New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-10
PRICE THREE CENTS.
BOTH CLAIM THE OFFICE.
MR. HOWELL AND Mr.. wAGsrAFF AT WAR.
THE FORMER BRIDGE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT
MONDAYS ELECTION WAS ILLEGAL.

A new phase appeared in relation to the control
Of the Bridge yesterday, when the new president
ex-senator Wagsraff, and the old president, ex-
Mayor Howell, both laid claim TO the Office.
For time war between them was feared, but
peace settled upon the scene ere the close OF
day. and IL any contest arises IL will be fought
out with legal weapons in the courts. On Mon
day afternoon, when, by the clever stroke OK
Mayor Grant and his fellow New-York trustees.
the presidency was captured, the Brooklyn
trustees, taken by surprise, acquiesced IN the
action and President Howell gave way to his
successor and himself accepted the office Of vice
president An Intellectual claim was made tbas
the votes Of majority of the trustees were needed
to elect president, but it was decided that only
a majority Of q quorum was needed.
Mr. Howell sought legal advice on Monday
night and yesterday from the counsel OF the
trustees and the Corporation Counsel Of Brooklyn
and got opinions to the effect that the action OF
the trustees was illegal on several grounds. One
was that the New-York trustees had not been
appointed to new terms and were simply holding
over, their terms having expired on June l, save
ex-senator Wagstaff who was appointed on Mon
day. and also that it was illegal for the reap
pointed Brooklyn trustees and the New-fork men
holding to effect the organization. Another
point was that the reappointed Brooklyn trustees,
office before the County Clerk. Mr.. Riley swore
in on Monday morning A. S. Swan swore In
yesterday third point that Major McNul-
tvs resignation had not been forwarded TO Presi-
dent Howell and no official notification Of va
camcy existed. IL has been usual for the notice
of the appointment of q trustee to be given In
writing to the president, but on Monday Mayor
Grant made q verbal announcement Of the action
taken in the matter of appointing ex-senator
WagstaY
When President Wagstaff went to the Bridge
office yesterday, instead of finding Mr.. Howell
ready to give him possession he found the latter
seated in the presidents chair, which he refused
to vacate On Monday he had accepted sub
ordinate office, but he told ex-senator Wagstaf
yesterday that he had taken advice of counsel
and he would hold office until the courts decided
that he was not legally entitled to it, lie had
been advised that the election was illegal, and he
proposed to hold on in the interests OF Brooklyn
He hoped their friendly relations would not cease
while the proceedings in court were pending.
President Wagstaff made formal demand upon
Mr. Howell for the chair, but the latter declined
to give it up to him. Colonel Wagstaff said after
word " He told me he had advice from his lawyer
to hold the office, and that he thought he was
right in so doing. / have no objection TO Mr..
Howelps warming my chair when don't want IT,
L cam SlJ III une Stdb dll udy llkc IL utI vi hci
nest But | told him was president and meant
to run the whole Bridge business Colonel Wag-
staff spent some time in looking about the build
ing with Trustee Hillahrand and then returned TO
New-York There he consulted with Mayor Grant
and Controller Myers, Corporation Counsel Clark
and John NJ. Bowers. 1t was decided to sustain
Colonel Wagstaff in taking possession OF the oihce
to which he was elected on Monday, and 20 secure
a r6andsmus If necessary. Two men were secured
to guard the office after he obtained possession.
Colonel Wagstaff then returned to Brooklyn and
found Commission to condemn property for Bridge
uses sitting in the presidents He went to
the desk and wrote out the appointment Of Charles
Kennedy, of Greenpoint, as assistant watchman
and detailed Herman Butcher to assist him. He
then went into the secretarys office, and while
seated there Kennedy and Butcher rushed in.
Where is the Bridge President?' they shouted
breathessy. Colonel Wagstaf calmly pointed to
himself lie then took them into the other room
and pointed out his chair and told them TO let
no one sit in it but himself. lie also sent for
screwdriver to take the lock off the door and put
q new one on.
little later Mr. Howell entered After brief
conversation with President Wagstaf, he began
to take his private papers out of the desk and to
tear them in pieces President Wagstaf jocularly
told him that If there any poetry or any love.
letters among tncul lie oHOulu tcdI ulOo
ceedingly fine bits
President Wagstaff named these committees
of the trustees, which he was Empowered to
appoint on Monday: ESecutise committee
Reuben Riley, J. G.. X Lawrence John Mollen-
hauer, Seth i. Keeney, Moses May, Clarence A.
Henriqucs George Hillabrand, Edmund C. Stanton
and George w. Anderson Finance committee
Alfred C. Barnes, Edward V. Skinner. Abraham
Schwab, Theodore I. Jackson. Alden s. Swan,
Isidor Womser and Theodore w. Myers Brook
lyn g. New-YorS 1. Five Brooklyn men are in
the Executive Committee and three in the FL
nance Committee, bat tn president is eX-olicio a
member OF all the standing committees. Late in
the afternoon, Messrs. Wagstaff and Howell went
away together, with the understanding that they
will meet at the Bridge office at 10 a. IN. to-day.
Colonel WagstafT said in regard TO the matter
When took my seat in this office on Monday,
Mr.. Howell offered me his key, and said at the
same time that he had some papers in the desk.
told him to keep it, as | could get along with
one drawer. When he told me this morning he
still considered himself president. / said / am
president of this bridge / am in possession
and IL any action is TO be brought in the courts
it is for Mr.. Howell TO institute il. One of the
measures l have taken to maintain my authority
is the appointment of janitor. My authority is
recognized by all the Bridge employees. l am
told my election would have been made unan-
nous if the Brooklyn trustees had thought of IL
on Monday"
Mr. Howell refused to say what steps he would
take but it is believed that he will apply for an
injunction to restrain Colonel Wagstaf from eXer-
cising the functions of president. No application
was made in the Brooklyn courts yesterday.
The action of Mayor Chaplin and Controller
Jackson in failing to attend Mondays meeting
was anmadverted upon yesterday They ex-
planned that Secretary Beam had told them no es-
pecial business would come up. as the Yew-York
trustees had not been appointed. and SO they did
not attend Mr. Beam said that President Howell
directed him thus to inform them. 1t appears
that Mr. Howell was misled hy Treasurer Nc
Clellan. O. Tammany man, who informed him
that Mayor Grant said on Monday morning that