The Daily Morning Journal And Courier

NEW ALDERMANIC BOARD OFFICERS AND IMPORTANT COMMITTEES FOR REPUBLICANS.

A Strict Party Vote, But Through the Courtesy of the Republican Members, the Democrats Get a Representative on the Finance Committee.

The board of aldermen for the year 1896 was organized last evening by the election of James H. Macdonald of the Tenth ward for president. Not a chair was vacant in the board when Mayor Hendrick's gavel fell as the signal for order. The twelve new members were sworn in and the business of the board proceeded to the close without a jar.

Edward A. Street, the present assistant city clerk, was chosen his own successor. The democratic members presented the names of Alderman John H. Moore for president and Sylvester Chase of the Register for assistant city clerk. Party lines were tightly drawn, and there was no deviation from the caucus plans of both parties.

George W. Bromley did all the nominating for the minority party. Aldermen Belden and Murray, who were appointed tellers, had but little difficulty in counting the vote. The present page, Hawley W. Lincoln, was re-elected over Bernard McManus, his democratic opponent. The republicans nominated William H. Forsyth for the first member of the finance committee, which was followed by the naming of Edward A. Rourke by the democratic leader, G. W. Bromley. It was at this point that the republicans showed their generosity, and through President Macdonald extended the courtesy of one member of the finance committee to the democrats, making a short seconding speech to Mr. Rourke's nomination, and also a motion directing the clerk to cast the ballot for Messrs. Forsyth and Rourke for the aldermanic representatives on the finance committee.

There was not the least surprise manifested when the election of sealer of weights and measures had been arrived at and President Macdonald asked that the election be postponed till the next meeting of the board. The courtesy was granted without objection.

The republican caucus had agreed upon such a course for reasons no member could be induced to divulge. This concluded the election, and the board turned its attention to listening to the reports of the mayor and the disposal of various claims incidental to the routine business of the body.

A resolution constituting Mayor Hendrick, President Macdonald and City Auditor Brown a committee to secure a loan to the city to meet the expenses of the year was adopted.

The resolution ordering the printing of the city year book embodied a clause directing that the city clerk and the auditor, under whose supervision it will be, to employ a New Haven firm to do the work.

Among the appointments were those of Henry Fleischner, M. D., and Loren H. Stannard, for members of the board of health.

For directors of the public library Alderman Arthur H. Smith and Councilman George E. Beers, Citizens A. Maxcy Hiller, Samuel R. Avis and Fred W. Skiff.

Mayor Hendrick announced the appointment of the following members for the aldermanic positions of the joint standing committees of the court of common council for the year 1896. The appointments met with no objection, and these members will represent the higher body on the committees.

Annual reports, Aldermen Brennan and Hull; appropriations, Aldermen Guernsey and Rourke; auditing, Aldermen Chillingworth and G. W. Bromley; bathhouse, Aldermen Moore and Kinney; buildings, Aldermen Hull and Smith; building lines, Aldermen Nicoll and Guernsey; claims, Aldermen Isaac Bromley and Chillingworth; commercial and manufacturing interests, Aldermen Smith and Macdonald; fire department, Aldermen Forsyth and Murray; lamps and street lighting, Aldermen Lambert and Kelley; licenses, Aldermen Kinney and Isaac Bromley; nominations, Aldermen Rourke and Stuart; numbering streets, Aldermen Murray and Toole; ordinances, Aldermen Belden and Nicoll; printing, Aldermen Stuart and Coolahan; railroads and bridges: Aldermen Macdonald and Belden; retrenchment and reform, Aldermen Toole and Brennan; sewers, Aldermen Whittaker and Forsyth; squares, Aldermen Rattlesdorfer and Kelley; streets, Aldermen Hamilton and Rattlesdorfer; water, Aldermen Parish and Moore; special auditing, Aldermen Bromley of the Sixth ward and Whittaker; public buildings, Messrs. George Phelps, Leonid W. Robinson, James Reilly; public squares, George W. Bromley, John H. Clarke.

The committee on behalf of the city appointed to audit the books of ex-Collector Theodore Tuttle was continued.

The disposal of a batch of old business which was taken up and referred to the proper committees yet to be raised in the new board next engaged the attention of the aldermen. Many of the items are of importance and many are not. They are the accumulation of several months. The report of the board of compensation was ordered printed. There is $46,000 due the city from assessments according to the report.

The board adjourned to meet on Wednesday evening, January 15.

The sealer of weights and measures will be elected on that occasion.