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


THE ANSWER.
After referring to the several petitions for
his removal to which an has been requested he
makes the following preface:
wish TO make this further general observation upon
the cause which my have thought 1t expedent
10 pulsue Ia their attacks upon II they had as
they might have DONE pointed out in simple and con-
else terms by way of specification the particulars IN
which they supposed me to be guilty of the general
charges they have made and left the supposed proofs
and evidences Of alleged misconduct to be produced
at some investigation be ordered by you, 10 would
have been enough for me- by way Of answer to inter
pose general denial of the charges aud speclneatons
reserying ANYTHING L might have TO say by
way of deiOnso until an Investigation had been
made and the results of it placed before
you. My accusers have, however. elected a
different mode Of procedure. Everything which
in their Jealous regard for the public welfare their
personal mhce toward II any they have, they could
find tending create unfdvoraole Impression OF my
official conduct they have ndustrously collected. Their
whole case with all Its proofs is exposed TO your scr-
tiny, and submitted TO your Judgment. This imposes
upon me the burden of making general answer 1t gives
me- at the time. the opportunity OF showing the
emptiness OF the charges against me- and the poverty OF
the proofs by which it sought support them and
nv accusers have paid little attention to technical FORM
shall dismiss all attention to it. l must do my ac-
cusers the justice OF saying that they have indicated IN
sufficiently clear the general charges which they
make against me; and In stating these shall borrow
from their language The charges are two in number
ana as follows:
First Gross neglect of duty In refusing TO nvesti-
gate the official conduct Of Oliver Charlck and Hugh
Gardner Police Commissioners OF the City OF New
York"
Second 80" Gross misconduct in office and abuse Of the
appointing power" in appointing oliver Cnariek and
Hugh Gardner "a Police commissioners after TIER con
for ofense nvovinga violation Of their oaths
OF office. and after various charges mad been made
against Them without first investigating such charges
NEGLECT TO ORDER INVESTIGATIONS.
The first charge against me. then is that nave been
guilty OF neglect duty ain refusing investigate the
Official conduct OF Oliver Charick and Hugh Gardner
Police Commissioners"
freely admit II 10 5e duty to be active and vigil
ments OF the government OF the city and when any
charge Of official misconduct or ncapacity on the part
of any officer subject TO removal by me- is before
me nv resnonsbe persons who avOw themselves ready
and ahie 10 substsnate II, 10 afford them the Opp0Iu
nitv In satisfy me of the truth of such charges The
ordinary duties OF nv office, however furnish me with
incessant occupations the contingent fund allowed TO
me ont of which such expenses those which attend
an investigation must be paid is very moderate, and
REQUIRES careful hushanGlng II Il not Incoming or
wise ~ assume without pressing occasion, the office OF
both accuser and Judge Officers charged with the re-
spon sihc conduct OF important pubic business are
more lkey ~ perform Their duties well when they
treated win generous confidence instead of busy and
easily aroused suspicion; ana IL Is Ordlhary sale 10
Yrc.,,ne tIat " here no res pODsibe or is will
ing to make distinct charge there is no suustdhtla
1hes are the views upon which acted in relation to
The inquiry prosecuted by the Assembly Committee
above referred to- neither ignorant nor uhoOserN
ant OF mat proceeding. aware that 1t had been
ordered upon the motion OF member OF the Assembly
suppOsed be personally hostile 10 the POce CODls
sioncrs or some OF them; professional gentleman OF
b,gh rank and ability and distinguished for his lmpetu
osty 10 the pursuit OF public officials supposed 10 Dc
guilty OF any that the INQUIRY would be
conducted certainly not IN any frendV spirit, ana
tSesoye tbat Whatever real misconduct maadmnis
riy,fa xfSt w
CON time 10 time far my occupations gave me
Sn IN the day ionrnals such parts Of the published
,es,im1nv as seemed 10 me worth reading; but per
ceiyed nothing which called upon mc 10 ihstltuIc d
.roi into the conduct OF the Police Com
i,oner or take any other special action Here fol-
low references to minor abuses when ne n0tiCeu Du
which he claimed did not exist by the "IAiuI sunei
ance Of the Commissioners
The Committee did not IN their report stare single
particular or thing IN which the conduct OF
81 tbe Commissioners, any one OF them was I'M
peached. They netne: pointed out nor aitempted 10
n0int out any thing done or omitted 10 ne dOue which
II nroyed 10 be true would have JUSTIFIED the removal
of the Commissioners or any one oil them. anu yet
a. s ha6 D,sde AZ tley declare searching IN
SV , ;nto the whole subject personally examined into
Inc working OF the bureau IN all Its details, telt &C
onts hoafs and papers mad personally inspected the
ouhiic streets and had examined a great number OF
Witnesses and taken great amount OF testimony.
