New-York tribune., 1896-01-29

appointments d1terWdrQ a
nedy who had been a Tammany man and eubses
Quently became an Abotionst. We found that OF
my appointments fifty-eight were or Republicans
and fifty-six Of Democrats He declared he would
never have voted for me had he anticipated that
administered the Office on a non-partisan OASIS.
Mr. Tiemann narrated the following experience
with gusto: "One appointment made was at the
request Of Abram s. Hewitt that of a man who
had been a professor of chemistry in the South.
but he had been obliged to leave the country be-
cause of his views on abolition. One day my
Brooklyn friend who had given me advice came
in and thanked me for appointing him to ONCE.
but stated that had spelled his name wrong.
asked him how he spelled 1t. Then 1t turned OUT
that his name was pronounced the same as that
of the professor In chemistry but was spelled
differently. The Brooklyn man went away crest
fallen"
TROUBLE IN SECURING CONFIRMATION OF
NOMINATIONS.
Mr. Tenants hardest Job as Mayor was to get
the Board OF Aldermen to confirm his appoint
ments. The office Of City Inspector, the predeces-
sor OF the Health Board became vacant. and
Mayor Tiemann sent in a name which he pre-
ferred. he said not to state. This name was Sc
lected by him because 1t had been presented as
the unanimous wish of leading physicians OF the
city. The Aldermen hung up the nomination. ana
wanted to know who the man was.
Il told them" said Mr.. Tiemann. that knew
nothing about him. except that the physicians
had all agreed upon him as fit man for the place.
Well. the Board rejected the name. Then the Ale
dermen wanted me to select one Of ten names they
would agree l said would. II the ten were
men OF standing. They refused. The matter was
hung ur for nine or ten months. and then con-
sented to name man they presented-Daniel
Delevan"
Mr.. Tiemann was greatly amused over his recol-
lection Of his experience with a clergyman who
came to him for a subscription to fund for
building church. Il told the man l had no
money to give him. but that would look over his
credentials and. il they all right. would
certify. / devoted a whole evening to the mat
ter. satisfied myself about his papers gave him
letter Of recommendation and put the Mayors
seal on the document A few weeks afterward
the man came back and said my letter had aided
him greatly. And now, said he, 1 am ready for
your subscription. Mr.. Mayor / told him he
would have to wait some time for that He sat
and waited Then he tackled me again. / told
him he could wait all night II he wished. He
finally grasped the situation, and left in disgust
A few days afterward the man had the audacity
to come to me and tell me that as was in the
paint business | ought at least to furnish the
paint for the church. told him TO go to the Old
Boy. He departed l never knew where he
went"
HOW LIQUOR WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE
CITY HALL
There arc two things Of which Mr.. Temann 70
extremely proud as part OF the history OF his ad-
ministration, and these his exclusion OF the
of liquors from the City Hall and his intro
duction Of the gas-lamp system of naming
streets. The history of these matters he narrat-
ed with evident relish In the following way:
L Il
for the officials the side of the City Hall tow
ard Chambers-st.. and off this barroom.
where the Aldermen could drink and have their
liquor free for themselves and their friends. One
morning passed through the room. OF which q
man named Skehorn was in charge, and there
were eight or nine men in there drinking ]
should say that five or six Of them took two
glasses OF liquor apiece and three or four Of them
took three or four drinks each. They put down
the liquor at great rate. was disguised and
went 10 my office and wrote letter TO Skelhorn
directing forthwith
from the City Hall, with all appurtenances. de-
canters, glasses. etc. and not to return the same
or any liquors TO the City Hall without resou-
ton passed by the Board Of Aldermen and signed
by the Mayor One after another the Alder
men came into the Mayors Office they consented,
at least twenty Eight out OF the thirty-four, to
sign the document. About p M that day the
Aldermen dropped into the barroom as usual. but
they could get no liquor. Skelhorn had taken
away every vesige Of it, There was a protest,
! but told them they had signed their own Death
! certificate. That ended the presence of liquor at
the City Hall. Subsequently. when the regular
annual inspection Of the islands made by the
Mayor and the Common Council, when we came
! TO the dinner. which was always feature OF the
! occasion. the Aldermen had to drink the Mayors
/ health and their own with cold water or coffee.
had ordered that no liquor should be served. We
had a good dinner, but. as one OF the Aldermen
said I'VE had fine time, but nothing TO drink but
dry water"
INTRODUCED THE GAS-LAMP SYSTEM OF
NAMING STREETS.
Il
loving historic tale about the street signs: 1T
reported to me that a gambling-nouse was
open the west side of the city. was not well
acquainted there. and as | was determined to look
into the matter personally got three or four po-
licemen TO go along with me at night. The streets
were indicated then by small wooden signs fast
ened 10 corner buildings and as the letters were
obscure, We frequently could not make out the
streets and We failed to find the gambling house.
| had some suspicious that the policemen were
ny n y no
rate. | had TO give up the search.
"At that time a room was always ready for me
at Peter Coopers house He was uncle OF my
wife. and Mrs. Cooper had placed room at my
disposal for use whenev | was detained down.
town late. On my way IL Mr. Coopers house
noticed the signs on a large gas-lamp In front of
restaurant in basement. These signs announced
the principal good things 10 be had inside The
thought struck me that street signs on our city
gas-lamps would be just the thing 10 take the
place of the old board signs at dark street cor
ners on the buildings. 1t seemed to that the
designation OF the city streets ought 10 be as
clear by night that OF oysters and chops and
steaks in a restaurant. I broached the idea to
Mr. Cooper and TO Wilson G. Hunt. who call
Ing at Mr. Cooper's in the evening. Both ap-
proved OF the plan. Mr.. Hunt enthusiasts
tic that he said he would pay for the change him
self If it would not ,ost over 5000. Next day
talked with the Street Commissioner. and he esti-
mated the expense at $4,000. ! went to Controller
Azarah Flagg also, and he expressed surprise
that the idea had not been thought OF before He
declared that need not 90 10 the Street Comms-
sIoHe' VI any oouy e'ee, or seid message 10 the
Common Council. but that he had funds at his
disposal which he would apply at once to making
the change This was done. the expense being be-
tween $1,000 and Sc, 900
well. when travelled in Europe after that
and went over there fourteen times-I had the
satisfaction OF seeing that all the leading Euro
pean cities had followed New -Yorlx's example
My business relations also took me 10 the prnci-
pal cities Of this country. and they all initiated
New-York The reason that speak so boastfuy
or this matter is that wish New-York to havs
the credit OF ii. for she leads the world No
never found that gambling place"
ReNertlng to the question Of a non-partisan ad-
ministration Of municipal affairs Mr.. Tiemann
said 4 did not have particle of trouble on tho