New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-12
c10WTOACCEPT THE HONOR
nm TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS WANTED
,rsr BELMONT AND o. B. POTTER "iLhiN'
10 ACT AS THE MAYOR Desires
n K SMITH DECLINES.


c..,. hoe ca far received only one formal
mayor "'s" ~. oo,rtment from the Rapid Transit
Scep'a"'o ,rno ,cre named by him at a late
'o""1 wod,osdav afternoon. This acceptance came
hu In, polmont and the same mali "h'ch
nVb IL carried a letter from Chafie' :" 'n" VIC
-..,dent NJ the Chamber of commerce. ucoin''ns 10
&c a Rand Transit Commissioner '' "o'"o,'
s,, ont Of town yesterday and VIII NOT re.urh uhn
next Monday but the ie''o' VIM"
s.iysd from him is a. follows:
ee"o ~ Va 100 Fifth-sve.. April 10. 1890
- 49,, >, acknowledge the receipt Of your let
49, ~ ves.ordav BY which you hiof" NE OF my appoint
" . o,o % the commissioners Tor inc Oity ana County
q Newyork under the provisions VI '"'p''r oo0 vi "o
Laws OF 1870 m o, o,r,ocio,,o, .bo ,oDo.o,,
"i'' Do 80 with great hesitancy, feeling that i, may
a FOR me to fun justice % your natterng seec
uO, gill borevcr Try the best Of ability to mcri.
a., audience which you have placed in me.
a., cu,,b.s letter was considerably longer than Mr.
,ts II was written Thursday evening after
- na roceiyed the information that he had been ap-
~ He thought the subject over carefully be
~. IA came TO a decision. but finally concluded that
~ ,oud not accept the appointment. His letter TO
MAYOR Grant as follows:
.. west Forty.scvcnth-st. Ncw.York, April 10. 1890.
near Sir: ] am this evening in receipt Of letter
q, the 9th informing OF my appointment as Commits
ssionor in and for City and County OF New-York
rnder provisions Of Chapter COO of the Laws of 1875.
am deeplv sensible of the conferred upon by
this nomination and it possible for me 10 accept
eoud suggest no gentlemen with whom l would NOR,
Gladly be associated than the eminent citizens have
named on this important Commission.
Although my selection by you surprise TO
MO had given careful consideration question OF
nv duty in this regard inasmuch had been asked
Allow DIV be used Commiss oner in OF the
Rapid Transit bills pending before the Legislature
was obliged to decline that honor because l felt
sceatiousy that could perform the sbors incumbent
upon such position without necectng other inporan,
duties which | am committed.
The reasons weigh upon at present
With my grateful acknowledgment Of your kindness
an therefore. obliged most respectfully decline the
nomination.
The letter handed to the Mayor a few minutes
before he called his cabinet" together but just before
he joined his advisers in the inner Of the Mayors
apartments Mr.. smith went to the City Hall and made
personal explanation Of his for rejecting the
appointment. He told the Mayor that he very
sorry indeed that his business arrangements such
that he could not accept lie was in entire sympathy
with the commission. but he could not his
clear to take the place. 70 reporter Mr.. Smith said
that he going 10 Europe with his in july but
he regretted his inability 10 the commission
orlando +. Potter by reporter in his
rooms on the top floor the Potter Building YESTERDAY.
II had been said that Mr. Potter in close sympathy
with the elevated railroads and believed that the true
settlement Of the rapid transit problem could only
through extension of that system. 1t is known that
he with other property owners along Broadway is op
posed to TIE underground railroad scheme fearing that
The foundations Of the large buildings along this street
would be impaired il underground road should be
built there. To a reporter Mr.. Potter said that his
ympathes with the elevated railroads woud not inter
feIe in the least with his actions a member OF the
commission sould he decided 10 accept the appoint
ment He refused however to tell reporters what he
intended 10 do excusnc himself by saving that he
wanted look further into the subject before he would
accept Then he went to the Mayors Office and
told Mr.. Grant that he would accept.
The Mayor has not yet heard from William stein
way or John II. >tarin. the other two appointed.
The impression prevails. however that both will
accept. Mr. Starn declined yesterday TO talk on the
subject. lie was at his Office in Wesi-si. by a
Tribune reporter. who asked him to give his opinion
on rapid transit and 10 tell whether he would accept
the Mayors appointment.
have not had time to io9H into the Snslcs' G Of
rnes,oS some though; and tndg shall be- glad 10
talk with you and give you my views, but until then
you must excuse me-
vii YOU accept the Mayors appointment he
That / cannot tel You now was the reply. " |
have not given II much thought 49,
The Mayor did not make any appointment n nD
afternoon with his cabinet" and he would not talk
the subject Of the appointment until late IN TIC
done by him toward iill.n- NJ. smiths place. he had
long talk with eSJudge "ilfeTsleevc. This
led 70 the impression that the MAY or intended to APP
point Mr.. Gllder>eeve 10 the place The Mayor
refused TO say. however. what he intended other than
that The man whom he would name 70 III the vacancy
r9@a be equal in aGs s oSa o sv ana So
ever whether or not the new app1intce would be OF
the same political faith as Mr.. smith.