Year: 1873

| PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARDS OF ALDERMEN
THE MAYOR POwERLEss II THE PREsI-
DENTS ARE FAITHFUL TO THEIR PLEDGES.
| lPRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUskl
ALBANY, March 2O.-The Senate Committee on
Cities after sitting up all night. finally agreed on
plan of appointment ana concluded their Iabors
on the New-York Charter at about o'clock this
morning. The compromise upon which they settled
is not regarded with much pride by themselves. and
certainly will not receive much favor from any one
else. Their plan in brief is to retain the Board OF
Assistant Aldermen. and to give the appointing
| power, in case the Mayor and Aldermen cannot
agree, to the Presidents of the Boards Of Aldermen
and Assistant Aldermen, the Mayor being joined
with them to appearances, but having no power
to prevent the appointment of any person who may
receive the suages of his two associates. The two
Presidents now in Office, by new provision. cannot
be deposed during their term of office. They have
been carefully tested by the Custom-houses leaders
during the last fortnight, and have been induced it
is said, 10 pledge themselves 10 do ex-
actly what those leaders want them TO
do. Before the real work of appointment
begins the Mayor may nominate, but this nomina-
tion goes for nothing il the Board of Aldermen do
not confirm it within five days. majority Of the
Committee were deluded into accepting this
wretched juggle during the small hours of this
morning. The Mayor, it will be seen, has only the
merest shadow of power. the entire substance being
given to the Presidents of the Boards of Aldermen
All that is given him is a sort of appeal to public
opinion, which be can make by nominating men OF
high character. The Aldermen, and after them the
two presiding officers have full power TO disregard
the wishes Of the Mayor. and as a majority OF the
said Aldermen and both the Presidents are fully
committed to the Murphy-Bliss-Da Davenport party,
and have pledged themselves to carry out its de-
Al INF
the Senate Committee is less outrageous than the
swindle which young Mr.. Opdyke had the honor to
introduce and carry through the Assembly.


The following is a transcript of Sections and g.
which comprise the latest plan for giving the patron
age of the city to Messrs. Murphy Bliss and 0Bren
and their respective followers:


PRESENT PRESIDENTS OF BOARDS OF ALDERMEN RRE


MOVABLE.


sEc g. Each Board of Aldermen shall choose Presi
dent its members by call Of the names OF the
members Of the Board, upon which call each member
shall his choice; and, when once CHOSEN, he
can be removed before the expiration Of his term as
Alderman OF Assistant Alderman only oy vote taken
by a call OF Yeas and Nays OF fourafhs Of all the men,
bers the Board of which he shall have been chosen
President; provided however, that the person Who at
about the time OF the organization Of the existing
Board Of Aldermen chosen President Of said Board
the person who, about the time OF the organ





was chosen President of said Board snail each Of them
hold the Office Of President Of the Board Of which he
was chosen President until the expiration Of the term
Of Office for which respectively they elected an Al
derman and Assistant Alderman.


UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THE MAYOR MAY APPoINT'


SEC. q. Tue Mayor shall nominate to the Board Of
Aldermen the heads Of all departments and all cOmms-
sioners save commissioners Of public instruction, as
as all members OF any board or commission author
lied 10 supernten the erection repair OF any building
belonging 70 be paid for by the city whether named
In any appointed by any local authority; and also
all members Of any other local board, and al other
officers not elected by the people whose appointment is
not in this act excepted otherwise provided for II
the Board Of Aldermen within FIVE days from the day OF
the Of the nomination TO them by the Mayor Of any
person or persons 10 M any Office OF offices which by
this act the Mayor shall be empowered to nominate
person OF persons for, shall confirm any such n0mi-
nation the person nominated shall be appointed TO
I'LL the Office for (which he shall have been 30 nomi-
mated and confirmed


MAYOR BOUND HAND AND FOOT DY THE


RING"


But whenever the Mayor shall fail neglect, refuse,
within the time this act designated, 10 nominate 70
the Board Of Aldermen person persons TO MI any
office Offices winch, by this act, he shall be empowered
to nominate person persons for, whenever the
Board OF Aldermen shall not within five days from the
day the date OF the nomination by the Mayor, OF any
person persons as herein provided confirm such NOM
fnaton nominations by vote OF majority OF all the
members elected said Board of Aldermen, the Mayor,
the President OF the Board Of Aldermen, and the Pres
dent OF tue Board of Assistant Aldermen sha within
three days thereafter meet together at time and place
to be designated and agreed upon by at least majority
OF said three persons and at such time and place, and
from day 10 day and on each day thereafter until the
office Offices for which any person or persons snail
have been nominated by the Mayor and not confirmed
by the Board Of Aldermen, or for which the Mayor shall
have failed refused to make nomination, shall nave
been filed by them herein provided shall by vote
of majority Of the sad three persons proceed to name
designate, and appoint, person or persons TO Ill the
Office or Offices to which nomination or nominations
SHALL herein provided, have been made by the Mayor
and by the Board Of Aldermen, or to which
the Mayor shall have failed or refused " make nom
natiOn.


RELATING TO MEETINGS OF Tue PRESIDENTS AND MAYOR


But no appointment shall at any time be made under
the provisions OF this by the said Mayor President
the Board Of Aldermen and President Of the Board OF
Assistant Aldermen unless all the said three persons
shall be at the time attendance and present. provided
however that II any time any one OF SAID three per-
SONS shall be absent from meeting held for the pur
pose Of making any appointment or appointments,
written notice. stating the hour and place OF meeing
for the next succeeding three days. and signed by ma
oriry Of the said three persons shall be personally
served upon the person who snail have 90 been absent
or left at his usual place OF residence. and II any such
person snail thereafter be absent from the meetings 80
designated period OF two OF said designated days
consecutivey IL shall lawful for the two OF said three
persons no shall third designated day DE present
Al any such meeting 70 proceed TO MAKE any
an appointments which by the provisions OF ts ot


majority OF said persons are herein authorized 10 MAKE
| TERMS OF oFFIcE OF HEADS or DEPARTMENTS.


Every head Of department and person in this section
named except as herein otherwise provided, shall hold
his Office of x years. and ~ each case until
person duly appointed in his place The terms OF
/ a,oa of haad of den
than those first appointed shall commence on tne
first day February But The heads oil uepaitsnen.s
the VI tlh ACT,