New-York tribune., 1910-01-26
SERGEANTSTO WORK
BOMB FROM mitchell.
4ldermanic Snaps Nipped by
President of Board.

President Mitchell of the Board OF Alder
men. primed and ready for any fight that
the board might wish TO start, struck the
first blow yesterday morning by issuing
orders that the seTgeant-at- and the
eight assistants should actually work six
days a week I'm the future. Although this
was blow at Tammany. with which most
~ the seargeants-at-arms are affiliated.
there was not protest at the meeting of
the board IN the afternoon. Neither was
there a whisper regarding the criticism Of
the board made by President Mitchell at
recent dinner.
Individual aldermen. smarting under the
sting. were planning TO introduce a resolu-
tion asking the president for an expana-
ton. and calling on him to resign. But it
was decided that the Democratic majority
in the board was too slender TO risk get
ting into any wrangle with the presiding
officer. President Mitchell has the whip
hand, and they realize il. In addition TO
his power head OF the board. Tammany
fears his influence as a member of the
Board of Estimate So for the present it
is to be an armed truce.
In the past the duties of the sergeants-
alarms have consisted largely in preserv-
ing the peace during the weekly meetings.
Oxford. chief sergeant on a sal
ary Of $i.50o a year. is one of the most
active members OF the Sullivan clan. He
has two assistants at sl.2o each and SIX
assistants at 81 each.
Oxford and his assistants were thunder
trT-lck when they received notice from
President Mitchell that hereafter they
would be expected TO report TO him for
duty at o'clock each morning He told
them he thought he could find some work
that would keep them from ennui on the
DAYS when the board was not in session.
oxford is to act as sort of messenger
for President Mitchell. The others are to
work as attendants and investigators.
John Mcclure will have charge of the
aldermanic chamber. and will be expected
to be on duty there during city office hours.
Edward O'Rourke will act as attendant in
the office of City Clerk Scully. The others
viii be employed part of the time in seeing
that the city auctioneers who are under
the Jurisdiction of the President of the
Board of Aldermen. obey the law.
At first the sergeants-at-a arms were in
clined 10 make some sort Of protest.
They are elected by the board, and declared
they would take orders only from the
board. IT was pointed out to them, how
ever, that the rules of the board defining
their duties say: They shall also discharge
such other duties as are indicated by the
President of the Board These rules can
he amended only by a two-thirds vote of
the board. President Mitchell must certify
on the payroll that they have performed
their duties properly; and should they
fuse TO obey him ne could hold up their
money.
Itch n 1t = lao inc
OF the board Every report of the Commit
tee on Finance, which requires sixty votes
for passage, was laid over for a week
This was done in order that Alderman
Bowling. the majority leader, might confer
with Alderman Johnson, leader of the mi
nority.
Alderman Schloss Introduced a resolution
forbidding the sale of tickets to theatres or
other public places OF amusement on the
streets. This is even more drastic
blow at the ticket speculators than that
introduced a week ago by Alderman Becker
who wanted ticket selling stopped within
80 feet of any place of amusement Both
resolutions are in the hands of the Law
cmmittee.
4 resolution asking The Board of Esti-
mate to appropriate 5000 to aid the Dis
trct Attorney investigating the white
slave" traffic went to the Finance Com
mittee.
Alderman Wendell wants the city to lease
or purchase the West Side Nelghborhood
House. at 5oth street and Tenth avenue. 1t
was originally started by the Fifth Avenue
Baptist Church, but recently was closed, be-
cause Mr.. Rockefeller withdrew his sup
Port The resolution asking the Board of
Estimate TO, take steps to acquire the prop
crty "for the purpose of maintaining the
same as free day nursery, playground
and public bath was passed.