New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-13
The News OF Brooklyn
EURSTER AND CABINET MEETINGS
ONLY WHEN SUBJECTS OF IMPOR-
LANCE ARE TO BE CONSIDERED.


The determination Of Mayor Strong to hold
cabinet meetings in New-York at least dur
ing the remainder Of the session Of the Legs-
lature has caused a good many people in Brook
Ign to ask whether Mayor Wurster intends to
follow the example of his predecessor and sum-
mon the heads Of departments together for
weekly conferences. Such meetings are wholly
new thing in New-York. They could scarcely
have been held before. since Mayor Strong Is
the first chief magistrate in that city who has
! had the choosing of all the Commissioners that
preside over the departments Under ring rule
in both cities cabinet meetings would have been
an essential absurdity. Why should a Mayor
call the heads Of departments together to talk
over the affairs Of the city when both he and
they do business in accordance with orders
from either Fourteenth-st. or Willoughby-st.?
The idea of cabinet meetings In Brooklyn
originated with Mayor Low the first Mayor
elected under the revised charter, making the
Mayor the real head of the city government by
giving him power to choose the executive heads
OF all branches Of the municipal government.
At least If it did not actually originate with
him, 1t was first put in practice by him. and
during his two terms such meetings were held
pretty regularly. After his time there were no
cabinet meetings until after Mayor Schierens
term began. For the reason already mentioned
they were regarded as superfuous by Mayors
Whitney, Chaplin and Body.
Mayor Scheren, however. considered the GUS
tom good one and revived II soon after he
took office. and except during the summer
months and when he absent from the city
it was the regular thing to have n cabinet meet
ing once a week. usually Thursday after
noon A special invitation was sent out by the
Mayors secretary or stenographer for each
a. Aap
quested to attend. with the exception Of the
two Excise Commissioners. The Police Com
missioner being ex-officio president OF the Excise
Board. 1t felt that that department was
sufficiently represented by his attendance
Mayor Wurster having. while Fire Commits
sioner attended the meetings of the Schieren
Cabinet, and seen the advantages resulting
from the interchange OF views thus brought
about. and the opportunities thus afforded for
determining on policy after viewing a ques-
ton on all sides. 1t was expected that he would
follow the example set by Mayors Low and
Schieren. In the six weeks since his appointees
entered on their duties, however. they have not
been called together by the Mayor for consuta-
ton. and It appears that It is his intention TO
have Cabinet meetings only when there is some
matter to be considered.
When asked yesterday whether he proposed to
/ nave weekly gatherings OF the HtduS OF uePstrt-
ments Mr.. Wurster said:
mo, l do not believe IT is necessary to hold
Cabinet meetings regularly. week at
any other interval. but wherever there Is any
important question to be acted on. then it is my
intention to call the Commissioners together
and talk 1t From my own experience
while in the Fire Department know how the
work OF an official may be nterfered with by
having such meetings regularly once a week
They usually took up n whole afternoon, or the
greater part of one. and many times IL seemed
that the time might better have been
given by the Commissioners to the work OF
their departments. / do not mean 10 deny. OF
course, that many Of the meetings were OF i'm
portance and that the consultations were often
Of real value. / do not believe that one man
ought to decide things; | have no sympathy
with the idea OF government under n blanket
to use a phrase that has been much In vogue
in Brooklyn for several years-and whenever
any matter comes up that demands considera-
ton. ! shall call the Cabinet together and have
ii thoroughly talked over. j see no need how
ever of taking the heads Of departments away
from their duties once week during the
greater part OF the year.
1t is said by who knows that when the
present Mayor attended Cabinet meetings as
the head Of the Fire Department. being the only
representative Of the Eastern District present.
he always kept a sharp lookout for the In
terests OF that section Of the city. Indeed 1t
became q standing joke in the Schieren Cab-
net. when any subject was brought up for
some one to turn to the Fire Commissioner and
innocenty inquire: What there was In 1t for
the Eastern District" In a Cabinet meeting
terests OF the Eastern District would be ade-
quately safeguarded, as two Of the heads or
departments, besides the Mayor, hail from that
region.