New-York tribune., 1902-04-16
TO FLOCK BY THEMSELV Els
NOTICE SERVED ON CITIZENS UNION
AND INDEPENDENT ALDERMEN.
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS HOLD A CAUCUS
FROM WHICH THE FORMER ARE EA-
CLUDED-WHY THE ACTION
WAS TAKEN.

The Republican members of the BoaFo Oh
Aldermen yesterday served emphatic notlce Oh
the Citizens Union and independent Democratic
members of the board to flock by themselves.
The affront was unmstakable, as the Repuol'-
cans met in caucus following the Adjournment
of the board meeting. with the Citizens Oli'oii
and Greater New-York Democracy men on the
outside of the glass doors of the council cham-
Der.
The action by the Republicans yesterday was
largely the outcome of the discussion of the
aldermanic situation on Friday night last week
at the so-called fusion caucus, when Alderman
Goodman the leader of the majority until ne
resigned that post. some time ago, urged MS
colleagues to assume responsibility for the acts
of the Low administration and make the lines
as tight as possible. The lukewarm Independent
Democrats and Citizens Union members to the
number of about twenty. did not attend the
caucus on Friday night. but at the roundup
yesterday afternoon thirty Republicans TOOK
part in the proceedings.
The Republican members of the board last
night said that their action was provoked by
the course taken by the independents them
selves On account of disappointment over fall-
rre to secure patronage the independent Dem
ocrats have been falling out of the fusion ranks
asserting that they were going it alone" They
to cut loose from the fusion majority and Sc
cure all the political places within their reach.
This attitude did not strike the Republican
members as just and proper, and they told
their reCalcitrant brethren so. Since last Fri
day some of the Republican members of the
board have been doing missionary work among
the more Indifferent and yesterday caucus
the result.
The Tammany members of the board now
have the laugh on the outlaws" Lately they
haJ he flI q
ure to secure the patronage that they hao
planned to get, and have offered many sugges-
tions about returning TO Tammany and getting
in line for future good times.
Now that the Republicans have served notice
on the independent Democrats in the board 1t
viii be interesting to notice just What Will
happen. The friends of the Mayor would ike
to see the board in the hands of a majority Of
we'll wishers of the administration, but if such
a thing is impr1CtiCable. they say the admins
tration can take care of itself The salary Dill
has given the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment power until May l to readjust salary
schedules without the concurrence of the board
About the most important thing that the alder
men Will handle in the way of legisa ton for the
next year is the confirmation OF the Rapid Tran
sit Commissions contract with the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad for the building OF the tunnel
across Manhattan Island. 1t will be some time.
however. before the aldermen have to pass on
the measure, and there is little doubt that pub
lie sentiment will be strongly in favor Of It's
ratification that the aldermen Will vote for 1t
without reference to partisan lines
At the caucus of the aldermen yesterday
President Cromwell OF Richmond presided Some
of the independent Democrats who were not IN
vited 10 the conference We're Messrs. Dowling.
Florence. Lundy and Malone. All of these men
are Democrats. and were elected on the fusion
ticket. Alderman Wentz, Of Brooklyn. after
the conference adjourned yesterday afternoon,
said that ii an accident that the fusion
Democrats not invited to the conference.
Alderman McInnes vice president of the board.
said that II made little difference whether the
independents stayed away not as there would
be enough votes to pass every popular measure
its merits.