New-York tribune., 1914-12-21
ORDERS PROBE OF
ELECTIONS BOARD
Mayor Asks Wallstein to
Investigate Acts and
Appointments.
AMENDMENT IN LAW
MAY FOLLOW REPORT
Old Gaynor-Kane Feud May be
Revived in Discussion of
Nomination Right.

An inquiry into the New York City
Board Of Elections, which may result
i'm a report recommending an amend
ment Of the law governing the ap-
pointment Of its members, has been
instituted by Leonard NJ. Wallstein,
Commissioner of Accounts, at the re-
quest Of Mayor Mitchell.
The Honest Ballot Association has
written to each member Of the Board
Of Aldermen, asking that no appoint
mcnts to the Board Of Elections be
made until the end of Commissioner
Wallstein's inquiry.
Although the chief complaint OF the
Honest Ballot Association is that JACOB
4. Livingston is chairman OF the eX-
ccutive committee of the Kings County
Republican Committee, as well as Com
missioner of Elections, and as Com
missioner Of Elections passes upon ap-
pointments made by him as chairman
of the executive committee, the scope
of Commissioner Wallstein's investlga-
tiou is not limited 10 the personnel OF
/ the Board Of Elections.
IL is probable that the manner OF
the appointment of the commissioners,
as well as their conduct in office, Will
be the subject Of inquiry, and that the
old feud between the late Mayor Gay
nor and the Brooklyn Democratic or
ganization as to the appointment OF
! Commissioner James Kane will be re-
vived.
In its preliminary stages the inquiry
will proceed upon documentary evl-
dencc. Later there may be a public
hearing.
1T Will be a thorough investigation
and OF wide scope said Commissioner
/ Wallstcin last night. Further than
that cannot discuss it at present"
The Gaynor-Kane dispute, which, 1t
I is believed, will furnish some of the
| ammunition for the present inquiry,
was in 1911. At that time the law
/ gave 10 the Mayor the right OF ap-
/ pontment Of the members Of The
/ Board OF Elections. The -ecommenda-
/ ton or nomination came then, as now,
/ from the Republican and Democratic
, organizations. Although Kane was
| duly nominated by the Brooklyn DEM
/ ocrats, Mayor Gaynor appointed j.
/ Grattan Mcmahon, a Brooklyn attor-
ney, to the board.
The fight for Kane was carried to
/ the courts, and in August the Appellate
/ Division upheld his appointment In
/ the mean time the Legislature, having
an eve to the future and other recall
citrant Mayors, vested i'm the Board Of
! Aldermen the power which had been
the Mayors.
I'm asking the aldermen 10 defer sc-
ton on the recommendations until
Commissioner Wallstein has made his
report, the Honest Ballot Association
writes:
I'VE believe that his report will
throw much light upon the qualiiica-
/ tious Of the commissioners, and will be
a valuable aid to you in making your
appointments to the Board Of Elec-
tons
According to the legal experts Of
the Honest Ballot Association, the
Board of Aldermen is not required to
make it's appointments Immediately.
The present incumbents will hold Office
until appointments are made. They
are Jacob A. Livingston, James Kane
/ and Moses Mckee. All three have
/ been recommended for resppointment,
and John V. Coggey has been recon-
mended as the successor TO the late j.
| Gabriel Britt.
Another bit of contemplated leeis-
laton caused a stir in Brooklyn yes
terday. Il was said that an amendment
to the tax laws Of the state and a com
pletc reorganization of the State Board
of Tax Commissioners, now controlled
by Tammany leaders, were 10 be at
tempted by the next Legislature.
Thomas f. Byrnes, of Brooklyn, is
chairman of the board, and John f.
/ WOgan, another Brooklyn Democrat, IL
a member Of the board.