New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-06

On Oct. 10 the Commissioners OF Police is
I'd the following general order to all the police in this
city:
II is ocnse against the laws Of the United States
o1stUict or Interfere with Supervisors Of Elections
lied states Deputy Iarshals in the performance Of
q 'ired by them They about 10 verify the lists Of
sons who have registered aud have the right TO verify
tive places assigned by the registered persons their
-lbsequently Nov 2, they issued the order to tho
po ice, detailing two patromeu duty each Of the
Hing places These 10 he instructed keep order
in the street especially in the vicinity Of the polls and
about the election booths and boxes promptly
al persons violating the provisions OF the Election law
aid charge them with the Oifcnse committed TO enforce
te observance of the provisions Of the Excise law pro-
hoiting the selling giving away OF intoxicating
liquors. the day "when any election is held" within
quarter of mile Of the place where the election is
held To protect all persons who may be legally act
inc in orderly ckallcugers at any poll of
election to prevent the erection OF, and to rem6ye,
erected any box booth, structure for distributing
ballots within $50 feet OF any polling place.
These Instructions Of the Commissioners OF Police TO
their subordnates appear 10 have given considerable
alarm to the Democratic authorities, and the result has
been two conferences between Mayor WicSam and the
Corporation Counsel, Mr.. Whitney, the one side and
tie Police Commissioners the other aud subsequently
between the aforesaid persons and john l. Davenport.
Supervisor Of Elections, United States DistctAttorney
Bliss, and Marshal Fiske. On Saturday morning the
uouucement made in TIE TRIBUNE that this year,
for the first time the history Of the Police Board,
honest Commissioners would see that the elections
fairly conducted and that the police, instead Of being
used in the interest OF Tammany Hall. they had been
under Henry Smith and other Police Commissioners,
would supplement the efforts OF the United
states MAJ shals 10 prevent fraudulent voting.
This declaration which authorized only by the pub
lie action Of the Police Commissioners, gave instant
muncaton was had AZ once with Mayor Wiekham
and others and the result that the Mayor
med by Corporation Counsel Whitney visited Police
Headquarters, and summoned the four members Of the
Police Commission to meet them I'm President Smiths
room. II is not known with absolute postvcness what
occurred at tins meeting, except from statements sub
sequcntly made at another conference at which
others than the Commissioners and Mayor Wick
ham aud Mr.. Whitney were present According
the statement made TO THE TRIBUNE, It appears that
Mayor Wckham declared that in appointing the Police
Board BE- had insisted upon having absolutely
partisan board and that he called uIon Messrs Wheeler
and Errardt, the two Republican Commissioners, to
va 10y meant by declaring that the Police Of the
city were to under the orders Of the United States
Marshas and Supervisors Election, aud that they
were obey the orders OF these officials in Grresng and
conveying 10 the satiOnAOuse all persons detected IN
Illegal voting MeSsrs Wheeler and Erlardt called the
attention the Mayor to the fact thai the laws Of the
United ststc' authorized the United states Marshals sta
toned at the election polls arrest upon warrants any
persons guilty of Illegal registration and that it was
made the duty every citizen and particularly Of every
citizen official character, such the police bore TO
aid in enforcing the law against those fr uuently reg
istcgci.
Mr. Whitney came the rescue Of the Mayor, and In.
sise Gat il was the right OF each and every person thus
pointed by The United States Marshas to his
vote into he b1llotbox; that it be counted for
whatever candidate it cast. and that II should be
counted notwithstanding the investigation might subse-
quuy establish that fraudulent. This constuc-
ton OF tie law instantly rcpudiacd not only by Mr..
Wheeler and Mr. ErhaId but by Mr. Nicho. ana Presi-
dent Smith Of the commission ana the conference
suited in nothing. Later in the day Mr. Wirhham tee-
C.aphc TIE Police Commissioner, to remain al the head
quarters until he could them, but finally further CON
ference was postponed until last evening.
THE CONSULTATION OF SUNDAY EVENING.
The con crcnce was resumed at the residence
OF G., 81 T. smith, No 10 East Fosty-.rstst about 10
o'cl,c, la. evening, and at o'clock tins morning had
not been concluded. There prcsen, Mayor Wick
hlm ana Corporation Counsel whitney, representing the
city; President Smith and Commissioners Wheeler, En-
1r'. ap Nichols OF the Police Boatt and Supervisor
Davenport DistI!ct-Attorcy George Bliss, and United
states MARSHAL Fsie the part OF the Government
lir whitney took The same general ground which he
had lo'' on saturday, and submitted iong written
opinion q. support OF his position This Va very eabo-
Commissioner Davenport worry quietly pointed out
the lacf that il based VeIy largely on the
sirpos uu that the Supervisor of Elections pro-
ceadiug 90 act Ter the law Of 1870 when in fact he
w.- a,.!u. 10y authority f amended laws passed by
C.a.rcss iu 1871 These were thyu consulted, and
flr.u discussion cusucd the rcsu: aud nature OF which
colldu,t be obtained.
sir Wh;.py and the Mayor insisted very streEuously
trt the construction 10 be put the laws permitted the
person accused II purpose 10 vote frauduenty to de-
o. $50 has vote before being sed aud that the vote
shall bc counted even though IL should u!sequenty
prove 10 have been fraudulent To this construction
of the luw IL was understood Gen Smith aad COM
missioner Nichols assentcd, though 1t is not
positive that they gave fall consent to tho
IA .,, G.! 20 resolution in accordance herewith Messrs
wheeler and Erharlt mcomp romi~iugiy opposed
90 INV sch traction Of the law aud insisted that
tine ;. t 60 arrest FOR fraudulent registration by mar
su.s w4tu proper warrants und.sputcd, and that
the arrests could be made before the day
oi election at any time before after the vote was de-
roscd Ia the OF others suspected OF fraudulent
r-rosc g vote. tie United states marshals duly
authorized 10 prevent rs well as 20 arrest Tor such fraud.
b. Wa. dcI>tOod yesterday that a large number OF
deputy s.criT- had been sworn in special OFF,
ccls in The interest OF Tammany Han, ana that
thr ats had been made that If the United
S.a,es WarsEals prevented any persons from
ypu. they would in be arrested. Commissioner
Davenport on beng inior.ned Of this reported
m ruoj 20 the authorities at WasHn aud asserted
tiat II necessary to secure honest election he
authorized 10 appoint 5000 marsAals or many more
40 were needed.
2H.m.-TAc conference concluded In arranging terms
satisfactory to United States authorities. Tie order
OF tie police viii stand and tine laws be faliy aud faith
tuIiy enforced.
ADDRESS OF THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS COM
MirrEE.