The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-07
THE MAYOR MAKES A PLEDGE.
TALKS TO THE HAMILTON CLTB
or BROOKLYN.
Tells the Members Who Have Met Him Rt
Dinner That II the water Hill Is Passed
lie VIII Appoint the Commission ~ lie
Originally Planned 10 Appoint IT,

Originally flanneu 10 Appoint ~
A dinner given to Mayor Mcclellan last
night by the Hamilton Club Of Brooklyn
was interesting, not only because II was
the first time that that non-partisan and
representative organization ever enter
tanned a Mayor Of Greater New York
and because OF the praise given Col.
McClellan's administration, but because
the Mayor took occasion to make public a
pledge that II the Water Commission bill
be passed he will appoint the commissioners
from lists presented by the three organi-
cations which we're named in the original
draft.
IL will be remembered that the section
providing that the commissioners should
be so chosen was declared unconstitutional
on the ground that the power must DO
vested in the Mayor alone.
Col. McClelan's pledge was greeted by
a demonstration OF approval.
The dinner was served in the main and
green dining rooms Of the clubs fine house
on Remsen street. About $50 we're present
most Of them members OF the club. At
the guests table were the Mayor, President
Sanford H. Steele, the Hon, Amet +. jerks,
the Hon Hiram 4. Steele, Charles Il. Miller
Dr. St Clair MoKelway, Postmaster Wilcox,
the Rev. Lindsay Parker and the Hon.
Edward NJ. Shepard The rooms were
decorated with American flags and the
Mayors flag.
President steele, the toastmaster, in
welcoming the Mayor assured him that
there were no politics within the club, al
though II would not be safe 70 count upon
that influence extending beyond the walls.
IL ha ha ph
on the part OF some newspapers to ind
some reason for the gathering.
i have here an extract declaring that the
dinner is given under direction OF the com
mittee on art and literature and therefore
that il Is az a literary man. the author OF
The Venetian Oigarohy, that Col MoC!el-
Ian i, the clubs guest. | doubt whether
The Venetian Oligarchy' y uppermost
in the minds Of those present,
The true reason for this dinner lies
upon the surface. It Is not 70 celebrate
the literary or political achievements OF
our guest. 1t is simply because he is the
chief magistrate Il our beloved city, be-
cause he has to grupple with the Problems
involving our individual welfare and be-
cause he has brought 70 bear upon these
problems a sChO larly mind and clean hands
There was a great round Of applause
at this.
The MAYORS speech in part was as follows
What has always impressed me about
beautiful parks, more than her many churches
or her comfortable homes, Is a Characteristic
which makes her unique amGnS, , ihe cite
themselves The spirit Of Brooklyn rs one
OF civic pride and civic righteous
teaches love OF home, and an honest PRIDE
In home. The spirit OF Brooklyn does not
assume that what Is IL necessarily wrong.
When ! first became Mayor 1 found the
city confronted with a serious emergency
that had TO be Immediately met, and hat
was the necessity OF an increased supply OF
water was obliged to take the WoTk
up where it had been laid down by my dis
tinEuished predecessor, and found that
public sentiment had not been aroused 70
the urgency Of the situation. IN the deyel-
opment OF that pu Bile sentiment IL is needless
for me TO tell YOU that II was 20 Brooklyn
that turned first, and that II was In Brooklyn
The bill that I caused 20 be introduced
was, ! believe. in its original form as nearly
opposition and 20 insure It's passage ac-
cepted every suggested amendment that
did not. absolutely deprive us Of the possi-
an objection was raised 10 the method pro-
Vided In my bill for the appointment OF
comlission on the ground thst \ was In
directly from those who rule in Albany. and
a. am in the position Of one standing hat
OF life. ! was obliged TO accept the amend
ment giving the Mayor the absolute power
Of SpP9ntRs55t ,h sfSSeP pe ans Ibe en
nevertheless appoint the Water Commission
in the manner originally provided in the
let me. through you. repeat my pledge as
sOlemnly ~ / can that Immediately upon
the enactment Of this bill shall call upon the
Chamber Of Commerce, the New York Board
OF Fire Underwriters and the Manufa cturers'
Association for a list Of three candidates each,
each one OF those lists. | make this pledge
not because | disuust myself-because ! do
not-but In order that ] may make prec-
cessors until the completion OF this work.
that ! may make a tradition that cannot be
violated without calling down upon him who
OF Brooklyn and Of the people OF New York.
Almost every sentence Of the Mayors
speech was the signal for applause and
cheering His pledge was heartily re-
he made a prediction that the time would
come when borough boundaries would be
forgotte Three cheers and tiger were
ri ven at the end Of his speech.
Judge Hiram r. Steele said that he Rad
been asked 20 speak on the Mortsge Tax
law, but he found himself in the condition
Of the man who was willing TO do anything
the lord wanted him 10 do, providing Il
was honorable. He could not discuss the
law without using language forbidden in
Ian 20 address the Brooklyn League by re-
citing TO him the story Of the httle Brook
lyn girls prayer: Dear Lord, take good
care Of yourself, too, because II We don't
have you we will have 70 dependupon Mayor
Low and he Is not doing as we'll as papa
thought he would"
Il transposed the story, telling Mayor
Mcclellan that he was doing better than
papa had expected.
There are some people here tonight
who did not support your candidacy, Mr..
Mayor. / heard them cav 30. But the
members Of the Hamilton Club have found
out that you are a gentleman with clean
hands and they would like to know you
better.
I was on the other side in the last cam
paiRn.- said the Rev. Lindsay Parker
Possibly, Mr. Mayor you may owe 10
that fact 10 some extent, that you are
where you are tonight | was dead in
earnest and moro especially 20 to elect the
head Of the ticket. Seth Low. In that cam
paign, I said one thing in which l was mis-
taken / said that did not believe that
Col Mcclellan, IN view Of his personally
acknowledged political affiliations, could
rive 20 the CITY Of New York a decently
independent administration. Gentlemen
] take that back lApplause.l
The other speakers were Edward NJ
Shepard and Alnet T. Jenks. Mr.. Shepard
talked about the need Of beautiful bridge
entrances.