New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-20
ALDERMEN NEARLY CONE ro BLOWS.
MrssBs DIVER AND oow1B HURn EPrTHErs

BIEssRs. OLIVIER AND CowIE HURL EPITHETS
AT EACH OTHER ABOUT TWO LAMPS!
There was lively furry the meeting OF the Board
Of Aldermen yesterday in which Mr. Diver, Of the
I'D District and Mr.. Cowe Of tho XIIIth, exchanged
epithets and insInuations which It at ono
time feared might result in blows, but which, after ALL
came to an end without bloodshed At the session OF
February 12 Mr.. Cowie had introduced resolution
granting permission 10 tho General Theological School,
at Nlnth-svo. and Twentieth-st which is within tho
Alderman's district, to place two additional lamps at
the entrance.
At subsequent meeting while Mr. Cowie was
absent at Binghamton, attending the Department
Encampmont of the Grand Army Of the Republic, at
which he was a delegate, Mr. Diver introduced .
resolution similar Mr.. Cowes and granting the
permission to the theologlans. Other Aldermen
thought that Mr. Diver accommodating Mr.
Cowfe In some way In the latter's absence and the
satsor attracted attention until yesterday, when
Nj. Diver moved the passage Of his resolution.
Then Mr.. Cowie lot his fellow-members know that
Mr.. Diver had been invading tho XIIh District
and was trying to steal his thunder In violation Of
all the written and unwrtten rules OF "Aldermanic
courtesy" The gentleman from the IIdS grew
red and wroth 'under the scathing arraignment Of
Comrade Cowie, and when Nr. Diver arose to reply
It evident that his frame Of mind had been vastly
changed from its pleasant state Of the night before
when be was listening at the St Patrick Diver cole
brafi0n 10 tho rObeato OF MS frlenqS and
followers they foretold the wonderful political
successes which awaited him.
Mr. Diver first asserted that no not aware
Of Mr.. CowSe's resolution when he offered his, but
later on, after tho member from the XIIIth had
introduced facts which, he sad indicated tho baseess
character of Mr. DIVERS assertion tho lattcr changed
his modo OF defence and declared that no had taken
the course he had because he had learned that
Mr.. Cowie did not mean to pass his
resolution at all, and bad given IS
a reason for his purpose to let It die that Dean
Hoffman was q Democrat"
Il was now Mr.. Cowie's turn TO become angry.
With flashing eyes and threatening mien he denied
Mr.. DIVERS assertion, and while he did not call the
candidate for Excise Commissioner liar, he camo
as near to IT as parliamentary usage would permit.
A lively interchange Of upcomp1mentary illusions
ensued, during which President Arnold continually
rapped for order, and thus succeeded In rendering
undistn Ruishabl Of the most offensive OF the
remarks directed at each other by the two excited
Aldermen. Mr.. Diver had the temerlty TO insist
further on the passage of his resolution, but Mr.
Cowtc appealed 10 the Chamber TO respect the prn-
ciple of Aaermanic courtesy" and TO refuse to
tain Mr. Diver in his effort TO legslate for other
members dlstrictGS
At beleveS interjected the towering Flynn, Of the
Is in the representative Of the deesrick representa-
its
Mr.. DIVERS resolution was lost, not receiving
the twenty votes needful for its passage
Mr. Covtc did not call up his resolution.
After the adjournment Messrs. Diver and Cowle
had another quarrel In which the language used was
even more strongly favored than that Of the debate
but it resolved Itself into bets instead OF blows
Diver offered TO wager 500 that he could provo
In relation 10 Dean Hofmans politics Cowie covered
the stake and the money wS scGq en- %
friends n truoe was called and the stakeholder re-
turned 10 each man his &lOO