Year: 1870

Tne last INK but one has been ADDED 10 the chain
OF legislative administrative and executive depart
ments under the new order Of things in the govern
ment OF the city and county of New York. In ae-
cordance with law, the Aldermen elected at the late
special election assembled at yesterday in the
chamber OF the Board Of Aldermen, for the purpose
Of organizing. Just the last stroke OF twelve was
sounding. Mayor Hall entered the ROOM struggled
through


THE CROWD


which nlled the chamber in every part, and assembled
the platform at the Presidents desk. The crowd
was remarkable one. indeed, and embraced all
sorts and sizes of New York politicians. Some did
not know enough to remove their hats, and others
were puffng strenuousy at the worst possible cigars
They filed the lobby and the space behind the Alder
mems chairs and gazed with eyes and mouths wide
open on the surroundings.


Mayor Hall, on reaching the desk. raped with the
gavel, and comparative order having been obtained
SAID that as Mayor Of the city Of New York he had
been served by the County Clerk with copy OF the
certificate OF election of the gentlemen chosen to act
as Aldermen for the city. He then read the certin-
cate as furnished by County Clerk Loew, and re-
quested the Aldermen elect VINO were present to
appear before the desk and take


THE OATH OF OFFICE


The Aldermen then arranged themselves In three
groups, those IN each group holding one hand the
Bible, except Alderman Hart, who held up his right
hand ana held mis- hat in his left hand. The group
at the right OF the chamber comprised Aldermen
Hart Irving, Reilly Conan and Cuddy at the left OF
the chamber Aldermen Plunkltt ONeil, Schchting,
Mitchell and McKiever, and at the middle OF the
chamber, at short distance back of the other
groups, stood Aldermen Woltman, Charlock, Dimond
ana Welcn lie then sald:-You each and all of you
severay swear that you will support the constitu-
firn nnftb Trnita
State of New York. and that you will discharge the
duties OF Alderman or the city Of New York to the
best Of your ability.


THE SCENE


was unique and remarkable, ana one the like OF
which has not occurred in years and may never be
witnessed again. There was death-ike stiffness
while the May or pronounced the words OF the official
OATH and then as each member kissed the Holy Book
the restraint upon the crowd seemed to become
loosened by degrees and soon murmurng Of whis.
pers crept over the assemblage. The Mayor, having
completed his portion or the work. descended from
the rostrum when the Clerk, Mr.. Shannon, called
the Board to order and announced that as Clerk OF
tile Common Council the duty of calling the Board
to order devoved upon him and that he avail ted the
pleasure OF the Board. The roll then called and
oil the Aldermen elect, except Mr.. Jerome, an
swered to their names.


Alderman IRVING then offered the first resolution,
providing that for the purpose OF organization AL
derman Hart be chosen as temporary President.
The resolution was adopted and Alderman Hart took
the Presidential seat.


Alderman REILLY then offered resolution prOvid-
ing that Alderman Thomas Conan be chosen as
permanent President OF the Board for the year 1870.
This resolution was also adopted.


Alderman WOLTMAN moved that committee OF
three be appointed to conduct the President to the
chair.


Alderman IRVING moved as an amendment to
make the committee two instead of three. The
amendment was accepted and the motion adopted


The CHAIR then appointed Aldermen Woltman
and Irving as such committee. They escorted Mr..
Conan to the chair in due form, and he having been
formally received by the temporary President Al
derman Hart addressed the Board as follows:-


GENTLEMEN-To say that am deeply grateful for
this mark OF your partiality but family conveys my
sense OF the obligations am under to you; it is the
fourth consecutive time this nigh honor has been
conferred upon me by my associates in the Board of
Aldermen, and trust any display OF egolsm may
make pardOnabie In this II under any circumstance,
Will he overlooked by your kind indulgence / have
always regarded the position OF a member OF this
Board the highest branch OF our local legislature
as second IN importance to but very few II any OF
the representative Offices in the gift Of the people OF
any state or subdivision OF State III this Union of
States. The constituency OF some Of the crcum-
scriDed wards districts OF this city, as formerly
represented by individual members of this Board,
equal if they did not exceed in population,
commercial and g. other industrial interests,
was, consequently, in excess Of the interests,
numerically and commercially, represented by two
Senators from such States In the Senate Of the
United States. This fact invested the office OF
Alderman, in the city, with an importance and dig
nly really exceeded by no other office within the gift
OF the people. An entire and radical change, how.
ever has taken place in the character Of the Office
OF Alderman For the first time in the history OF this
ciy-at least since Its incorporation under the char
Ter OF lO46-tue represent alive character of This
branch OF the city government has been changed.
Since tnat period the members OF the Board Of Alder
men nave been chosen to represent certain political
subdivisions OF this city known as ''wards' ''ds-
rcts" but by an act OF the Legislature Of this State,
OF the city OF New York." passed April S, 1870,
ward and district lines, as respects the member
Ship OF TINS Board, have been entirely obllterated,
ami each Alderman Is now the direct repre-
sentative OF the people Of the entire city, certainly
over 100000 in number and charged in great
measure with the care OF the whole OF the great
varied and innumerable interests the wealth. ex.
tensve commercial relations and vast mechanical,
artistic, scientific and other Industrial pursuits
tered within its corporate limits. This radical
change greatly Increases the responsibility OF the
office, adds proportiOnately TO its importance and
dignity and imposes upon u.s. individually and col
ectiyely, graver duties more direct accountability,
closer application to- and greater crcumspection in,
the exercise OF our new and enlarged legislative
functions, in order to render the change advahta-
geous and effective. Success or failure is in our
own hands. Let us be equal to the performance OF
every duty, the care OF every interest the promo.
ton OF every industrial pursuit Large expectations
have been formed and exist in the public mind OF
an economical, yet lmproved-cOnservatve,
yet wise-enghtened yet careful-libera, yet fru-
gal Qn this connection not really though apparently,
paradoxicaD administration OF the government en-
trusted to us, under our new and reorganzed (may
we not say regenerated y municipal legislature.
We must not disappoint the reasonable and just ex
pectatlons OF the public, in this regard we hope
for continuance OF the public favor. That you Will
persistentiy endeavor c0nscientiously to perform
every duty nave no doubt, and that you Will sue
ceed, thereby securing the reward of an approving
conscience and the commentator OF grateful con.
stltuency, Is my most earnest wish. Repeating my
assurances OF thanks and expressions OF gratitude
to you, gentlemen, for the high distinction conferred
upon me in selecting me TO preside over your deb-
eratons and trusting that the personal and Official
relations now commencing may be OF the most init
mate, friendly and mutually pleasing and agreeable
character, await the further pleasure OF the
Board.


On resolution Of Alderman DTMoND Mr.. John
Hardy was elected Clerk OF the Board.


On motion OF Alderman fLuNKITT Terence p.
Smith was elected Sergeant-atArms.


On motion OF Alderman CHARLOCK Cornelius Cal
laghan was elected Assistant Scrgeant-at- Arms.


On motion OF Alderman HART committee OF three
was appointed to walt on the Mayor and inform
hlm that the Board had organized and was ready to
receive any communication he might have to make.