New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-23
WILL THE MAYOR RESIGN!
SOME RATHER HAY TALK ABOUT IT
AMONG POLITICIANS.
THE Rt-MOR DISCUSSED IN ALI. OF ITS BEARINGS
LEXow o'CoNNOR AND AINswoRTH ON THE
SITUATION IN THIS CITY-PREsIDENT
LAUTERBACHS COMMITTEE
APPOINTMENTS.

Senators Clarence LeXow and Edmund " Coh-
nor and Assemblymen George r. Maloy ana
Danforth L. Ainsworth were in town yesterday
A report circulated about the hotels to the
effect that Mayor Strong had found his once 50
little to his taste and that attention to Its duties
had so affected his heilth that he had de-
termined to resign, was much discussed yester-
day by legislators and others. Although there
was nothing upon which 10 rest the resignation
story except the merest rumor. experimenting
the fact of the Mayors illness. the gossips Ihaue
the most of IT. Colonel Strong's retirement "ouiu
make President Jeroloman Mayor the remainder
of the wear il was suggested. but without the
power OF removal held by Mr. Strong MI
Jeroloman as Acting Mayor coud HI Vacahoies
as they occurred. but could create none aS
Navor strong can do Whatever was going, 1t
was asserted would go bodily TO eX-Mayor
Grace. and be at his untrammeed disposal On
Nav Mr. Jeroloman could commission success
sors 10 officials whose terms VIII expire al tha'
time including Police Commissioner Martin
Dock Commissioner Cram, Fire Commissioner
Robbns Charities Commissioner Sheehy, Health
Commissioner Wilson, Tax Commissioner
Blun1enthal and in November seven School Com
,niss,oners This seemed like small number OF
changes compared with those Mayor Strong can
make under the recent statute.
The election OF a Mayor next fall was also
speculated on and especially the reNNiI!ihe
effect IT would have upon Tammany Hall. I'm
less the Republican Legislature should repeal
the Power of Removal bill. the successful cand-
date would be invested with the present powers
of a full-term Mayor. provided it should be de-
cided that he was elected for full term The
term of the Mayor is Tor two years under 'he
new Constitution which added an additional
wear to Colonel Strong's to bring the election OF
his successor into the odd year in when muhic-
ipal official terms made to expire. But IL was
argued that Colonel Strong's successor would be
elected not for full term. but for the unex-
pired term Of William l.. Strong. and therefore
that the Power of Removal law would not Apply
TO him.
1t was conceded that Tammany Hall would
oucklv assume fighting front and make
desperate effort to regain the office, but. shorn
of power as it would be, the Wigwamites would
stand lively chance of another defeat If forced
to meet again united opposition. The effect of
the dissension in the Republican party growing
ont of the recent municipal appointments was
also discussed and opinion was divided on the
question of whether they would strengthen vi
weaken the organization at the polls Ihese anu
other arguments and speculations Keep poitl-
clans who were unable 20 hover around the Ciiy
Hall and the Department or Pupilc NoIhs III
search of places quite busy yesterday
Efforts made by reporters to get some express
sion from Mayor Strong on the subject Oh .he
rumor that he was contemplating an early With
drawal from official life proved fruitess. me
Mayor was confined to his room all day ana
doubtless looked upon the report as too SHY 10
take any notice Of Nobody OF consequence. bar
ring few Tammany politicians was disposed 10
treat it with any seriousness. Inc auVah'dses
which might accrue 10 Tammany Han shoulu
colonel Strong retire seemed pleasant ana at
tractiye TO hopeless followers of eX-Boss Croker
that they did their best to keep the senseiess
rumor afoat. II was certainly WITHOUT the SHe'i'-
senator iexow. when approached Yesterday on
the subject of police Iegisatlon' salu ina Wv
bills would pass the Senate when ne got ready u
move them.
THE SENATOR NOT PLEASED.
Mr.. Lexow was not pleased yesterday with the
estimation in which the Lexow Committees
work is held by people generally In speaking
about il he said: IL have been looking TO see
n great and grand climax in this city to the
work of TIE Lexow Committee, but as yet nave
Witnessed only ant-climaXcs. Mayor strong was
elected as resul, of the work OF the committee.
The committee made it possible for the opposition
10 unite against Tammany and overthrow that
once poweriut the Efforts of Corporation
Counso' Francis NJ. Scott to form deal with
Tammany Hall" ,, a.,
Senator started for TIE Fifth Avenue Hotel 10
senator O'Connor had something to say yester-
day about Mayor Strong and his appointments.
"I must confess" he said, "t:at don't know
what party the Mayor represents lie was elected
on a mixed ticket. and he may irslst on aPpoin'.
ing Anarchists. Socialists. Democrats ana "ndt
not | do not understand politics in this city Up
nv way We have two parties. the Repuplcah anu
the Democratic. and a man belongs TO one or me
other We always know whether a man Is Re
publican or a Democrat. but here IL Is cohius .i
Politics do not place man IN MS paiE a ,n ,
he is elected to office his appointments DO not
show to what party he belongs. Mayor SuOnS
claims that he not elected by the f'epuph-
but by the people belonging 10 color Of his
appointm ents / should judge So Instead OF uy-
Ing to place a mans politics in this city thinK II
best to call his political party what-ls-l'' lha'
Is certainly indefinite enough.
MP AINsWORTHs SENSIBLE VIEW.
Danfortb f. Ainsworth. the Republican leader
OF the Assembly had this to say when the mar
mony" question propounded:
Il don't know anything about the situation in
Nev-York City Republican politics. but do
know something about the feeling in the Legisiat-
ure. and | can say that the members Of the AS
sembly and the Senate do not propose to be
drawn into the New-York City fight. We do not
propose TO assist injure any faction by leglsia-
ton. The Republicans in this city nave always
been fighting and always will fight, ana 90 not
think that the party in the State should interfere
Let the local factions fight IT out
II was considered yesterday that PRESIDENT Ldu-
terhach had displayed not little cunning in the
construction of the Standing Committee ne an
nounced at the Republican County Committee
meeting on Thursday evening ~,
The committees on Organization, Appeals bIec-
ton. Offices. Printing and everything else eAcep.
Finance are made up largely OF the eIeiieh.
which supported Mr. Iauterbach for presiden,
against Mr. Brookfeld But the Finance Commit
tee which contains seven members, is maze up
of elk anti-Platt men to one Plat man IL was
thought to be the purpose Of the Patt-l"duter-
bach crowd TO make the anti-Platt men respon-
sible for the raising Of funds for maintaining tne
organization and carving on the campaign.
while Mr. Laute, bach and his assistants assume
the direction of affairs and monOpolize the credit
of the work Of the party.
Commissioner Brookfeld declined yesterday to
express his opinion Of President LauterDacns
scheme. Nobody seemed to think that any gigan-
tic strides toward harmony had been made