The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-12

then 10 show cause II any exist why he should not be
removed from Office IS one OF the Police Commissioners
of the city OF New York Very respectfully.
WILLIAM H. WICKHAM, Mayor,
REPLY COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONERS OFFICE
POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CRY or New YORK
NEW YORK, october 5, 1875 }
WILLIAM H. WIcKHAM. Esq. Mayor oil New York.
SIR have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt of
your communication of the It'll inst, which has been
carefully read by me. Your Honor will bear in mind
that have twice, SINCE my appointment as Police Com
missioner addressed you IN writing and asked 10 retire
frsm tins position. While, Of course it is the most
pleasing thing retire under such charges as been
made in your letter against The Board Of Police Com
mssiouers, yet there is no question IN my mind but
that the public good comes before any private consider
alton, and, therefore, tender you my resignation
Police Commissioner only asserting my defence
that the duties which have devoved upon have been
myself the right TO forward my defence you
at a later period as a part Of this resignation | am,
sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
WM 4. SMITH.
REPLY OF COMMISSIONER vooRHs
New YORK, Oct. g. 1875.
Hon. WILLIAM II wIcKHAx Mayor
SIR yesterday received your letter of the 7th
inst addressed to all the members Of the Board Of
Police Commissioners. You do not suggest that to
any of the particular cases specifically mentioned,
any individual responsb lity, and quite
that when the facts TO each Of those all
known it will appear that personally, in those
as in all others have performed my whole duty, AS
TO the general charges against tho Department and the
Board, can only reply that have done everything
heretofore In my power to make the police force
efficient and incorruptlble. IL is evident however,
that the results fall short Of expectations and
the the condition of the Department is not
satisfactory. either the public or to me
individually, and matters are, do not
perceive how can improve the police force TO relieve
you, Mayor OF embarrassment and TO make way for
successor who may be able 70 discharge the duties Of
the position with better success, ] have the honor
hereby to tender for your acceptance my resignation Of
the Office OF Police Commissioner Of the city of New
York the resignation TO take effect upon the appoint
ment Of my successor And you will recoliect that from
time 70 time since January last, and frequent
versations with you with reference TO the deploabe
Of affairs in the Police Department have assured
you OF my readiness 70 resign the Office whenever by
doing | could help TO improve the situation. Very
respectfully, JOHN K yOORHIS
ANOTHER LETTER FROM coNElssloSEE SMITH.
Hon. WILLIAM H wrcKHAM MAYOR
Satisfactorily upon the receipt Of your letter d.
rected 10 the four Commissioners of Police, in
velope marked personal forwarded at once my
resignation-to indicate, az speedily possible, my
intention not TO hold any position Of trust moment
after expression Of wish b. the proper authority that
should surrender the Office As stated in that paper
did intend, however TO debar myself from making
my defence at later period, and propose
offer that defence will first call your attention the
fact that when you rendered the appointment: 10 be
Police Commissioner you informed mo Of the corrupt
Of morals in the force and OF the laxy Of its
cipline, and that you then expressed desire that
should take the position IN order 70 aid you in bringing
about such reformation and such a condition OF the
police iorce the citizens n New York have right
TO- You then further stated that IL your desire
make the Police Department non partisan in politics
TO takesn out OF politics altogether took time 70
consider your proposition, consulted with personal
friends much interested 10 the good government the
city, related to them my conversation with you and,
under their advice and expressed wishes accepted the
prodered trust found the outset Of my connection
with the Police Department that il
entirely upon my own Investigations 20 at any
satisfactory conclusions found a force Of over 400
men already appointed under the act creating The pres
ent Police Department not one Of whom could be re-
moved by the Board OF Police without formal presenta-
ton Of charges and regular trial. the conduct Of
which there was no power IN the Commissioners 10
compel the attendance q witnesses not members Of
the force. learned from nv experience in the court
room, at the department. IN the trial Of cases, that
false statements, made under oath, we're So common
among the members Of the force 10 throw a
doubt upon most Of the testimony given there,
unless supported by other evidence / saw, in the
Streets and in view almost Of tile Central Office every
day, open violations 81 the rules established the
conduct OF policemen while duty As the force was
thon organized, the system Of inspection loose,
aud the responsibility 0f superior officers remote
and vague for the purposes or good discipline In the
thoroughly demoralized condition Of tho force
became evident 10 me that time would be reglred to
make it effective, even By perfectly united and
efficient board
submit therefore that should not be held RESPONSE
Die for the condition Of the force be charged with
Its neficency, until a sufficient time shall have
elapsed get operation such changes as were nee
essary 70 improve the force Even II my views as to
such changes were manifestly correct, / could per-
haps, hardly expect them 70 be immediately adopted
BY those who had been satisfied with tie system al
ready IN operation when | entered office My first
effort was 70 throw open the doors for fresh appoint
ments and 70 raise the standard Of examinations
candidates LOT the position Of policemen My
second effort vas to alter materially the
methods OF administration, by rules putting clearly
defined responsibilities upon the higher officers 81 the
department. To the extent Of my inability after
strenuous Efforts to procure the adoption by the Board
Of the schedule OF rules proposed by in every
particular land the particulars we're many m which
there were ioisted upon my proposed rules amend
ments which made the whole scheme halt when lust
within sight OF the important positions I fighting
10 carry-l claim exemption from all responsibility
with reference 10 the discipline Of the force and my
protest, made at that time, and then published n
the newspapers is matter Of public record.
Ny personal relations with my official associates,
under such circumstances, became embarrassing
and pleasant coarse and offensive EXPIRE SION re-
lectlng upon me was made by the President from bis
place as presiding officer the court room the pres
ence u members Of the force, calculated to impair my
usefulness as Commissioner and found y necessary
% make my relations with that officer and my opinion
Of bis fitness for his place perfectly Ineligible During
this time addressed two notes 20 you. asking you %
accept my resignation and 70 relieve mo rom position
SO disagreeable personally and in which, with
Board so constituted, could hope to do but little
good. That you declined 10 do, urging me 70 remain
IN the hope that 1t would soon be IN your power
70 effect change in the Board which should make u
a. harmonious and efficient you had from the hrst
desired to have IT, Acting upon that request, have
remained until now member Of the Board Of Police
Commissoners-givtng 10 the service my time without
the intermlssion Of day. and whatever energy Tor
labor N such Geld / possessed. certainly did not
accept the appointment from any or personal
or agsrandzcmcn but IN the hope and perhaps under
tle behet, that could give effective help toward
Wv lelormatiOn 81 an important department OF the city
government Reference made IN your letter 10 the
\ charges made BY John y Townsend Esq against the
4 folce Board but, as the communication or Mr. Town
seuQ excepted me from the allegations contained in
then, DO not consider myself called upon 10 consume
your time or mine with the refuaton Of charges not
made against me, and relating matters with which
/ had nothing to DO
Confident therefore, that from ny record cannot DO
accused OF rosignng under charges which I'M the east
apply 70 me- beg 70 say that have resigned now only
"rder That YOU Who are. 70 4 earfsin sSnnt rcspon.