Year: 1873

WORKS, ana declared tnat there was rtaon pchnu to
political throne in this matter.


He In favor Of giving the appointing power TO the
Mayor. He said II feared he would not make ap-
pointments satisfactory TO the Republican party. He
did believe he would make any appointment which
the Republican party ought to object 10. The Rpubh
party he said had nothing TO expect from the ma
jorty in that city; but with such man as Mr.. Have
meyer the Republican party have much to expect and
win receive IT. Mr. Eaton closed with an appeal to the
Committee to consider his proposition.


MR.. HAwKINss CHARGES.


Dexter A. Hawkins TO speak, and was proceeding
to say that the gentleman preceding him had covered
ground which he intended to take up, when Senator
Woodn, Chairman Of the Committee informed him that
the Committee would be happy to hear any new ideas
which he might put forth. Mr.. Hawkins said that he
knew that and was his intention to speak OF other
matters but he sent here to speak TO this Commit
tee, and he felt 1t his duty to speak


Senator Benedct-We do not need TO have thing said
over again that has been said.


Mr.. Hawkins-I come here to represent portion Of
the people throughout the State-potcal reformers-
who have for the past three years voted with the Repub
can party and who wish to vote with it still II they
are not driven away by the action here.


Senator WOodin-Oh, content TO hear you until
u o'clock, II you have anything new to say.


Mr.. HawkIns-very well; will endeavor to be brief
He then prodeeded to that there should be pro-
that the of in the Office OF Mayor
there should not be election without ten DAYS
notice lie then proceeded 10 crtclSe the manner pro-
viding for appointments the immense powers given to
the heads of departments, the manner Of making esti
mates and the appointing power. Under this head he
detailed at length the difficulty in reference TO counsel
to the Board OF Health to show, he said how the
formers put in false position and how they had
thought Mayor Havemeyer had turned against them.
but found he had not To the contrary, the Mayor said
he had been imposed upon by arrangement entered
into between Mr. Thurlow Weed and A. OakeY Hall.
The Mayor sad he ready put the Croker out
OF Office Immediately II he could only get sufficient
Facts in the possession Of the DisricAttor
ney-facts sufficient to put this man out of office
but he will not give them. When we
asked for them told, NO We will
not give them We will hold this matter as a club over
Mayor Havemeyer. We will not give him SO great an
opportunity 10 make himself popular with the Republ
can party" Mayor Havemeyer has been put in false
position in this matter Further, he wrote to the Pres
dent that he did not think Mr. Bliss was ut person for
the office OF Dstriot-Attorney.


Mr. Hugh j. Hastings here rose and contradicted this
latter statement concerning Mr.. Bliss.


MI, Ds-DistrictAttorney Bliss told me this
himself


Mr.. Davenport-Mr. Bliss and Mr. Hawkins have not
been on speaking terms for the past three years


Mr.. Hawkns-That's nonsense l speak 10 MI Bliss
every time meet him.


Senator Woodin-Now, Mr.. Hawkins, II you confne
yourself to your proposed amendments the Committee
viii be obliged to you 1t is getting late and we cannot
give time 10 listen to these matters.


Mr.. Hawkins then closed with appeal TO the Com
mittee give the Mayor the nominating power and the
Aldermen to confirm


Dr. Samuel Hall said he was here representing the
Eighth. Ninth, and Sixteenth Wards Reierm Assoca-
ton and asked that the Aldermen be elected by dis
tcts that the elections take place in SPRING and that
the Mayor have the appointing power


CHARTER DEFENDED.


ExMayor George Opdyke was the next speaker, and
~ the necessity for reform
the local government of NewYork. He said he in
favor OF combining the voting for municipal officers TO
taxpayers He had made efforts in that direction in the
Constitutional Commission but had not met with sue
cess stl he thought that the only TO secure
good government in that city. His experience in the
city had Convinced him Of this He then referred TO the
duty before the Committee and expressed the hope that
they would succeed in securing good government 10
the city, BE was in favor Of the section which gave
the nominations 10 the Aldermen and the combinations
to the Mayor He had part in drawing that section,
and knew nothing Of it until he found 1t In the
bill He then detailed his experiences in nomi-
mating officers while Mayor Of the city, and said In one
he had named 80 men, one after another for
single office. Finally there a compromise by their
giving him a series Of names from which he Sc
lected one, and, to his surprise, the appoint
ment was made in few minutes. He said there was a
feeling Of antagonism between the present Mayor and
the Aldermen, and the result would be the same as he
experienced if he had the nomination There would be
dead-lockjust the thing do not want in NewYork.
he then detailed the action under the section as 1t stands
to show 1t the proper proceeding. For him
SELF with knowledge he had acquired in his eIpe
rence said he would rather have the power given by
this bill than absolute power


Senator Temann said he had some experience, and he
thought would be best to give the Mayor the 10
appoint and the Board confirm within five days. II
it did not confirm in five days, then the appointment
becomes absolute.
Mr.. Opdyke replied to the effect that 1t was after all
matter of opinion individual thinking way and
another thinking otherwise He then spoke OF the diff
ferept Departments, maintaining that they could be
much better managed by man than by large num-
ber. He also in favor OF Spring election. He said
be here especially to yindcate the provision
relative to the appointing power.
Mr.. Davenport then proceeded TO answer OF the
objections made by Mr. Eaton. He said the Department
Of Public Works new powers, and 10 the
appointing power he cited number OF cities where the
same mode provided for in this bill was in practice.
The Committee then adjourned to meet tomorrow
morning III Executive session.





THE MODOC TROUBLES.