New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-07

me 10 answer tnis cn t be vague and general way
have heretofore pointed out caeu M W p
account of the supposed disclosures tn
Committee duplicating their conuu'' wv
ciganins a. , did however in communication re-
ceiyed from them by ne on the sV h "
mo 70 the testimony taken upon tne apoNe
D " -. ann noned out parts OF 1t supposed To con
tain matter showing that tue ,nondncf Tbav aid
LIE ~ some irregularities or mlscoh"uc.' Ihey uln
@ ~ call upon me 10 direct any invesgation
offer to substantiate any ~ SUSPEND and remove
he "Reminiscences without reference 10 an ih'esuga-
u0n THE CONTEMPLATED INQUIRY DEFERRED
Tho Investigation thus contemplated py me wou'u
have been instituted Immediately, but my uut'es ~ al
times keeping me necessarily occupieu "o'o ""o, ~
expectedy burdensome in the month oi '""e' anu ''
modiaely following the sending OF the ias' ooiuiuo'
ZION nv the necessity OF attending to the revision OF .e
uon ~ ostimate and apportlonneDt Of expenditures
necessary TO be completed before Wy i, an,
,itbstandpg this however. should nave pr9Daoy el
sori 20 and some time 10 devote to such lnNestlea
tion but for these reasons Ihcso o - rosnect m
Sav,ons General election which had taken place
more than months before. lno int -, mo
hen present duties or conduct OF the Commls-
sioners not,sin my Judgment ,9e mISt, III pun
Of urgency among my duties. Moreover, was
informed that one more indictments had
been procured against Messrs Charlck and Gardner
the two Commissioners against whom the charges W.T.
nartcnlary aimed; that these indictments were within
very short period (sOOner than cOuld prosecute an
investigation 10 its cOmpetiOn) 10 be brought 10 trlal
that the leaders of Tanmany Hall had been engaged III
an industrious search for evidence to produce upon such
TRIALS and that everything which could he proved ana
thar coud he said against the accused parties would be
proved and said. 1t seemed 10 me mat slouu prood
hv he better enlightened by the developments thus
kely 10 be made in legal forum. before "a court ana
Jury than any investigation conducted bS my seI anu
under The circumstances as the delay involved was
but short, IL would be every way more expeuieht 10
await the results Of these trials. thlnK tha you WI"
agree with me that this was prudent determination.
trial of one OF the indictments, the one already re-
ferred TO- was had aud completed the goth OF June
last, with the result which have already mentioned
The question was Immediately made IN the pubic
ournas and otherwise as to the effect OF the conviction
the Commissioners upon the Offices they heid ~ was
alleged in some quarters that ii was TO create vacancies
I'm them The point indeed had been made upon the
trial and the defendants counsel had requested lhe
Court TO charge the jury that the Oneuse proved dd not
have that effect. The Judge declined To- so chafs'
saying that this question was one when ne had hotins
TO do with; that 1t must be decided ny so,no otmGI
tribunal having the power to investigate II he ~ouiI
not undertake TO say what tribunal had ths power anu
he added that he did not know there was any such.
1 received a notice from yOu indicating mat IN your
Judgment, the convection did create vacancies MY own
opinion clearly IN the other direction ana was 50
advised upon the grounds heelnDeiOre luIS stt oli
Still was under some embarrassment, as you VIII easily
understand II was, l suppose, TO relieve me frol
this that the Commissioners resigned tbrlr oces anu
vacancies were at all events then eAlstlhg
HOW SHOULD THE VACANCIES BE FILLED.
The question then arose. what course should take IN
filing the vacancies ana TO this gave as deliberate
consideration as am capable Of My impulse was 10
reappont the same Commissioners, but was not TO
WELD TO this unless was satisfied that they were MT ana
worthy and every way capable OF an efficient discharge
OF tue duties thus TO be rcImpOsed upon them. Upon
Tins my convection was firm. appointed them orIgl-
naly because believed them 10 be fit, and especially
OVer Charick whose unsurpassed energy and capacity
I'm the management of affairs, known 10 me IRON IN
acquaintance Of thirty years wished ~ put III tAe ser
wee OF the public. 49,,
had seen nothing to change that opinion. much TO
confirm it. Their administration Of official duties had
never been challenged before me. except IN two partlc
MARS first III relation he cleaning Of the streets.
