New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-26
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
MAYOR WURSTERS CABINET.
OSCILLATION WILL BE RIFE ON THE SUB
JECr FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

LITTLE BASIS Fok THE MORE OR LESS POSITIVE
srArEMENrs ALREADY MADE - SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTS LIKELY TO HAVE NEW
HEAps-MEN WHO DESERVE
REINFORCEMENT
rhe makeup OF Mayor Wurster's cabinet will
soubtless continue to be subject Of gossip and
discussion in Brooklyn until the appointments
.-e actually made and authoritatvely announced
II has been said in Mr.. Wursters behalf that he
AID not wish to receive applications for places
until after December Is. There are some who
cynically say that the Mayor-elect is dsingenuous
IN this announcement; that while he does not
rare to receive applications until the date named
there will be no use in sending in applications
then because the Offices al his disposal will all be
filed before that time. Others, who have reasons
for knowing something Of the Mayors nten-
lions. believe that he Is honest in the announce
ment made and tina, it is his purpose not TO take
I'D the question OF appointments seriously until
the middle Of December.
From some points of view there is 10 reason
why he should make haste in the matter While
the Mayor himself takes office January /, the
new heads Of departments appointed by him will
not assume their duties until February !. This
is the provision of the charter. which implies, of
course that an incoming Mayor shall have
month In which TO choose the men whom he
wishes TO assist him in the administration OF the
city government.
Never before since the present charter was
enacted has one Republican Mayor succeeded an
other, and so there is no precedent for Mr.. Wurs-
fer 10 follow. If one existed there would be TO
obligation on him to regard it as binding. When
Mayor Low entered on his second term ne did not
so cvx-N,N had
served under him during the previous two years;
in some cases. certainly. because they would not
accept reappontment. On the other hand, when
Body succeeded Chaplin he reappointed every one
o, the men whom he found holding oflice-and
thus condemned his administration to failure at
the outset.
There has been no definite system esta bshed
in announcing the names Of cabinet officers to the
public although at the beginning of his first
term Mayor Low announced his appointments in
bulk 50 TO speak. In recent years the custom has
been 10 give out the selections from time to time
as they were made. with an exception, Of course
IN the case OF Mayor Body. Probably Mayor
Wurster will adopt this plan.
NOTHING YET SETTLED.
So far as can be learned. Mr. Wurster prior
10 his departure for Atlanta on Wednesday had
not decided on a single member Of his cabinet
Ihdt q nuNlDSr OF the present HSduS "a u'f"4'
ments would be glad to be appointed for an
other two years is certain. but it is not known
that an offer has been made to any one of them
That a considerable number of new men will be
appointed is generally taken for granted. 1t is
not sure that any Of the old men will be re-
quested TO remain. though II would be only
natural and proper that this should be done in
the case Of several who are willing TO do so and
whose fitness is a matter OF demonstration.
Mayor Schieren, 1t will be remembered. put
two Independent Democrats into his cabinet in
recognition Of the fact that he was not elected
by Republican votes alone. AS Mr.. Wurster was
a straigh, Republican candidate. 1t is assumed
that he will appoint only Republicans as men,
bers Of his official family; but one man was
found day or two ago who stoutly contended
that II would be good politics for the new Mayor
to keep Mr.. Hinrichs. the Register Of Arrears
an independent Democrat. in Office. and thus
show at the beginning In the most conclusive
way that II was not his purpose TO give Brook
Ign a partisan administration, as had been stated
repeatedly by Mr. Shepard and his followers in
the recent campaign. Mr.. Hinrichs this man
declared had made an excellent official. and as
the patronage Of the office amounted TO little
he believed that Mr.. Wurster could well afford
TO make this concession to the independent ele-
ment In the Democratic party.
The other Independent appointed by Mr.. Schier-
en- is City Treasurer Kelley. whose office expires
at the end Of this year. when the work of the
City Treasurer will devolve Upon the County
Treasurer; So, no question OF Mr.. Keileys re-
appointment Will arise.
COLONEL BAIRD AND MP. wURsTER.
Not few politicians In Brooklyn are OF the
opinion that the man who knows more than any
one else regarding the appointments TO be made
about the beginning Of the coming year is Colo
mel Andrew d. Baird. VINO is an intimate friend
O. the new Mayor. 1t may be stated on excellent
authority that this is a mistake, and that Mr.
Wurster had not up to the middle of last week
asked Colonel Baird's advice on the subject or
talked the matter over with him.
This belief that Colonel Baird is to be sort OF
boss OF the coming administration seems 10 be OF
piece with the current report that Colonel
Baird is likely to be the successor Of City Works
Commissioner White. Those who are in
position to know affirm that nothing could induce
Colonel Baird to accept this Office; he s now
president Of the New East River Bridge Com
mission and is more anxious TO have his name
connected with that enterprise than to assume
me difficult duties which fall upon the head Of
the City Works Department.
Some color was lent to the report that he might
be appointed TO succeed Mr.. White by the fact
that Mr.. Wurster is known 10 believe that Mayor
Schieren ought 10 be a member or the Brlose
Commission in recognition Of the interest he
has shown in the work OF building a second bridge
between New-York and Brooklyn, and OF his
efforts 10 secure the passage OF the DHl enacted
al the last session. The retirement OF IOiOhti
Baird from the Commission would ieave va
cancy which Mayor Wurster would doubtless
nsns Mr. Schieren 10 fill; but 1t seems
certain that If any vacancy occurs 1T will not
be through the retirement OF Colonel Baird;
and neither Commissioner Batterman nor Com
missioner Sperry IS understood TO be wiling TO
resign in order TO make place FOR Mr. SchieTen
when he leaves his present ofiice mayor
Schieren feels a warm interest IN the new plioSg
project and takes particular pains TO attend an
the meetings OF the Commission OK which ne Is
now member ex-Ofiioio.
THE CITY WORKS DEPARTMENT
To come back to the subject Of Mayor " ur-
Irnti1 Friday of the unsettled