The New York herald., 1876-01-02
THE POLICE BOARD.


AcTIoN-coMPosITIoN OF THE COMMITTEES
Mayor wickham succeeded in creating a eenuipe
New Years sensation by the removal Of Messrs DIS
becker and Massel and appointing in their stead such
undeniable republicans Joel b. Erhardt and De Witt
Clinton Wheeler. Politicians especially democratic
politicians asserted that h open bid for the
support OF the Custom House wing Of the republican
party. The Mayor is said desires to concate tho
aforesaid influential clique order strengthen him.
self much possible against the proposed aters-
tion In the law authorizing the election Of local
officers by elections in the spring He is fearful they
assert that his term OF oGics will be shortened,
and proposes to fortify his position by all
the his power. II tho project for
the spring election for local officers should become
law it is believed shat the people will be likely
90 proper representation in the municipal dc
partments than they have hitherto been able to do
when the interest OF the local canvass has generally
been overlooked in the presence Of con.
curing national and State with their wider
Gelds and general excitement II s even asserted
by politicians OF positive CONVICTIONS that sho
action OF the Mayor the result Of distinct bargain
between that gentleman aud certain influential repubh
that the Commissionershps the stipulated
equivalent paid by Mr. Wickham for assurance OF i'm
munity from republican legislative shortening Of his
term OF ollce
THOMAS C AcToS's vfRwa
Thomas C. Acton ex-Police Com issloncr called
on by a reporter at his rooms in the ST Germain
Hotel for the purpose OF ascertaining his views
corning the changes the Board Mr. Acton said that
while he did feel authorized to speak the gentle
in authority in the he was sure of this that
Mayor Wickham had inclined to show, by the names he
would place before the public, that his design
was not TO make OF the Police Department
partisan machine He (Mr. Acton had no
pleasant remarks 10 make concerning thS
personnel of Board before the changes made
He did iee however after years OF experience Pres
ldent OF the Board that was positively necessary
that its management should DO placed entirely outside
OF partisan political conditions. He bad felt first, with
all his knowledge of the work donc by Mr. Disbecker
that no was appropriate man to hold the position
! He spoke as man knowing something Of the Difficult
ties under which must act when IN the position
OF Commissioner of the Police. In the years in which
he had acted control OF the department he had found
how difficult it ill up department with Just
the right men in the right places and yet, notwth
standing all he had suffered in connection with MS
management OF the department for wears In thai
regard, he felt that the appointments would
prove all thai this community could desire OF the
mon who had been appointed by Mayor wckhsm, and
whose appointment had been approved by Governor
! Tilden he had doubt that they would be found
equal 70 the trusts reposed in them, and that they
would, without partisan considerations conduct the
department would best conform TO it, requirements
OF the merely political aspects OF the he had noh
Ing say further than that he thought well that the
! Governor and the Mayor had shown desire
place the Police department far possible IN
tagonsm to favortsm, based purely political work
| In BRIEF while sympathzng with Mr. Disbecker, he
satisfied with the changes which had been made.
Ex-coLLEcroR MURPHY.
Mr.. Thomas Murphy late United States Collector OF
Customs his residence and said that be had
nothing to personally with the changes, nor did he
think that Mr. Disbecker ought 10 have been
removed and yet he free say thai
the new appointment in entire accord
with ms notions OF the proprieties in case
had nothing whatever do with the appointments,
and yet, while regretng the retirement OF Mr. Dis
becker he free to say that he thought we'll of the
new Commissioners He believed the appointments had
made in entire accordance with expression ut
tered by Mayor Wlckham some time ago to the effect
that OF all others, the Police Department should
main, far as possible, free from partisan political
influences.
| Another prominent republican manager who did
wish his made public declared that while he had
not been consulted he believed the Governor tho
possible TO place the Police Department IN position IN
| which il could not with proprety be considered in
any degree purely political machine
nsrRiBurlos OF wokX IN THE BOARD.
General Smith, the new President OF the Board OF
Police Commissioners, held ievee in his Office at the
Central Department yesterday and for several hours
visitors who had called offer their
congratulations,
Fairly IN the morning ex- Commissioner Disbecker ar
and superintended the packing up Of his effects
his Office Tor his In short time his
room was clear OF everything not the property of tho
department, and ready 20 receive its new occupant
Long before the arrival Of any OF ths officials Mr. Dig
becker had completed his and left the building.
Mr. MaIseu did the OF his presidential
experience, understood that he word for
his books and private papers 70 be packed and for
warded 10 his residence.
The change in the Board will or course nccessitate
changes the chairmanships Of the various
mitteeS OF these there are nVe as fOilOwS:-Com-
mitee on Rules and Discipline, committee on Repairs
and Supplies, Committee on Street Cleaning, Com
mittee on surgeons, Committee Finance
In the old Coard General smith chairman OF thu
Committee Rules and Discipline; Commissioner
Voorhis of the committees OF Repairs and Supplies
and Finance Commissioner Dlsoecker, chairman OF
the committees on Street Cleaning aud Surgeons
Commissioner Mstsell was, by virtue Of his office,
member Of all committees, Is well as member OF
the Board OF Health.
OF these committees the important is the Com
mittee Rules and Discipline. Here originate all new
for the Improvement government Of the orce,
and the dictum Of the chairman is considered gen
eral thing, equivalent adoption OF the measure
supported by him The exceptions to this rule a
All requests for leaves OF absence first pass
through this committee before going 10 the full Board
places upon the table, be rcsuctated except
In extreme cases.
The next most important committee is that OF Stree,
Cleaning. The chairman OF this virtually supreme
In all matters appertaning TO his department He has
mons share OF patronage his disposal and for po
ltcSl purposes II he desires. weld, by OF
the same a great power To him the thousands Of
abOrers employed the streets in the course of the
year look for the retaining OF their places IL tho
chairman OF the Cleaning Committee is rcpub-
can than ine-tenths OF the men employed in
the Street Cleaning Bureau republicans, and vtce
versa
with the exception perhaps fhat OF Repairs aud sup
plies. The opinion OF the chairman OF thus committee
is almost law regards any alterations contemplated
station houses.
place Tuesday, the chairmen OF the various commit
tees will be appointed The following have been de-
cided upon -Rules and Discipline, Erhardt Street
Cleaning, Yoorhs; Finance and Repairs and supplies,
Wheeler; Surgeons VOorhlS Commissioner Wheeler
VIII take the trcasurershp
GENERAL THOMAS INDICATED.