The sun., 1910-01-04
TAMMANY HAS THE EALDERMEN
VOTE rs ~ TO 81 WHEN 1T
CONES TO A TEST.


Mitchell suggests work for the Board.
Tammany, with the assistance OF the
Democrats Of Brooklyn and Queens. has
a majority Of five in the new Board OF
Aldermen. The fusion members in the
caucus they held last week in the Hotel
Astor announced that they had 81 out
Of the 70 votes. but that they were con-
fident Of winning over to their side two
Democratic Aldermen. They didn't win
EN-.
The first test OF strength between the
two parties came yesterday when the
new board met on a motion to declare
vacant the seat OF Little Tim Sullivan
and to proceed to the election OF his sue
cessor. Alderman johnson. the new
leader OF the Republicans. objected on
the ground that there was a question in
volved as to the right of the board to elect
since the vacancy had not arisen after
the board was constituted. The Tam
many men showed that Little Tim before
his death had qualified by fling his oath
OF ONCE and held that the board should
proceed just as the Charter provides in
the case of an Alderman who has died
in his term. This provision gives to the
board the right to till vacancies with the
stipulation that the successor shall be of
the same political faith as the member
whom he follows. Alderman Dowling,
the Tammany leader. produced an opin-
ion from former Corporation Counsel
Pendleton stating that the board would
be within it's rights in electing a successor.
President John Purroy Mitchell on this
opinion declared the objections out of
order and the election was proceeded with.
John j. White. who comes from the Third
Assembly district and has been one of
the chief lieutenants OF the Sullivans,
was nominated and elected by II votes
to 81. In the subsequent votes Mr.. White
voted with the Democrats, making it
AZ to 81.
With this margin the Democrats re-
elected P. j. Scully City Clerk for a
gast deputy city clerk and John I. Oak
ley chief clerk.
The programme of the Democratic
caucus was then carried out. Alderman
Frank Bent Of Brooklyn was elected vice
chairman TO succeed Little Tim Sullivan,
while Frank Dowling was made chair
man of the Finance Committee. Harry
Oxford, sergeant-at-arms. and the assist
ant sergeants named on the Democratic
ticket were elected.
IL is usual at the first meeting of the
Aldermen for the Mayor to send in his
message. Mr. Gaynor sent word that he
had not received from the Comptroller's
Office the financial statement for the past
year and would not have his message
ready until Tuesday of next week.
President Mitchell in an address to the
board said:
There are one or two matters which
at this time wish TO call to your atten-
ton. The first OF these is the revision
of the Building Code. For the last four
years building committees have been
appointed. extensive hearings have been
held claims have been presented in most
OF them Of $50. 600 to $50. 600 for expenses.
and no revision has been secured This
is one of the most important tasks of the
Board of Aldermen and should be brought
to completion at once without reference
to any special or corporate interests.
"Secondly, there is the matter of the
codification OF city ordnances. This
work was commenced by the Board OF
loO6-O7, and was turned over to the past
board, Of 10000, for completion. The
latter board has done nothing with this
work.
Thirdly, attention to the consideration
and adoption OF new ordinances. Such
Committee on Laws and Legislation. At
the close OF December, 1909. there were
before this committee some tifty-three
odd matters, including proposals for ordi-
many OF which related to important mat
ters, some of which are as follows:
-(dl. Change proposed by the Comp
troller with respect to bids for city con-
tracts: this matter has slept in the Committee
on Laws and lie esislation for about two years.
although IL was indorse and urged by the
Association of Dealers in Masons' Building
Materials and the New York Lumber Trade
Association.
"tbl. The regulation OF sale of milk.
this matter has been before this committee
for about year and half and no ordinance
has resulted.
-tcI. The matter of ticket speculation
on the sidewalks this has been before
the board for the last three years. The
condition has been made worse rather
than better by any action that has been
taken up to the present.
"tdI Pushcart peddlinR. This has been
before the Board OF Aldermen for two
years and a half. and no ordinance has as
yet resulted from the slight consideration
given by this committee. This matter WAS
called to the boards attention by the
Mayors Pushcart Commissions report on
the subject
-tel Automobile regulation. The only
ordinance adopted with respect to this
subject IL one regula ting ia xicabs. Various
other proposals havo been before this COM
nittee within the last two years. but no
ordinances have resulted therefror.
There should be Immediately provided
for the service of the Board of Aldermen
an examiner or inspector to investigate
the various departmental requests for
corporate stock and special revenue bonds
also an examiner or inspector to investi-
gate departmental requests for the es-
tablishment Of various grades and posi-
tions.. These employees should be as
signed to the Office Of the President of the
Board and should be detailed by him to
secure information for the various COM
mittees as required.
"The committees at present exist OF
nine or seven members In order to SO.
cure greater attention to committee work,
the size of the committee should be re-
duced to five or seven. or all to five.