New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-03
DISGRACE TO KINGS COUNTY.
M'KANE CHOSEN PRESIDENT PRO TEN. OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
RIGHTS OF REPUBLICANS IGNORED-SELF
RIGHTEOUS SPEECH OF THE GRAVES


In spite Of the disgrace of dozen indictments
hanging over his head. John Y. Mckane.
Supervisor Of Gravesend. was reelected Presi-
dent pro TEN. of the Kings County Board Of
Supervisors yesterday by the illegal Democratic
majority Of that body. and took his seat.
Kings County is unique among the sixty coun-
ties of the State in having officer known as the
Supervisor-at-Large who presdes over the
county legislature. and possesses veto powers
over measures adopted by the board, similar 10
Mayor over the acts of Aldermen. He also
has the power Of appointing Commissioners
of Charities and Corrections But the Superv-
sors at their first meeting in the year elect a
temporary president. to preside in the absence
of the Supervsor-at-Large. and who has more
authority than the latter, as he has the power
to appoint all the standing committees or the
board For number Of years Mckane mas
held this post even when he was In disgrace
with the leaders Of the Democratic party ana
had b. en- deprived of his place upon the state
Committee and in the Kings County Democratic
General Committee. Last year he was reelected
by a majority of twenty-five without the aid or
Mayor Bcody who seldom attended the meet
ings Of the board. although two years ago his
vote was needed to keep Mcl<ane in office.
THE MAKEUP OF THE noARD.
The new Board Of Supervisors contains fifteen
elected Republican members and sixteen elected
Democrats, there being a vacancy In the Eighth
Ward. If the Republican Board Of Aldermen
fill the vacancy In that ward. it Will give the
Republicans a majority with the vote OF the
Mayor But the outgoing Democratic Board OF
Aldermen attempted to fill 1t on Saturday by re-
Amounting Supervisor Kehoe. who had filled the
vacancy after the death of Supervisor STICK
eyers in November. Kehoe took his seat yester-
ito pnar nhpr
ley from the town of Flatands, also held the seat
to which Republican. Ryder was elected IN
November, alleging that his election in 1892 was
for two years Supervisor Lyman, of Flatbush'
also declared that he held over" although
Democrat was elected TO succeed him mus
there were eighteen Democrats and hfteen Re-
publicans, including the Mayor, IN theH t. seEts'
when the Sdperviscr-at-Large. Mr. fitchie
Rep) called the body to order. re had no
vote by law in the organization OF the pcaro'
but presided one of the most stormy meet
ings in the history Of the board. There were
many spectators and there was great interest,"
in the proceedings. Mr.. Fitchie made snort
speech CT congrat tuaton before the calling OF tle
roll When the clerk, Mr.. Farrell, reached iae
Eighth Ward on the roll-call Supervisor DlNe
Rep), of the First Ward, objected t. the rec
ognition Of the name of Supervisor kehoe on
the ground that the seat was vacant as ms
term expired on December 81. supervisor NC
Keown Oem) made an objection nui ti'e pm pnlm'
of Mr.. Dixie sustained by the Chair. super,
visor McKane (Dem) then moved TO appear
from the decision in order to give the majority
a chance TO vote. AT this point cerulcale
Of the reappointment Of Kehoe was handed in.
but the Supervsor-at-Large held that IL was
null and void.
HE DENIES THE AUTHORITY OF MIR. FITCHIE.
Supervisor. McKeown jumped to his feet
and said: "The Supervisor-at-Large has no au-
thorty in this body until 1T is organized he Is
simply a county official and has no part IN ms
board until organization is perfected
no at-I
THE gentleman is wrong The chair is county
official and Is sworn as such To support the Coi-
stitution Of the United States and of this state
and to perform the duties of his office to the pest
Of his ability. Here is a place where man
holds seat to which he has no right
At this point McKeown interrupted him ana
told the Supervisor-at-Large that he could not
deliver message or debate the question from
the chair and insisted upon the question. But
the Supervisor t-Large refused to put the
question on the appeal. The question then was
raised in regard to the seats OF Supervisors
Of Flatbush, and the Supervisor-at t-Large sald
he would not recognize them until the courts
case where there is a clear infraction of the
laws Of the State and am surprised that any
man Of intelligence is here VINO claims that
either Of these gentlemen is entitled TO seat
M'KANE KISSED AND APPLAUDED.
McKeown retorted This thing Is going a little
TOO far DO you desire TO constitute in yourself
all the law. citizenship and intelligence of the
to put the appeal and McKane said: we have
heard your statement about the law, but ! have |
found that lawyers do not always agree. and we
claim that these men VIII hold thelr seats @ uhei
after the next election. If you want to do what
is right all right; and If you want the majority |
to meet and organize without you, all right, too.
(Applause and hiSseSD
HE clerk finally called the rolls and, despite |
the objections, Kehoe and Baisley voted and the |
vote was declared to be is to 10 against sustain,
ing the chair There were cheers and Kisses, ana
the Supervisor Large said that he would de- |
clare the vote tie and throw out the votes OF |
Kehoe Basley and Lyman. ~
McKane declared this action "hgh-handed.
and Supervisor Shaw OemD said IL should De |
left to the courts to settle and that the super |
visor-at-Large had no right TO deier the orsahi- |
Mr. Fitchie replied Until the matter is settled |
permanently l will not recognize the gentleman
In question" III, 49,. ,u |
McKeown moved TO proceed with the orgamza- |
tion but the chair refused to entertain the mo |
lion McIIane then said he had been in the |
board fifteen years ana ne dee1 any nsugbter one
and If he received eighteen votes he would take |
the chair and put the notion Mcheown adGed
that they were not trea.ed @ daary , n' h thon
selves. . -,
Mr.. Fitchie replied that he would not recognize
the three whose seats were contested ana woulu
veto any action taken so long as tley No'eu'
A MOTION 10 ADJOURN LOST.
A. oc,r, ,yos made TO secure adjournment, |
but IL was NOteu uoNH'
Are Won going to run this board?' shouted
McKane.
Fitchie replied: II propose to run my end or
II and run 1t right" Applause)
Finally McKeown's motion to proceed with the
organization was put and carried by seven
ma joT1ty. 49, ...
Supervisor Boyd Rep) Of the Twenty-eghth
Ward was nominated for president pro tenn Dy
tho Republicans and McI<ane by the Democrats.
The clerk put the question on the can 81 ,t tiie
roll and IL was ordered. The vote showed thal
NcKare had eighteen supporters and Boyd thir-
teen The former was escorted to the chair Dy
Suner,fsors Boyd and Dixie. and made brlci
sneech lie said in part: Whatever has
becn said about me- nothing has ever been
charged against my course as supervisor OF
this county, . 49,, l.,
II was, evident that he had forgotten the IN
l. far n