New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
SCHIEREN AND HIS CABINET.
FREQUENT MEETINGS OF THE HEADS OF
DEPARTMENTS HELD.
A CUSTOM WHICH ORIGINATED IN MAYOR 10"
TINE. But WHICH DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS

A CUSTOM WHICH ORIGINATED IN MAYOR Low
TINE But WHICH DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS
HAD no USE FOR.
Mayor scheren Is enjoying his annual Va cA-
ton but Is expected to return to Brooklyn oei''
the end OF the present week. He left BrooNS W
Tuesday. September 4. going first TO "e',y go,
then to the Luray Caverns and then 10 '"e 80
Bridge A week ago to-day he was al Roanoke anu
from there he went TO Bristol Tenn ""e'' -
OF his tanneries IL situated. Subsequently ne wa"
to visit Chattanooga and before MS return lie W."
attend a convention OF electric-llght men III ~
lanta. His interest in electric nghuhg u
stood be indirect. and grows out OF the ao' &c
In the course OF his business he furnishes ie"'"S'
betting for dynamos -
After Mr. scheren's return It is expected that t'e
custom OF holding cabinet meetings. which mas
been intermitted during the summer VIII De ie
sumed. The cabinet" is the term ordinarily use'
to designate the heads OF the several Guy "'p
ments. all OF whom the Mayors PERSONA "p
pointees The custom OF holding cabinet Hlee'.ne
was Instituted by Mayor Low, VINO was the mrs.
Chief Magistrate OF Brooklyn elected ai'ei NV
adoption OF the new charter, which pro'.ueu "
single head for each department, instead OF tniee
Commissioners as under the old system anu '''e
similarity OF the officials selected by the Mas0 "
the members Of the Presidents Cabinet leu u VAC
adoption OF the word to designate them do "
whole. ,
Under the old system IT would have been absurd
10 call the heads 1f departments together ior "
conference on the affairs OF the city IN genera
since not all OF them at any one Tune were '''
appointees OF the Mayor. and as the confrn'a''oH
OF the Board OF Aldermen was necessity an
annointrent was more often than otherwise tie
result OF deal 1t was his experience "iinrssnred
method OF making appointments that InsP" 60 80
iasSr zeanusv Tor the passage Of charter
making the Mayor tne responsiDi. .b inomuisslons
con;sistIng OF three members Exceptions We're
made In the case OF the Excise pephi ,resi
dent dent Of the department Of Police. and the Park
Department. which was eft with nuh'o T-n,ee
or four wears ago. however, the Park Department
was placed the same basis as the othsr I'm,
OF the city government with single saIarieu Ooi'
missioner.
NOT POPULAR WITH DEMOCRATS.
Cabinet meetings in Brooklyn. has been said
were Instituted by Mayor Low and were regarded
with a good degree OF popular favor uhoer INC
Democratic administrations which followed his
four years administration they were practcahy.
If not absolutely. unknown IL held they "ou"
have been useless. since each commissioner aS
we'll as the Mayor himself, subject TO orders
from Wiroughby Street What object. then. could
there have been in the various Conmissi9heIs COM.
ing together for conference win the S4aiU. nd
would have been voted a sheer waste OF tline anu
II would have been Deyohd quesIon. .u,,,,is
With the beginning OF Mayor Schierens admins
tration revival OF the good old custom took pace,
and for the greater part OF the time there have
ments in the Mayors office. The phrase cabinet
meeting" Is commonly used IN reference 10 'hel1,
even the Mayor himself sometimes employs IT,
When he does so. however, he usuaiiy looms !,
term. and there is no good reason why it should not
acquire a sem-ofiicial standing -
The meetings usually held at D. m on
Thursdays, and notice Of each is sent on the the
previous day to the head OF every department ,s
is said by some who have seen these notices Whieh
are typewriter in the Mayors office. that me
usual formula is that meeting OF the cabinet WIZ
take place at such an hour on such day. iiss s
notices are not signed by the Mayor himself, ana
thus he may not be aware Ihas c ts bnners
WHO ATTEND THE MEETINGS.
All OF the heads OF departments invited 10
these meetings but that does not mean al the
Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. There
are two principal exceptions. They are the two
Excise Commissioners. Joseph c. Hacker and
George B. Forester. who not properly speak
ing. heads Of departments. The head Of the FIX
Commissioner who IS made by law the president
OF the Excise Department Besides Mt WeIIes me
Mcdonald city Works Commissioner White. Fire
Commissioner Wurster. Park Commis,sioner sauier'
Health Commissioner Emery building Comns-
Toner Bush Tax Collector Appleton. City Treasurer
Kelley, Mr. Hardness president OF the D epea
ter OF Arrears The Board OF Elections. the Board
Of Education and the Civil Service Commission are
not represented in the cabinet.
The meetings are always held behind closed doors
I'm the Mayors private once, tnt Mayor
Is not present. and records OF the proceedings
are kept Many OF the questions which come up
FOR discussion have a legal bearing, and on these,
Of course the opinion OF .the Corporation Counsel
is in request. Various matters OF policy are dis
cussed and the opinions OF the heads OF depart
ments are asked by the Mayor. The proceedings
are informal and the length OF the meetings de-
ponds on the Importance of the subjects 10 be con-
sidered During the session OF the Legislature all
bills affecting brooklyn considered; especially
is this the since the adoption OF the new Con-
stitutOn giving the Mayor power to approve or
dlsapprOve OF all measures relating 10 the city.
Some members OF the cabinet have little TO say.
naturally. except when questions affecting their
own departments raised. The major part OF
the talking at cabinet meetings IL done by the
Mayor and the Corporation Counsel. Not infre
qucnty II is only after talking a subject over care
fully with his advisers that the Mayor makes pub
lie announcement OF what has been decided on.
IN the OF the pan for acquiring parks
the proposed division Of the City Works Depart
ment. etc.
The meetings under consideration are simple
conferences Of the heads Of departments. all OF
vhom are chosen by the Mayor and In whom
he feels full confidence. Rarely. II ever is a vote
taken any question although IL is not an I'M
common thing for the opinion OF each member to
be asked. The result insures a close relationship
between the Mayor and all branches Of the city
government. and enables all the departments to
pull together in harmony. Mention OF the cabinet
meetings Is rarely made in the newspapers but
nevertheless they a factor OF real importance
In the administration OF the city.