New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-15
CHANGES IN GREAT CITY OFFICES.

The Court of Appeals has decided that Mr.
Lacombe was legally appointed Corporation
Counsel, and that John McClave's title to the
Police COmmissionership which he now holds Is
good The two Colonies, L T. Wood and Joel
w. Mason, can congratulate themselves that
they are now relieved of the anxieties and
responsibilities of public life and can pass their
days in serene seclusion and the peaceful enjoy
ment of their military titles. MIR. Edson's
opinion that he had the right to appoint Mr.
French and Mr.. McClave is sustained by our
highest court Our ex-MayOr is winning some
noteworthy triumphs in these days, and our
courts are clearing away the clouds Of defama-
ton and falselood with which his virGlcnt
enemies filed the air while he held Office.
The TRIBUNE almost alonc among the
journals of this city sustained the Mayor in his
course concerning the Police Board, and his
disregard of Tie illegal injunction issued by
Judge Beach. 1t turns out that JHE TRIBUNE
has the appellate courts on its side. The papers
which assailed Mr.. Edison so violently have on
their side-Mr. Charles p. Miller.
There is one odd little incident connected
with the Corporation Counsel controversy Mr.
Lacombe gave an opinion that Mayor Edison
had no right to appoint Mr. French and Mr.
McClave-that the terms of their predecessors
had not expired. Colonel +. L. Wood and
other lawyers advised the Mayor that he had
the right, and their position is sustained by the
Court of Appeals. But Mr. Lacombc, whose
law seems to have been bad in that case, Is
justified in his claim to the Corporation Coun-
sells Office, while Colonel Wood is kept out.
Colonel Woods law, 80 far as it rested on the
basis of Mr.. Kinks twelve hours tenn as Mayor,
was weak. But Colonel Wood was appointed
by Mr. Kirk, not by Mr.. Edison.
The decision of the Court of Appeals makes
the approaching LIST OF May time OF exceed
ingly great interest to politicians and indeed to
all citizens. Then Mayor Grace will have the
power to appoint successors to President Asten,
of the Tax Department; Commissioner Hess,
of the Department of Charities and Correction /;
Dock Com missioner Laimbeer and Fire Com
missioner Van Colt. These are all Republicans.
Mr.. Caulfeld, Commissioner of Jurors, and Mr..
Laidlaw, City Chamberlain, will also reach the
end of their terms The Mayor will show a
most c0mmendablc spirit of non partisanship
and will give much satisfaction to public
spirited citizens if he appoints Republican sue
cessors to the Republican Commissioners.
President Asten and Commissioner Hess have
special claims to reappointmcnt. Both have
done excellent service in their departments.
They have thorough mastery of every detail
in their divisions of the municipal service and
have laborcd indefargably in the public in
terest. Mr.. Asten's services in the Beard of
Estimate and AppoItionment as well as in the
Tax Department, have been simply invaluable
to the people, He has been constant in his
efforts to check extravaganza and suppress cor
ruption. He has done more than any other
public official during his term of Office to
tighten the burdens of the taxpayers. He
should have another term.