New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-20
! BOARD TAKES OFF MASK,
Mr. Meyers Says Tammany Has
Controlled 1t for a Year.

Votec yesterday with the Tammany aldermen ana
passed q resolution electing John T. Mccall chair
Of the Finance Committee, in place Of Herbert
Parsons, who has since the organization of the
board been chairman, and, accordingly, a member
OF the Sinking Fund Commission. AS stated else
where in The Tribune Parsons will fight to retain
his place. and Mccall will be recognized only after
a decision by the courts that the action of the
aldermen yesterday legal The vote in the
board yesterday followed a meeting Of the Finance
Committee Florence and Bill, fusion Democrats,
put 0 this committee through the courtesy
of President Fornes. although it against the
political judgment Of many of the Republicans
They rewarded Mr. Fornes's kindness yesterday by
betraying their trust. Bill apparently was so
ashamed of his conduct that he did not attend the
meeting of the board
Soon after the board meeting began the Finance
Committee went into executive session in the COM
mittee room. Those present were Aldermen Par
sons. Longfelow. McInnes. James. Bill. Mccall.
Gaffney. Florence and Sullivan. Alderman Sulli-
van complained of datory tactics by Chairman
Parsons. and moved that chairman he ap-
pointed in his place Chairman Parsons would not
allow roIlcall whereupon Alderman Gafney
moved that Chairman Parsons be reelected. Be
ieving that Gaffney would vote for him, Chairman
Parsons called the roll; but when the votes were
counted It was found that the Tammany members
had voted fo- John T. Mccall. Tammany alder
man, and two fusion votes, those OF Florence and
Bill, were cast also for Mccall. This elected the
Tammany leader chairman and deposed Parsons
Alderman Sullivan, in open board. offered reso-
luton that John T. Mccall be recognized as chair
man of the Finance Committee He salo the ac-
tion taken by the committee must not be taken as
any reflection upon Alderman Parsons, who was
named as chairman when the president Of the
board named the Finance Committee fifteen months
ago.
SAID COMMITTEE HAD NEVER ORGANIZED
The Finance Committee. a majority Of it. met
iust now" Mr.. Sullivan said, 'and decided 10 OF
eyanize The committee although ii has been work
ing for fifteen months, had never organized we
met and organized. and elected John T. Mccall as
chairman The action was taken Irrespective Oh
politics or party afiliation
Mr. Parsons protested against the action OF the
committee and declared it Illegal
This is a matter of the greatest importance |"
this board and to the general public MI Cantor
said 1.-THE chairman Of the Finance Committee is
a member Of the Sinking Fund Commission. and II
is matter of great concern to the city to kno" II
member Of the commission, wnlch mas the GUS
tcdy OF the city's property and makes leases for
the city is legally member of that commission.
President Fornes ruled the resolution out OF or
der. Alderman Sullivan declared has intention 10
appeal from the ruling The Tamnany aldermen
argued that committees had the legal right to elect
their own chairmen. Alderman Doull quoted Sec
ton II of -Cushing's Manual to show the justice
of Alderman Sullivan's contention
Aldermen Peck and Wirtn argued that Mr.. Par
sons's record for the last fifteen months made it
Unfair 10 depose him. Mr. SWanstrom moved that
the matter lay over for week and that the Cor
poratIon Counsel be asked to give an opinion as to
the legality Of McCaIls election
THE PRESIDENT OvERRULED.
Rollcan was taken on the appeal from the presi-
dents decision that the original resolution was out
of order. Rollcan showed the president overruled
by Il votes 70 50 Mr. Fornes declined to vote and
announced his protest against the result
MI Goodman argued that Mr.. Mccall could not
be elected chairman Of the Finance Committee be-
cause the place not vacant
Alderman Wirth demanded the reason for the &C
ton taken by the Finance Committee, and Alder
man Sullivan declined to answer a question so
ridiculous He accused the alderman Of resofting
TO diatory tactics. and President Fornes denled
there was any such intention
Now. if the president viii only meet the ques-
tons as they come up Mr. Sullivan said, and not
try to be the whole Board Of Aldermen we VIII get
along without so much waste Of time. This is
situa ton that has be faced, and we had better
face il al once move the original resolution"
Mr. Fornes ruled the resolution out Of order, and
again an appeal was taken from his decision 1t
was sustained this time by Il to o.
Immediately Mr.. Sullivan moved the original reso-
lution and a dozen others moved an adjournment
The motion 70 adjourn was withdrawn and Alder
man Meyers got the floor
II have refrained from taking any part in the
parliamentary battle he said, and as far as tle
rnnlete reorganization of this board is concerned
tare bean waiting year for the other side to
take the responsibility This has been a Tamnany
hoard for more than a year. NOW cIlal4e4Iee
them 10 remove the Vice-chairnan, the heads OF te
committees and the sergeant-at-arms. am urea
of +bis hollow mockery and turning 10 the Oeli0
- eide of the house, IF you think you can get
anv poIitcaI capital out Of the board between no"
and the election you are welcome 10 H. II "@o
xol,r interference with public improvements tH''
led to the action Of the State legislature.
hoard has not enough power left to count Tor any
+ht- am glad the time has come that the people
NAV understand that when the Ina1oiIIy ya1+ U the
board speaks 1t is Tammany idg+ Ialhg t5affen and
! huf
r; ff-iends who defeated the important IralCIil ms
for the M2900f 53+ Of orer but MI Myers went on
To-day have seen the vote 60 90 oa enrolled Re
Dnbljcan The borough presidents stoo0 los hut IN
ssbaii vote against the resoiuJoh' oI Coui'o'
111Z heart hope IL win prevail
T,ov,1 NC AGAINST HIGH LICENSE
.r ,s.s;re n saw" Alderman Dowling shouted
-. bave beeu as true to this administrator "9
onx, Republican in it, and my record proves pS-ao -
baye The greatest respect for Alderman o.,
| Inn, when it comes to drawing party Hiies "a :
5 aeaIs1 ,itf I The Democrats every time ..f a very
This action" Alderman D2ui Slif' az Aldermen OF
.1,rsI condemnation by the bodIu % - not repre-
;, n;i Nc scionH OF Mayor Low lie mas 5o Ne has
sentsa I b PcoIid to shame and hunate lhg o III y
n his acts have shown ms :! ar fhe wishes
road llIe i one safeguard must be p!a@eeo @ 5e9T
o. newer OF appropriation for t5 tle Nv 20 10 so
sl slve1' S4oWIand Longfellow and PaTS31 a ma ne
- vote The lineup was as f35le%s Dbam-
feA AI9ernen Baldwin BreRned hue 6oall DOW
bers Coggey Culkin De Diet G5ss ELLEN Gillies.
G5oEdwaer 5iIEd HaEbgrssF KsmaeE LandT Mccall
ssEnfh arthy he Mark tbaseert fzg NGasn sai9an
owens. P9Tges: Borough President CASSIDY rf oa
%9msy Queens and PrssidMS9i Mcnhes Ait Beh
B.onz Dicinson Diemer PoTnlns' MaIog
man olier JaIneSO Oa tnian Peck Seebeck SHEA
eJtaf sfesf bbe w4Fs sents WsP6z caom%e Of Rch
WTh sna Of Brooklyn and Ca9r yaIdS with Vi the
haitian The tusl9m uslI99m,1rg Malone. Lundy and Flor