New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
aSEEING THE MAYOR
r.pus OF PEOPLE OF ALL SORTS WHO
,rS,r CITY HALL FOR THAT PURPOSE.

c,,v Hall has always been one Of the
$50. ~ New York City. and all guide books
lotion it AS one OF the noteworthy architect
.,,,,-os Of the metropolis. Visitors who
=, the building and look only at the ex-
80, rsually leave with good impression. The
..,ul staircase and the broad esplanade and
-, ., these the rows Of srched windows. with
-. little panes of glass recalling an earlier
..-os in architecture. all combine to make
BEAUTIFUL picture.
rbos who enter the building go to the meet
.,roons Of the Municipal Council and the
Rnard Of Aldermen. and then on the way back
;, ,he street the visitor usually asks: Where is
The Mayor
rthe guide knows the democratic rules which
cavern the Mayors office he will take the visitor
,s-ough the corridor on the main floor to the
,ss, end Of the building TO a glass door bearing
,,s inscription Mayors Office" When these
,cors are closed and one sees only the polished
xood and the highly respectable ground glass;
Nth its lettering in bold black letters. one i'm
.cipss a scene Of luxury and elegance on the
other side.
Rut when the door is opened a wholly different
soene is disclosed 4 little room, with desk
and three chairs much the worse for wear. and
q, umbrella stand. is the first thing one sees OF
,bs Mayors apartments. on the desk is bottle
n muclage an nkstand and a PEN and few
calendars hang on the otherwise undecorated
walls From this little room the Mayors visitor
,,ss into another of about the same size. which
.,,tains two desks and as many chairs. few
aid pctureS and not much light. From TINS
nom two heavy doors open into the large and
handsomely furnished and decorated apartment
IN which the Mayor transacts his business and
receives his visitors.
pu, II * not an easy matter for all people
"a On through the two little rooms, because at
the very threshold of the first apartment the
Mayors buffer" Roundsman William kennard.
meets the visitor and II he bears any of the
marks OF a crank or undesirable person he is
turned down. and never gets beyond the first
room Men who are known to the doorman-
newspaper men, officials and Tammany mag
nates-walk right in and await their turn 70
talk TO the Mayor. who sees each man as he
enters from his desk at the west window. Some
0. the visitors are turned over at once to Alfred
~ Downes the Mayors private secretary. whose
desk stands a few feet away from the Mayor S,
and those who speak 10 the Mayor sit IN
chair at the side Of the desk. which is kept there
for that purpose
There are more people who don't see the
Mayor said Kennard. than most visitors to
this place have any idea Of. and there is not
Jay passes that We don't have 10 turn objection
able people down. Some OF them are 50 thick
that hint is not enough. and must be followed
by the ceremony Of the laying on Of hands
The same cranks with whom the doorkeepers
had TO argue ana wrestle during Mayor Strong 5
administration still visit the Office at regular
intervals. AMI - these haze been added the new
ones who have plans to suggest for the improve
nent Of the municipal government. for the beau
tfcaton Of its parks and streets and who have
claims for imaginary injuries to person and
property by reason Of the msmanagemen; - the
city affairs
These Objectionable characters are not all men.
woman who comes about once every month
from Newburg and another who comes from
Brooklyn about twice often are among the
regulars" Mr. Forecast" is the name which
the ante-room employees have given to one man
who fayors the city government with his poiiti-
ca representations with religious regularity
and many names have been given to another
regular visitor to the Mayors office who delights
10 tell how the Vanderbilts and other capitalists
eefrauded him out Of many millions.
Among the less Objectionable visitors are the
sghiseers. who have no business with the
Mayor. but would consider a trip to New-York
emo value unless it's chief officer had been seen.
Sometimes they come in "droves." as the officers
On duty express it. They stand at the door look
over toward the desk in the corner. one OF the
party says. That's the Mayor" they look
uUie more and g away happy. Unless one or
NE officers is there 10 explain matters these
parties sometimes go away in doubt as 70