Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-20
WHITNEY JUMPS TIE FOLD.

He Deserts Messrs. TodA ana Atwaser of che Board Of Public works and Leaves she Choice Of Assissant Super. intsndsns of Streets to Superinsend- ent Kent at Lass Nights Meeting.
 MT. Ell Whitney, jr., arrayed himself un- mistakably with the three democratic mem bess of the board of public works at last nights meeting, and the result of his change of base was vote of the board authorizing Superintendent Kent to appoint his own as- sistant and to report his choice to the bna-a ct its next meeting.
 It vas a e,slvc1 when the routine business had been disposed of. President James N. States occupied the chair. Mr. Leigh. made . motion that the board proceed to the elec- ton of an assistant superintendent of streets. The board proceeded to balloting. Three ballots were taken and each resulted in three votss for George L. Ives and three votes for John ,. Brennan.
 Then Commissioner Whitney spoke. He said he thought the system adopted by the board for an election of the assistant super inteodent was ridiculous proceeding. He thought the board had gone far enough with its meaningless by play and said it was high time the question was settled one way or an. other. He stated he had been from the first in favor of having the superintendent ot streets appoint his own assistant. He ac' cordingly made motion that the superin- | tsndent of streets be directed to appoint hii assistant and to report to the board at iti next meeting, and that the superintendent be given full power to appoint and to dis charge this assistant.
 The motion was quickly seconded by MT Leigh.
 MT. Whitney stated he had taken thii action because he thought 1t proper undel | MT. Atwater did not understand it SO. Tn, opinion was produced and read and showed | that the board of public works had power tt appoint all of it's officers, and also to delegate power to the heads of departments to ap point their subordinates.
 Nr. Todd said that there ought not to b! | an assistant superintendent unless the boarl appointed him. He wanted voice in al | that was done himself.
 MT. Whitney thought the heads of depart ments should appoint their subordinatss, an6 In this way be held responsible for every thing in their control.
 Nr. Todd asked it the chief of polio' should appoint his policemen and MT. Whit nsy thought he should, but Mir. Leigh said was not . parallel case.
 Mr. Whitney had no idea whom Superin tsndsnt Kent would appoint, ,and Major Todd didn't care. All he wanted was voice il the matter. He said there should not be s' much delegating of power:
 MT. States was surprised that so straight forward an opinion had come from Rspub lican corporation counsel.
 | A vote was taken on MT. Whitney's mo
 tion. It was carried. Messrs. States, Reilly
 Leigh and Whitney voting for, and Messrs
 Todd and Atwater against it.
 "That's the msanest thing ever saw
 man dol" exclaimed MT. Atwater, shakin
 his finger very near the face of his neighboE
 -; aThst's iust what you had agreed upon be
 fore the meeting" cried Major Todd.
 Xr. Whitney protested against havinl
 spoken work about his action to anyone bu
 MT. States.
 "This is not non.partisan board" sal, by . vote of to2."
 MT. Leigh reported for reappointmen Sewer Inspectors White, Mccormick, Worth i ington and German. Mr. Atwater wish eG to know why MT. Carroll was left out, and was told that the other four only had beer recommended by the board of the sewer de partmsnt. MT. Atwater made a very sar castic reply about the 'heads of the depart ments," ," and Mr. Leigh, with an injured air said he did not like to see politics. brought into the meetings of the board. No actioI was taken.
 The rejection of MT. Ives for assistant superintendent of streets is a matter of gen uine regret by the many friends of that gen | tleman, of whose cspability and fitness for the position there seems to be no question. Manager W. A. Harris of the Western Union Telegraph company appeared to ask l for permission to place seven new poles IT place of old ones on Uuion avenue between Meadow and State streets, and bis request was granted.
 The request of Grand avenue property owners for O crosswalk between East and James streets was referred to the committed l on streets.
 A petition from the State street horse rail road company to lay three turrouts on Whit ney avenue, so that the cars can make quicker time, was referred to the committee The city engineer was instructed to adver | tise for bids for the removal of earth ou Peck and Monroe streets to Mechanic street