The record-union., 1895-02-02

In 1870 The Legislature awarded New
York City a new charter, and changed
the Police Department from a State TO a
municipal rule, while also contiding tax
levles TO the control of local estimate
and apportionmenJ of supply or expen-
dlture. For the first time in its history
! the city then enjoyed home rule. The
new charter, however. was, as it still re-
mains, detectiye. in not allowing the
Mayor who appointed heads of depart
nents TO remove them on charges, and
! alter hearings in defense, such removals
| being then governed by tedious legal
procedures. My appointments to all the
| twenty-five civic Offices were unan-
Imously accepted by the newspapers as
! tit and appropriate. Three were reap
! pointments, which included Messrs.
| Tweed, Connolly and O'Gorman. Not
one of all these twenty-five municipal
officers became dishonest or chargeable
with breach OF trust in their municipal
| ONCE, except Controller Connolly, whom,
! when charged with CogniZance of having
! vouchers stolen from his office, [ SUCCESS
fully attempted 10 remove, under an In
| genious subtertuge invented by legal ad-
vlsers. in the face OF lack OF ex press
| power or removal. AS will appear In a
| subsequent paper, the notorious mis-
| teasances of " illiam NJ. Tweed did not
| connect themselves with his municipal
office at all, but with himself in another
and elective trust. l was chosen again at
| the polls in third election. The out
going Common Council of my first term
| Included as Alderman the now famous
Rlcnard Croker. During that term. had
| frequent opportunities of meeting him
| officially, and can testify to his remark
able genlus-he was then young man
tor political organization and executive
| official action, as well as to his fertility
OF resources in public affairs.
During my new term occurred the fa-
| nous riot OF July Il, 1871, between the
dibernian Catholics and the Protestant
| Orangemen, who undertook, by pro-
| cession, TO celebrate the anniversary of
tue battle of the Boyne. The new Police
| department discovered that this process
sion would be attacked. and riot neces-
sarlly ensue, and that it was likely to
| become too formidable Tor mere police
| opposition and Interference. Taking
| counsel with Charles O'Conor, then the
most eminent and experienced member
OF the bar, /, as Mayor, ordered precau-
tionary military preparations, and by
| proclamation forbade the procession.
! Said Mr.. OConor: The first duty OF
peace officer is at all hazards to prevent
disorder if he can, and not wait its op-
Grafton for cure" ''Monstrous doctrine
IN respect TO prohibiting a procession
and the freedom of the Streets" substan-
TALLY exclaimed the erratic newspaper
press IN a double-leaded chorus, except
The WOrid, then managed by Mant0n
Marble, who agreed with O'Conor. The
proclamation is unconstitutional" ;" cried
Editors Greeley and Bennett in unison.
The press clamor attracted the attention
OF Governor Hoffman, who, flying eX-
press from the Capital, revoked the
proclamation. What was the result?
The procession ''constitutionally"m
1t was attacked in the anti Orange section
OF the city, thrOug' which in pure bra
VadO the Orangemen marched. A Kill
kenny atmosphere was evolved through
out, and the military were compelled to
interfere, with loss oflite, and as is often
the hapless case in time OF riot many in
nocent and peaceable persons were shot.
The riot was remarkable for the appear
ance Of James Fisk as Colonel of a regi-
ment, and his disappearance into the
safety Of an adjacent area when the
scrimmage Intensified. He escaped the
rioters on that summer day to be shot by
private citizen on a following winters
morning, as current criminal annals re-
cord.
The further account OF my Mayoralty
now properly belongs to my succeeding
topic in the memorable first downing Of
Iammany. For in that respect history
has been lately repeating itself in Obedi-
ence to the old maxim and appropriately
revlves the "reminiscences.
A. OAKEY HALL.