New-York tribune., 1902-01-02
VAN WYCK'S LAST ACTS.
HIS APPOINTMENT OF PATRICK KEADY
AND JAMES W. HYDE MAY BE CON
TESTED-VETOES LONG ISLAND
CITY MAP SCHEME.


Two appointments to public office, the legality
Of which may be disputed, were made by Robert
A Van Wyck In the Mayors office yesterday
morning. He appointed Patrick J. Ready JUS
tfce of the Court Of Special Sessions in Brooklyn
to succeed himself. for full term of ten years.
at an annual salary of $4,000. Then he ap-
pointed James w Hyde of No 1924 Madison
ave. trustee of the College of the City of New
York, place without a salary. to fill vacancy
created by the resignation of Henry P ONeil.
Mayor Van Wyck was at the City Hall at an
early hour. slipping into his private office at a
time when he was not expected. About 10 a. m.
he saw Justice Ready in the outer office and
hailed him.
Come here. Mr.. Ready. and be sworn in, -
he said.
After Justice Ready took the oath of office, the
Mayor announced that he had appointed Mr..
Hyde. These are all the appointments 1 shall
make to-day" he said.
How about Jerome's successor?" was asked
The Mayor waved his hand and smiled, but
had no other reply. He announced that he had
vetoed the Long Island City map resolution
which was passed by the Municipal Assembly
last week. Then he swore in Michael F. Blake
as chief clerk to the Board of Aldermen, and d.
st. T. Mccoy as assistant clerk. appointed for
two years by City Clerk Scully, and a police
Later he swore In Jacob S. Van Wyck. who had
been appointed by Controller Grout deputy
receiver OF taxes IN Brooklyn. Mayor Van
Wyck seemed to be in a happy frame of mind,
saying he had all the powers of Mayor until
Mayor Low took office at noon.
The appointment of Justice Ready by Mayor
Van Wyck may be contested the ground
that while Mr.. Van Wyck Mayor for some
purposes such vetoing a resolution of the
Municipal Assembly, until noon yesterday, his
power to make appointments to office expired
at midnight on December 81. The Court Of
Appeals gave a decision to that effect in 1885
in the case Of Colonel f. T. Wood. who was
appointed Corporation Counsel before noon on
January ! OF that year by Acting Mayor w. P
Kirk Mayor Edson's term had expired and
the appointment of his brother-in-Iaw. Colonel
Wood. as Corporation Counsel made by
Kirk, who had been President of the Board Of
Aldermen and Acting Mayor. with view to
preventing the reappointment of f. Henry La
combe as Corporation Counsel. Mr.. Lacombe
refused to recognize the legality of the appoint
ment. and secured an injunction restraining
Colonel Wood from taking possession of the
office and the courts sustained him in the claim
that the incoming Mayor was the only Mayor
who had the right TO make appointments to Of
flee on January l. Mayor Grace, who took office
=
pointed Mr.. Lacombe as Corporation Counsel.
Mayor Van Wycks veto of the Long Island
City map scheme was a surprise to a delegation
of Long Island City politicians who went to the
City Hall expecting that his last official act
would be the signing of the measure. In his
veto the Mayor wrote:
My objections TO this ordinance that It makes
too many radical changes from the present map
by closing many existing streets, by opening new
streets and the creation Of new parks
Opposition of many residents OF Queens has
been expressed, on the ground that the approval
OF the map would give a part Of Bradey-ave.
to the Calvary Cemetery, and the closing OF sew
eral streets would mean gift TO the Astoria
Light, Heat and Power Company. The COM
pany owns Berrian's Island and the adjacent
land on the shore. Through the shore lands
streets had been cut in some places and planned
in other places, and the city is supposed TO have
ownership The promoters OF the map scheme
caused the map to be drawn as 10 close all
the streets through the company's property. It
is said TO be the plan 20 build large works for
the Consolidated Gas Company the land, and
construct an improved water front there.