ana second relation to their functions IN respect 10
eectons How utterly unfounded the first complaint
was
stood thus Tie Commissioners were required Dy law
M oTnnint tbn Insnecors of election and TO make their
selection the two great political parties as they
were divided in State issues. committee OF TWO OF
their number from each OF the political parties MAS
Amounted 10 whom this business was referred. THIS
in accordance as am informed, win precedent,
II is in this way that the different branches or the rest
of their functions are distributed ana suppose tne
case Is the same III most olher IKE bodies a., it
part Of three Commissioners against the other two to
effect This. SO Is there always combination wheh III
body OF five three vote way and two the other IL
so happened az the last election, that the Democratic
party IN this city was divided into two factions each
claiming superiority in point OF strength; one known
as The APOLLO Hall Democracy, and the other under the
control OF Tanmauy Hall On the State ticket they
OF course cach iaCtion cdlncu ah,Joit5 lnp III
speclors. and likely mat one or The other or per
of and nave never known more orderly and peaceful
one in this city, Tue pretcnse that any combination
hostile Tammany Hall had been made would seem to
be intoleraby well refuied by the general success OF
that organization. Nevertheless some OF ats cOnspcu
leaders, NudlnS lhClF utnduu-, prior 10 the
election, acccded TO by Mr.. Chafllck, were irf-
tated and came IL would appear, to the resolution To
make him feel the weight OF thcir dl-peasure. IL ap
pears that immediately afer Inc election committee
was appointed by TaInmany Han, ana provided with
counsel 10 hunt up charges against the Commissioners
and that they have been Dusy AT WORK from that time
NJ to the present. Hence the investigation before
Judge OF the supreme Court the indictments and all the
accusations IN relation 10 the conduct OF the police con
ccrning the election. The question with me was how
much OF substance ia there in all this demonstration
against these Police C0mmisslOnerSf had read care
fully the evidence developed on tIe examination before
Justice OF tho Supreme Court aud. though numbers Of
technical irregularities appeared, such as are very apt
exhibit themselves in the conduct Of Administrative
business when much has 10 be done with promptitudc
and haste discovered nothing inconsistent with the
honest discharge Of duty ana an earnest desire and en-
deayOr 10 secure a fair election
FINAL GROUNDS FOR DISAPPOINTMENT.
Upon these grounds. as well ) my confidence in
the general good conduct Of these Commissioners be-
leyed that there substance In these charges
against Messrs Charck and Gardner. AS To their con
duct in the administration Of all the other branches of
their responsible duties, I know Of complaint The
police had steadily improved in discipline and chcency
under their control There no lack OF industry IN
represslng crime ygOr In the discovery OF IT, There
had indeed been on one welknOwn occasion, criticism
on the conduct OF the police to the effect that too great
NlgOr ana severity had been exhibited. In snort saw
no reas0n-there was nOne-why should not again I'LL
these offices with the incumbens who had already
these views acted. If. this occasion, gave
heed TO voice within me which told mo that might.
ny ehe"eu expression OF my confidence do something
To save these men from that appearance of disgrace
wmch they might Otherwise wear IN the eyes of
the unrellectng crowd when they had done
nothing to merit 1t, | listened To "A monitor
which has hitherto seldom msed me, / might
indeed, by pursuing different course, have greatly
served my own comfort, slleneed much hostile
denunciaon of myself and gratihed doubtless, some
aspirations for office. But long ago learned to turn
deaf ear 10 mere clamOr, and should forever re
preached myself had sought TO my own ease by
turning my back upon men who, while engaged la the
service OF the public at instance had been made the
victims OF an unjust persecution. Whatever Others
might have thought or done under such circumstances
au nov tne man 10 permit an officer III any way subject
10 nv authority, be he high low. suffer for the Der.
Torrance Of an act III itself commendable and done In
the honest endeavOr 10 discharge his duty merely he
cause he has unwittingy committed technical rre0-
arty And now, after opportunity for further refcc
ton ana calm selt-eAaniuatOn, find hing In my
conduct making these reappontncnts calling either for
apology or regret. As TO tue circumstance that each
was appointed TO nh the vacancy created by the other
have 10 that this done evade no law but with
he la ne ma tug If