New-York tribune., 1896-01-02

plenty to drink. and the followers OF the batte-axe
We're the owners Of Long Island City all day and
far into the night.
The old year had only few minutes to live when
the first steps toward taking possession Of the city
government were taken. Coaches drew up In front
of the Mayors private office in Front-st and from
the office Mr.. Gleason and fifteen Of his leu
tenants. The coaches were entered and the trip
to the City Hail began. The midnight hour struck
a few seconds before the first coach drew up at the
door No trouble looked for in taking posses
sion. but 1t was thought best TO be on hand early,
hence the midnight trip The City Hall dark,
but the 1anitor was aroused and refused to let
the party A window opened and min
ute later the axe took practice swing There were
two police officers duty at the City Hall. One
OF them was found undressed and asleep The
new Mayor made a note of the fast in little book
and the matter will be attended to later. he said
Janior Shears refused to deliver up the keys TO
the Mayors office. Mr. Gleason at once appointed
John W. Moore Commissioner OF Public Works, and
again ordered Shears to turn over the keys. After
argument Shears turned the keys over to Mr.
Moore. Then the took another swing. this time
a complete one. and off went the official head Of
Shears and Joseph Baker, a Gleasonite. was named
TO FIJI the place.
Jantor Baker then escorted the Mayor, Commits
sioner Moore and two policemen through the build
ing Then the officers who had been on guard
sent back to their station and the two that
accompanied the Mayor left in charge. The
short informal reception. Commissioner Moore re-
mained all night at the City Ha. TO that
counter sally not attempted. Mr. Gleason
to bed. but was awakened early. Although the hour
set for the parade midday. there a crowd
in Front-st. as early as o'clock and by 10 o'clock
the private Offices and the streets were crowded
At the city Hall there was another great crowd.
Many came there expecting and hoping against
hope there would be a clash and that John p Mad
den. the Jeifersonian candidate who claimed the
orce. would try and take possession. but Mr. Mad
den accepted the rulings of the Court and remained
passive Meanwhile the procession was forming
and In his private Office Mr.. Gleason was holding
an Informal reception. The school-chdren had the
right OF ne and headed by the Third Ward Fife
ard Drum Corps which followed the Mayor through
the greater part OF his campaign. and had their
instruments taken away by the principal OF their
school for doing this They had obtained their own
Instruments. and honored the occasion by using
them with a Will
II few minutes after Il o'clock when the
City Hall was reached II had been announced that
Mayor Sanford would be present 10 welcome his
successor into office. but he changed his mind when
ne heard the new administration had taken posses
sion of the hal at midnight
Mr. Gleason was cheered as he entered the City
Hall He made address TO those present. and
stated that 1t his intention carry out all the
reforms he had promised during the campaign He
formally announced the appointment OF PHILIP J.
Coffey 10 be his private secretary. and Thomas p.
burke, the present Clty CIerk, 10 De corporation
Counsel
Mr. Gleason received a diamond battle-axe from
his admirers. ana SAID he would keep It close to the
original one. and would doubtless have considerable
use for ii shortly
As he reached the place where he to speak 20
the school-children he face to face with Chief
OF Police Anthony Woods Three years ago. when
G.eason Was lighting 10 retain ONCE. II was Woods
& Th9 hnay oesle1 n MN ba ne this and
meeting Woods he causticaly told him what he
thought OF him. There was little OF a compli-
mentary nature IN it. Having finished with the
Chief who could not reply 20 his superior. Mr. Glea-
son addressed the schoochi.dren. He praised them.
this time TO their devotion 10 him. The children
gave him floral battle-aXe several feet high Then
there was hand-shaking and congratulations. and
In the afternoon yesterday Mr. Gleason visited all
the city departments, lncludns me Water WORKS |
and the different improvements In course OF COM
petion Late in the afternoon the axe took another
swing. and of went another head Ii was reported
him that fireman on duty at Water station No
I was intoxicated. The engineer was directed 10 IN
vestgate the charge and reported that the man was
drunk and Mr. Gleason at once relieved him from
The dark spot IN The affairs Of the Gleason party
is IN. Roari Of Aldermen There is doubt as 10
how IL will organize. IL is OF peculiar makeup as
politics. There are two Jeffersonians two Glea,
sontes one Republican, one Gleason Republican and
Alderman smith. the Republican, will vote with the /
two Jeffersonan Aldermen Bailey and Gelser Alder
gether as Gieasonites Mr.. Downing is Repub- 7
lcan who was indOrsel and e.ectet by the Gleason
les This would make me noari pe' d,n,fn anI tng
Quantity He nom mated by Gleason ana IN +
dcrsed by the Jcffersonians. He has kept his inten
tion himself but yesterday color was given 10 me
report that he with the Jefersonians He. with
Aldermen Bowley. Geiser and smith met ana with. /
out waiting for, the Gleason Aldermen adjourned
until I O'Clock this afternoon The fight for presi
dent OF the Board Will be interesting. The once Is
an important one. as the president is ex-ohlcio
member OF the Genera. Improvement Commission
and Mayor during the absence or in case or the '
death Of the incumbent OF that office.