New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-12
TAMMAM PLOT TO GRAB
kL|NE'S POST IS FEARED
Lively Fight Promised in Board
of Aldermen to Elect a New
Vice Chairman.
BOWLING AFTER THE OFFICE
Three Votes in Estimate Board
at Stake-Esterbrook, Brook
Ign, and Folks and Becker,
Manhattan, Candidates.

! Who will succeed Ardolph l.. Kline as
vice-chairman and Acting President or
! the Board of Aldermen? This question
Will precpitate a sharp fight in the board
between the Republicans or fusionists and
the Democrats. The stake is the three
votes Of the President of the Board OF
! Aldermen I'm the Board OF Estimate. The
fusionsts have paper majority of three
40 to 37-but Tammany Hall is already
plotting TO secure the office
/ II was feared by some that, both the
office Of President of the Board of Alder
men and that of vice-chairman of the
/ board being vacant, there would be no
way OF providing for a successor TO the
/ Mayoraty i'm case Of the ncapacity or
death OF Mayor Kline.
Corporation Counsel Watson set these
fears at rest last night in an opinion, IN
| which. after speaking OF the succession
OF Mayor Kline, he said that the Board
OF Aldermen must proceed TO elect an
other vice-chairman, who would become
acting President OF the board and as
sumo all the duties OF the President in
! the Board Of Estimate as well as I'm the
! Board OF Aldermen. The statement OF
| the Corporation Counsel is as follows:
THE provisions of law which are con-
| trolling in the situation presented are con-
| tanned in Section % OF the Greater New
York Charter. which reads;
Charter Provision on Vacancies.
Whenever there shall be a vacancy in
the Office OF Mayor, or whenever, by rea-
son Of sickness or absence from the city
the Mayor shall be prevented from at
| tending to the duties OF his ONCE. the
/ President Of the Board Of Aldermen snail
act as Mayor and possess all the rights
and powers of Mayor during such dis
I ability or absence In case OF vacancy
! he shall so act until noon OF the first day
Of January succeeding the election at
which the Mayors successor shall be
chosen.
| 1t shall not be lawful for the Presi-
/ dent OF the Beard OF Aldermen when act
/ ing as Mayor In consequence OF the SICK
! ness or absence from the city OF the
| Mayor. 10 exercise any power OF appoint
ment 10 or removal from office unless
| such sickness or absence OF the Mayor
| shall have continued thirty days, or 20
/ sign. approve or dlsapprove any ordi-
! nance or resolution unless such sickness
ar absence shall have continued at least
| nine DAYS The Board OF Aldermen shall
elect a vice-chairman 10 preside over us
meetings. who shall possess the powers
and perform the duties Of the PRESIDENT
Of the Board OF Aldermen. when the Pres
ident is sick. absent or under suspehsioh'
or while the President OF the Board OF
Aldermen Is acting a. Mayor. or "heh
vacancy occurs Ia said office. and VINO
shall during such time, be member Oh
avery board OF which the President OF
said Board OF Aldermen is a member by
virtue Of his office
While this language does not express!
| or with entire precision meet every eune'
Gency or situation which might arise
am clearly OF opinion that the contempt
ransous vacancies in the offices oil Mayor
and President OF the Board oil Aldermen
the frs, arising by death and the latter
| BY resignation. devolve the once o'
| Navor together with the rights, powers
| du,ies and enoluments Of that ONCE, upon
| the vice-chairman Of the Board OF AIuet
! 80, ubo thereby becom,s Mayor until
I noor On the LIST day OF January succeed
ing the election at which his successor
shall he chosen. The Hon. Ardolph i.
| Kline is now the Mayor OF the CITY ol
| New York. and will remain such uhtiI MS
| successor shall be chosen by the electors
! OF the city.
ct follows. therefore. that there Is now
vacancy in the Office OF President OF the
Board Of Aldermen. vacancy IN the
| office of yice-chairman Of the board ana
likewise a vacancy in and for the alder
| manic district from which former vice.
Chairman Kline was elected as alderman.
THE presidency OF the Board OF Alder
man cannot. OF course, be filed except BY
| On elec,ion on a general ticket by the
qualified voters OF the city at the same
time and for the same term as prescribed
for the Mayor; but the Board of Alder
| men may now proceed to elect d ne"
yice-chairman. who will possess the pow
ers and perform the duties OF the fresi-
dent of the Board OF Aldermen SAID new
Is elected vce-chairman becoming
member of every board of which the
President Of the Board OF Aldermen is a
member by virtue Of his office.
THE vacancy in the aldermanic board
| 10 reouired TO be filled by election by
majority of all OF the members elected
thereto. the person 50 elected to be OF
the same political party as the member
whose place has become vacant.
bowling Seeks Coveted Post.
Frank l.. Bowling, leader OF the Tam
many minority In the Board OF Alder
men. was said to be Boosting last night
that he had won over two Of the fusion
members and would have himself elected
vice-chairman. on several occas'onS,
notably the consideration OF the report OF
the special police investigating committee
he was able to swing enough votes Tor
Tammany victory.
Candidates have sprung up like mush-
rooms among the Republicans. some
thought that Henry III. Curran was
the logical candidate He told his
friends however. he would make no
fight for the place. y. Grant Esterorook'
of Brooklyn. who was defeated by Kline
for the place on the organization oil the
present board, is an active candidate ne
claims il on the ground that Brooklyn mas
always had the vice-chairmanshlp' "hiie
Manhattan has had the Craftsmanship OF
the Finance Committee. The three votes In
the Board of Estimate have been the lure
to attract many candidates in Manhattan
Pal Folks leader of