New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-15
FUSION LEADERS CONFER
Plan Constructive Work Through
Control of the Aldermen.
HARMONY SEEMS ASSURED
Majority Leadership of Board
MAY Go TO John A. Bolles or
H. H. Curran.

Realizing the opportunities for construc-
tive work in the city government that Will
be theirs after the first of the year. when
the Board of Aldermen, in addition to the
Board Of Estimate. will be in their hands,
the leaders OF the Fusion political forces
held the first Of q series OF conferences yes
! terday afternoon
/ The conference. which was held i'm the
! office or Borough President McAneny was
attended by him, Controller Prendergast'
! Borough President Miller OF The Bronx.
| Borough President Cromwell of Richmond;
Lewis II. Pounds. Commissioner OF PUBIC
Works. representing Borough President
| Steers, of Brooklyn: Samuel s. koenig and
Collin II. woodward. president and vice
president. respectively, OF the New YORK
County Republican Committee; Marcus +.
Campbell. chairman of the executive com
mttee of the Kings County Republican
General Committee; Charles T. Mur-
ply. Republican leader of the 10th AS
sembly District in Kings: John J. Hop
per, chairman of the County Committee OF
the independence League, and 3. w. y.
Brown Republican leader OF tho 9th Dis
trict. New York County.
Mr.. Brown was present 20 give counsel
from his experience as former minority
leader OF the Board Of Aldermen.
The reorganization OF the board, which is
to take place when the fusion members
take control on January I, was discussed
along general lines. but Il was said that
the question Of what individual members
should hold office in the new organization
was not taken up. That part IS being at
tended TO in conferences of the fusion
members of the board.
The majority leadership Of the board now
lies between John A. Bolles and Henry II.
Curran. The friends Of Mr.. Curran answer
the argument that Bolles has had one years
more experience in the board than Curran
by saying that In his nine months in the
board Curran has learned more about the
workings of the board than many aldermen
do in several terms.
O. Grant Esterbrook. of Kings. will prob
ably be made vice-chairman of the board.
Those who took part IN the conference
yesterday We're reticent about what took
place. I'VE discussed in a general way the
organization Of the board and it's powers"
said Mr.. Koenig
Matters were brought up that will be of
vital importance 10 the city In the next
two years" said Borough President Nc
Aneny. Further than that I do not care
to go at this time
One of the questions considered was that
Of appointing the various committees. Prior
10 1908 these committees were always APP
pointed by the President Of the Board Of
Aldermen. Since that time It has been
customary 20 have n committee on rules
appointed by the president which commit
tee selected the other committees. 1t IS
probable that the latter scheme will be
retained.
Another thing brought up was whether
the majority leader and the chairman Of
the finance committee should be one and
the same member. That has been the usual
rule, although some years separate men
have been appointed 10 those places.
The chairman Of the Finance Committee
is under the charter q member OF the Sink
ing Fund Commission which has important
duties to perform. Other members of TINS
commission are the Mayor. the Controller,
the city Chamberlain and the President OF
the Board Of Aldermen II Is now con
troled by Tammauy, but with fusion
chairman Of the Finance Committee VIII be
IN the hands of the fusionists.
Under the charter the Board Of Aldermen
has broad powers Of investigation Of Vsrl-
Gus city departments. These rights have
never been exercised 70 any great extent
but the fusionists are seriously considering
revivng these powere. wherever they feel
fl 10 he to the advantage of the city.
Then there is the question of building
code The drafting of new code will oe
one of the first things taken VI by the new
board
As result or the conference Yesterday
and others to follow It is expected that
every member Of tho fusion majority will
work IN perfect harmony, not only in in
itisting reforms. but also in UNFOLDING the
hande Of the fusion Board Of Estlmate