New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-06
ONE STEP TOWARD REFORM.
THE POWER OF REMOVAL BILL PASSES
THE SENATE.
IT GIVES THE MAYOR UNTIL JULY TO MAKE
CHANGES IN NETWORK DEPARTMENTs-THr
VOTE WAS 10 TO o. TWO DEMOCRATS
VOTING WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

VOTE WAS ~ TO 0. TWO DEMOCRATS
VOTING WITH THE REPUBLICANS.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TIE rnmrw~s
Albany, Feb. 5.-Mghty are the people. Tho
State Senate to-day complied with the first de-
mand made by those who attended the meeting
at Cooper Union in New-York last night to pro-
test against the inaction OF the Legislature upon
the New-York reform bills and the perversion
of some of them to the purposes Of political
boss"
The Assembly Power Of Removal bill was be-
fore the Senate ready for final action when
It met this morning. This was the measure
passed by the Assembly over a fortnight ago II
ther provided that the Mayor Qf New-York
should make his appointments ana removals
within period Of four months after his assump-
ton Of office. 1t has been amended so as 70
engthen this term to six months. If 1t becomes
a law therefore. Mayor Strong will have untI
July T. reorganize the government or New
York. Those who acquainted with his pur-
poses say 1t will not take him five days after
the bill receives the Governors signature 70
make change in a majority of the Tammany
Hall commissions. 1t should be stated that this
measure applies only to a Mayor elected for
full term and therefore President Jeroloman
would acquire power under 1t If Mayor Strong
should resign his post.
AS was expected. the Tammany Hall Senators
resisted the passage of he BILL but their oppose
ton was without heart, and was clearly intendeo
only as a demonstration. Senator Cantor, IN the
opening of his speech, alluded in touchng terms
to the millions Of patronage at the disposal OF ths
Mayor of New-York who should be clothed Win
such mighty power OF appointment and removal
as was proposed In the bill. One could hear the
wall Of the Tammany Hall tiger over lost bit
of choice carrion in every sentence Of this par1
of his speech. He said 1t put up all the omces
at one big rattle every two years. II SUBSTITUTED
for officers having fixed terms men VINO woulo
noe know when they assumed office that even
the best and most economical administration OF
a department might not meet the punishment OF
instant dismissal by political opponent upon
his assuming the office OF Mayor This Is one
Of the most dangerous experiments in the world
to make" said Senator Cantor. with emouon'
thinking Of the Tammany Hall officers who will
be compelled to earn a living as soon as the Dill
becomes a law. He was confident that the Re
publican party would not pass such Dill II
Democrat was Mayor OF New-York. But He-
publican is Mayor" ne said, "and you want the
Offices and therefore you pass this bill But
warn you that you have not been able 10 eX-
tort single promise Of patronage from Mayor
Strong How disappointed you may be over MS
distribution OF the Offices" Then Mr.. Cantor
thought to touch upon another string by arguing
that the bill ought to apply to every city IN the
State You do not have ii apply to the otner
cities Of the state because they are Repuoncan'
no said "and New-York is Democratic. You pass
this bill because every department In New-forK
h headed by a Democrat, and you want the Of
fees You say that Mayor Strong VIII eliminate
partisanship Well. predict now that these de-
will he Republicans
top TO bottom 1t is therefore the sheerest nonsense
70 sneak Of this bill as a non-partisan measure
Instead of that being the case 1t Is in the In
terest Of the Republican machine, ana Is IN
tended to give its members all the offices
Senator Lexow laughed at the closing words
of Senator Cantors speech. and then said:
Il seems to me that Senator Cantors statemens
that passing this bl without any p,eas e,rs of
a euloey We Republicans do not claim that tnis -
political measure On the contrary; we say sn rs rs
New-York who fought the good fght OF reform
last fall @ sr now y say must
our preudess and give them aT
government we are prepared to as far as we
may on this partisan line and 70 give TO Mayor
Republicans. as he peases. to these city ofneeAs
What see that for twelve year years aimed se n eo 0l
sequence OF enormous frauds at the polls rhaS
statement does not Apply to other cites M ana ssn-
a1or Csntor suggests. cannot believe that Senator
Cantor is sincere in his argument All rs,is tnat ne 70
heads Of city departments in New-York
Senator Cantor replied that he was indeed en-
deavoring TO protect faithful DemoerauS & o'nta,s s
from removal. But what disturbed him about
this bill was that II was being pushed through
the Legislature by Republican boss.
Senator OConnor replied that II was ths people
~ New-York who were putting the bill through.
Il was indeed dangerous experiment that the
Republicans were making Of giving Mayor tnie
great power Of removal and appointment, put
sure relief must be given TO the city senator
O'Connor then alluded 10 the Committee OF Sew
cnty saying;
They cri,lcise our giving this power TO Mayo!
this this authority should not be exercised by Mayor
elected 10 fl vacancy we OBJECT 70 a Mayor
selected by accident and not by the people.
Senator Bradley (Dem.). said that the system
OF giving the Mayor authority 10 remove ana
appoint heads of departments had been triea IN
Brooklyn ever since 1882 and TO Democrat had
ever tried t. repeal the system In the Les's-
lature. r-o
The b.ll was passed by a vote OF IL 10 y Iwo
Democrats. Parker and Bradley. voted for H.
and all the Republicans. -. A..
the Senate amendments to the BILL and VIII re-
port 1t tomorrow There is every sign ina. .lIe
measure will be passed tomorrow by tne Assenl
hlv and then in all probability. Ii VIII De signed
before the end of the week by the Governor
PROMPT ACTION IN THE ASSEMBLY.
AID lawson WILL MOVE THAT THE POWER OF
prwovAI. BIIL. BE TAKEN Up IMMEDIATELY
BILLS PASSED YESTERDAY
Albany Feb (SpeciaD.-Addtional evidence OF
mo industry of the Assembly was given to-day By
the fact that slxty-five bills were on the calendar
On the order OF third reading. Several were
ma ssed the first being Mr.. Wks's bill for the re-
lief of builders and others doing work for the
city OF New-York At present all such must de-
pos,t cash to the amount OF 30 per cent Of the
involved to protect the city in the contractors
fail to pay their employees. In such case. the
workingman has a right to to the city for his
payment The bill gives contractors the right b