New-York tribune., 1911-12-23
Curran, However, Will Be Chair
man of the Finance Committee.
BR00KLYNITES DISAGREE
Will Name Vice Chairman Later
Harmony Prevails at Fusion
Caucus, Despite Tammany.

For majority Ieader-Alderms John A.
Bolles Of the oath. Aldermanlc District.
For chairman Of the Finance Commit
tee-Aldcrman Henry n. Curran OF the
26th Aldermanlc District.
These selections were made at n caucus
Of the Republican and fusion members of
the new Board Of Aldermen, which is 10
he organized on New Years Day at noon.
The caucus was held at the Astor House
and lasted from O'Clock until :.
II was agreed that Brooklyn should have
the vice-chairmanship Of the board. hut
the Brooklyn aldermen. after an exciting
conference Yesterday morning. were unable
10 select a candidate from the five who
wanted It. The Brooklyn and Queens alder
men will have another caucus to select
candidate for vice chairman in Brooklyn
Thursday. Alderman O. Grant Esterbrook
seems to he the leading candidate for the
job but II IS also coveted by Aldermen
George A. Morrison, Robert F. Downing.
John S Gaynor and Adolph p. Kline.
In reaching a decision as TO the majority
leadership the Republican and fusion
members decided to separate the leadership
and the craftsmanship of the Finance Com
mittee, two places that have been held by
the same man since 1903 This made places
for both Bolles and Curran. who were the
leading candidates for the leadership.
In many ways the craftsmanship of the
Finance Committee IS a more important
post than that of leader. Under the char
ter he is member of the Sinking Fund
Commission. and the charter proposed last
fall would have made him a member of
AI1o
and Curran have a thorough understand
ing and will work together I'm perfect har-
mony.
The following we're named as steer
ing committee to make nominations for
the various standing committees of the
board and 10 suggest amendments to the
rules. Aldermen Nicoll and Dotzler, OF
Manhattan; Aldermen Downing and Die
mer. of Brooklyn: Borough President Miller
of The Bronx and Alderman Shipley. of
Queens. This committee will probably re-
main the permanent Committee on Rules.
with the substitution of some Bronx man
for Borough President Miller. who win not
be able to devote the time required for the
routine work.
The Steering" committee will probably
report on the standing committees at the
meetirg for organization on January 1. but
probably will not have the new rules ready
for presentation until the following meet
ing. on January Q.
There were only a few sbsentees al the
caucus yesterday. and. as It was expressed.
they were accounted for" In other words,
there were no fusion members absent be
cause they had been won over by the blan-
dishments Of Tammany. II was said that
the efforts Of Tammany 10 break up the
fusion majority had been unavailing, and
# was not expected that they would lose a
single man.
Alderman Demer. Of Brooklyn the oldest
man in point Of service in the board. pre-
sided Borough President McAneny, speak
ing for the Manhattan delegation, moved
that the posts Of ma iority leader and chair
man Of the Finance Committee he sepa-
rated. He said there was much work 10 be
done by the new board. and that IT would
be advisable in many ways TO have sepa-
rate men for such important places. IT was
said that there was not the slightest OBJ
lection 10 the idea
Alderman Davis. OF Manhattan. moved
that Bolles he selected as majority leader
and Curran as chairman Of the Finance
Committee. The election was unanimous
Alderman Downing spoke Of the Brook
lyn situation. and said they had not been
able to agree on a candidate for vice-chair-
man. but hoped n do so at the adjourned
caucus Of their men next week.
general discussion as to changes In the
rules followed, in which most Of the old
members of the board participated
Alderman Bolles is a lawyer and lives in
the sd Assembly District, of which Collin
II Woodward is leader.
Alderman Curran is a graduate Of Yale
and is a lawyer. For a time he was
newspaper man. and later was senior part
ner in a publicity firm. He has severed
the latter connection. and says he purposes
To devote all his time to his duties as chair
man Of the Finance Committee Of the
board
He entered politics as organizer Of
Young mems club for the election Of otto
T Barnard as Mayor Last year he made
a stiff fight for Congress against Congress
man Fornes. Six months ago he was
elected to the Board Of Aldermen 10 sue
ceed Tristan r Johnson. He lives in the
25th Assembly District.
No npCJSTON TN RAPNES CASE