Year: 1873




THE BILL LIKELY TO BE REPORTED SOON


STRONG OPPOSITION ARGUMENTS START


LING REVELATIONS "-EX-MAYoR oPDYKE


ATTEMPTS A DEFENSE.


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUYB


ALHANY March 5-The hearing on the Charter
before the Senate Committee Cities was con-
tluded at lOl o'clock tonight. The Committee are
90 meet in executive session tomorrow morning at
TO- and 1t is by impossible that the Charter
may be reported to the Senate within "a hours The
18th section. giving the executive power TO the
Board Of Aldermen will be amended so as to require
the nomination to be made by the Board IN actual
session. instead of by subscribing their names TO a
paper Aside from this minor change, the Charter
will remain substantially as ii is.


Mr. Eaton's argument before the Committee this
afternoon and evening was n powerful one lie sug
gested a series of amendments to the bill many Oh
them by way of amending and correcting the exist
ing provisions but others of great importance. His
treatment of the provisions establishing the depart
,pent of Public Works was very effective, and made
a profound impression upon the audience, which In
oluded at least two Senators not on the Committee
half dozen AsSemblymen, and about 50 citizens
After dwelling upon the enormous power with which
the department clothed, he said of MIR. Van
Mort. that if he didn't to-day occupy that depart
ment his history and his qualifications were not
such that he would be called to it.


Judge EmOtts remarks were brief but very
pointed. lie defined the issue to be whether the
offices and patronage of the municipal Government
for a few months were of more value to the Repub
hcan party than the favor and support of the think
ing people of New-York. He compared the Alder
men to insects which perish Immediately after de-
posting their larva." They had nothing of any
consequence to do after they had named the heads
of departments, and as for the Mayor he might be
dispepsed with altogether. The power of removing
heads Of departments in conjunction with the Gov
ernor did not seem to him TO deserve much COM
mendation.


Dexter A. Hawkins presented the views of the
Council of Political Reform. He also made some
startling revelations, showing that Davenport and
Bliss had been constantly plotting against Mayor
Haveneyer ever since his election, with the purpose
of creating hostility between him and the Repubh-
can party He detail ed the circumstances of Da-
venports appointment as counsel to the Board OF
Health His statements, if they can be subStan-
tiated, show the existence of a conspiracy of the
basest kind to destroy the confidence OF Repub-
lioans in Mayor Havemeyer.


Ex-MayOr Opdyke, following Mr.. Hawkins made
special plea in behalf Of the Charter, especially
the 25th section, which be SAID mature delibera-
tion he had become convinced was an " admirable"
mode Of appointing the heads of departments, al
though il was contrary to the original draft of the
Charter which he assisted in framing. He recounted
the difficulties he had to encounter in nominating
Street Commissioner when he was Mayor, and
thought Mayor Hayemeyer ought to be thankful for
any device that would relieve him from a contest
with an open Board of Aldermen.


He also expressed himself in favor of single
head TO the Department of Public Works, on the
ground that it better to have responsibility con-
oentrated in one man, thereby uncOnsciously up
settinp his whole argument in favor of yesting the
power of appointment in 10 Aldermen rather than
In the Mayor. Mr. Opdyke's remarks were con-
Trajectory and bore such palpable evidence of hav
ing been volunteered consideration for favOrs to
come, that they were utterly without weight upon
the minde of his hearers