The true northerner., 1898-01-05


-Beautiful Ceremony at Midnight.
New York. Jan. 1.-The citizen OF
New York, which today Is the second
city OF the world, enter upon what Is
believed to be the greatest problem of
municipal government ever presented.
With the last stroke OF the clock at
midnight. announcing the advent of the
New Year. there was born a city such
as the emperors and kings of history
would have deemed great for an en-
pire. For SIX months, until the ma
chinery Of the new municipality gets
into motion. the mayor OF New York
has the power OF an autocrat. He may
appoint officials with salaries running
into the thousands with as lavish a
hand as ever emperor treated his favor
ties. The mayor will appoint every
department head In the city except the
comptroller, who is elected for four
years. He will appoint all commission
ers, all justices of inferior criminal
courts, all the members Of the school
boards with the exception Of the COM
missioner Of education, the Justices Of
special sessions and the police magis-
trates, and is given the power to re-
move any official in New York and ap-
point his successor.
His Veto Is Nearly Conclusive.
There are five boroughs in the Great
er New York-namely. Manhattan,
er New York-namely, Manhattan Broux,
municipal legislature consists of the
council with twenty eight members and
a board Of aldermen Of sixty members
The president Of the council was elected
by the people. The president OF the
board of aldermen will be chosen by the
members of that body. Mayor Van
Wyck Is given power to veto any
ordinance or resolution Of either body
Of the municipal assembly unless five
sixths of the members Of both houses
declare otherwise. Each Of the five
boroughs has a borough president, but
his principal duty is to preside over the
various local bodies in his borough.
And this new condition is what the old
and new city celebrated last night and
this morning.
Event Fittingly Celebrated.
The exit of the old year and the in
auguration Of Greater New York was
celebrated fittingly. One OF the events
that marked the occasion was a grand
parade conducted under the auspices
of the New York Journal and Ad-
vertiser The scene in City Hall park
previous to the arrival there of the
procession was spectacular and brilliant.
Although the head of the parade was
not expected to reach that point much
before midnight the park was crowded
as early as o'clock. And the crowd
/ STRUGGLED and iOcflaH for Or
more when. on the arrival OF Police
Captain Gross in command OF the small
army of officers, the park invaders were
driven to the street line. where they
were held in check by a Gordon Of po-
lice. Only those entitled by passes were
allowed within the park limits.
illumination Mt the Old City Hall
Old city hall was brilliantly illum-
mated with strings OF electric lights.
beautifully colored electrical shields and
American flags composed of revolving
lights. On the dome Of the municipal
building were placed eight search lights
that flashed in all directions and cut
across the lights that blazed their rays
from the roofs of the postoffice and news
paper buildings. Many Of the buildings
surrounding the park were decorated
with handsome electric devices while
| several bands of music Wed with the
bearers of trumpets and tin horns to
entertain the populace. In front Of the
city hall main entrance a platform had
| been erected for the accommodation of
the judges selected to award the vari-
Gus prizes. 1t was prettily decorated
and surrounded by a myriad Of electric
lights.