" f,er ali rhis thew could md nothing implicatlDg the
T hebsvior or Integrity of any Of the Commissions
rs which they willing to set down IN "rlting over
,he,r name surely not called upon from any thlhg
td in their report proceed in the absence OF any
charge upon investigation OF the cohuuc' Vi TIC
Commissi6ns with "a view 10 their removal
The real test OF the efficiency OF the Foee boaiu IN
en- rsnect rs 10 consider the they had been
.nisbad win and the work they had accomplished and
nare the re,ults achieved by their predecessors
That they had accomplished al! "hlch Was possIpe
~, nnder Their control far from believing
ff,6inS maj rhe money expended should he made Il
produce larger results, and had no dOuot Oh tne
ence of minor abuses and causes oil lheHtlency "nIeu
io,S b"ye been indnstrously sought out and rene
sd Al the same time considered that the boaru mac
ia ,be vyork in charge less than that they wert
iaS :" accent system not Of their conIT1y anot
ana do the best they could with H. On tus WoIe,
CO. ovr oseryatIos ami the means OF Information
Y.t.A All
work had never been well done as dnIlhS inc tlHe
was IN iheiI d y Heelt6 showing thai the work
street-ceaning WAS well periormed.J
ACTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
But IL Is further pointed out IN the "charges and
specincatons u my that the Board of Alder
men soemny requested me TO suspend ana remove the
Police Commissioners and that have grossly neglected
INV official duty not nsiitutlDg an Investigation lbto
their conduct when thus called upon. . -
desire 10 speak o; every branch OF the government
-, ms CITY with the consideration and respect when
6ecomes its chief gisrate TO exhibit heed only
observe that the Aforementioned resolution, calnI
% ,re 70 remove the Police Commissioners, without
even going through the form OF an InNeeiEduon WA
nreeeded 6y the recital, us sole fonnGaIlon, OF 20,
oirv before the Assembly Committee, ana the oplD0I
of that Committees; and, with thls oDser'a.op ioaN'
Won 10 form your own estimate OF the kpewledge pos
esed by the gentlemen of the Board OF AldtIheh con
oerning The subject with which they were dealing
tbeir probabe motives and OF the propey OF my ao
6ing 10 their suggestions. II have boen at all sue
cess In my endeayOr 10 show thai the acoh Vi th'
Issembiy Committee imposed upon De no duty ever
., tsitnSc an investigation the request OF tbs BoarC
of Aldermen based upon other foundation thah th,
1917 ~ mar CON sittee that should remove, wit4ou
iioYYestiSatioD need not be further considered
Tine absurdty Of this request was lhaeed' such toa'
,h,nk shoud have JUSTIFIED ia taxing no notice o.
~ aid however. address ~ the Aldermen respect
f communication In reply 70 IT, GAZING heir st.enol
w 1t tbat could not remove any head OF depart
ent erceptfor cause. and alter giving an opportunity
- he,ng heard and that this involved tne making u
" Dos cIostnc nv communication with this Language
. 70 are made by you this subject whch YOU
% orepared TO substsDtse, shall enter Oh tne
hIe ~ ~ once and determine II without unnecessary
sseiay as the facts in my judgment shall demand