The record-union., 1896-01-06
LEONARD WILL Be THE PRESIDENT.
The Democratic Trustees Caucus Has
So Decided.
Police Clerk Desmond WIN Succeed
Oscar Flint as Clerk of the
Board OF Trustees.

The Democratic members Of the
Board Of Trustees came together last
Friday night and held a caucus to con-
slider what they would do when the
matter Of organization Of the board
came up tonight.
They were pledged to the most invfo-
liable secrecy, one and all, but there
must have been a. little bird in the room
or a cat in the bag, as the matters
agreed on by them have leaked out.
However it happened, the cat is out of
the bag now, and the fact is known that
five votes will to night seat Trustee
Leonard as President Of the board. TO
succeed w. D. Lawton.
Several of them were interviewed
yesterday, and though they were dis
posed to be on-committal, neither af-
firning nor denying, enough was
gained In the way of admissions to
show that the caucus took place, with
the results stated in this article.
The result of the recent election was
to give the city a board composed of
five Democrats, three Republicans and
enc Populist-Kent, Davis, Leonard,
Devine and Bentley being of the DEM
ocratic persuasion, Tozer, Pennish and
Wachhorst of the Republican side of
the house and Mckay being the Popu-
list candidate elected. Although the
Democrats were in the majority, there
was a slight hitch, which prevented
everything from going smoothly, and
this was the election Of Clerk.
Several of the Democratic majority
favored J. Carroll, a member of the
Democratic City Central Committee,
for Clerk, but Mr.. Bentley. who. it is
said, has been very carefully sizing up
all the candidates for the various posi-
tions, was unalterably opposed to Car
roll, and declined to bind himself in
caucus unless his name was eliminated
from the list of candidates. So it hap
pened that, although several attempts
to caucus had before been made, it was
not until Friday night that consumma-
tion had been reached, the other mem
bers having agreed to drop Carroll.
The necessity of this is apparent when
it is remembered that four votes would
not elect a Democrat and Mr.. Bent
ley's vote was necessary in order to
make a majority. The Republican side
of the house wished to elect Trustee
Tozer President, counting-it is not
known with how much reaSon-on the
vote of Mckay to help them out, and
they ardentIy desired Bentley to come
over to them and help defeat the Dem
ocrats. Indeed, it is stated, on appar-
emily good authority, that, so earnest
was their wish to break up the Demo
cratic majority, that they offered to
elect Bentley President, if he would
vote with then-an offer which he de-
clined with thanks, saying that 1t
would not be becoming in a newcomer
and the youngest member of the board
to aspire to supplant the older members.
The consent Of his confreres to the
dropping of Carroll having been Sc
cured, the caucus met, as stated and
agreed on a President
Trustee Leonard has been watchful
of the city's funds and has stood for
what he considered the best interests
of the city, and viii no doubt make
faithful and efficient presiding officer.
While Clerk Flint has always proved
himself faithful and painstaking, cour-
teous and accommodating to all who
came in contact with him, and had
hoped to succeed himself, the caucus
has decided against him. NJ. J. Des-
mond, who has been for the past two
years Clerk Of the Police Court, and
has made himself a general favorite
there by his efficiency and courtesy,
will be elected Clerk to succeed Flint.
General Tozer's disappointment is to
be mitigated by his appointment as
Chairman of the Water Committee,
which during the coming year will be
one of the most important ones. Trustee
Bentley is to be Chairman of the Com
mittee on Police. The other committee
Chairmen have not yet been decided
on
Questions put to a number Of mem
bers of the board also develop the fact
that, although the Mayor has signified
his intention to appoint J. o. Coleman
as superintendent of Streets, it is
doubtful if the board will confirm his
nomination. They say that no deputy
win be allowed, as in the past, and they
wish TO have a thoroughly practical
man as Superintendent, who is convers-
ant with the work and able to detect
the chicanery of contractors and see
that they do their work properly and
according to specifications, as there is
q prospect that within the next two
years many macadam streets will be
made in this city.
Riley WIN Protest.