bill was intro
duced and pushed forward by bitterly partisan AouLS
Rrpbc 10 strikes blow ar the Democratic party IN
this ctv Had a been taken on II IN THIS CITY VI
would have been defeated 10y Large majority j. IL nor
better give power to twenty live men VINO ulS'l
represent the people than to lodge II IN the hlu9s or
one II Is wrong IN principle. aS are all bus mat nave
for their object to take power away IOm tue people,
where il belongs. - a..
CITY could have expected nothing more from Governor
Cleveland has sympathy with the party mere.
The bill is a lou-step IN the wrong direction. li.,
move toward concentration OF power am restricting mo
liberties OF the people. Before two years ld'o ltsoed
there will be "A loud cry for the repeal OF the law.
Alderman Sayles Republican,: ! see nothing u
find fault with IN the bin The Governor has give good
reasons signing it. hope II may prove benehL ID
the city. $50 - 4.
heads of departments and other important members or
the city goyernment. think the people should a. Tar
as possible say who shall iii the public offices. Inc ap-
uotug power should be curtailed Tar AS possible.
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| BENJAMIN WOODS EMPHATIC DENIAL.