New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-19
COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS.

Police Commissioner Joel b. Efhardt returned
10 the city on Monday evening, after an absence Oh 5s'
ersl DAYS aud yesterday resumed his dutes al romeo
HEADQUARTERS In answer to questions concerning 'He
threatened removal Of the Police Commissioners rom
Office, he said:
hove nor troubled myself much about this matter
Tho ,,,rious yOundircs OF the Excise Law ana me
verbal pouDding Of the Police Commissioners Tor Gu
forcing IT, have been OF less consequence 10 my mh'
than the plain duty which the law requires OF me- by
form OF Office expired some months ago. p''
5otorn,ired TO 20 forward IN the performance
Of my duties until my successor was appomieu' nv
integrity has not been questioned believe ana II IN
matters of discipline l have been Judged TO De TOO
severe Of times, no one can deny that my
s,verv has been fairly distributed, ana without iaVo
ism. II is nonsense that have unduly influenced
,, ,,.r,tcr ~ the Police Board Those persons who
are acquainted with the other gentlemen OF the board
know very well that these gentlemen are not Of the kind
m be uuduly influenced in several matters Of
discipne for which / have received credit
nv action was taken at the suggestion Oh
the other commissioners. In matters relating TO
arrests DO one commissioner has any power except win
the cooperation OF the other commissioners PERSONALLY
have more power 20 MAKE afit't' thh any pll'dte
citizen. The Board Of Police cannot MAKE arrests
except through the police force. We can not 60
~ arres, d voIator Of the law. We can only dismiss
from the force an oicer VINO ias 70 maze arrests When
it his duty 10 arrest ON; ihslc.I95 ~ 1I
along been 10 arrest al persons found violating The
do not sec how we can be charged with capricous-
ness % added Commissioner Erhardt, when we reeIate
such Instructions "a reference 90 special Violations OF the
Law. II il is asked why we d0 not insist
on the enforcement OF the Excise Law sooner
I reDIv that until Judge DAVIS mad given his
deo-.i IL was useless for policemen TO make arrests
for violation " the Excise Law. Tie prisoners were
dt.,ni.-cd and the efforts Of the police 20 enforce
the law ONLY resulted in ridicuie. The liquor
the law vas not enforced enough, bat because II Is
enforced now. II Is easy enough % understand the
whole trouble you consider what Immense inter
estS are affected by enforcement OF the Excise Law
Why II an the quOr IN the city were strung
together thew would line both sides Of Broadway
from the Battery 10 KIngsbridse, and half way back
I again There are ali about 100 saloons, with an
make solid frontage OF about thrtyseyen miles. nearly
three times the length Of this island Then there are
he breweres outside Of the city To he taken account or
Isit any wonder, when such immense business a. this
il Dterfered WITH that great pressure should be
erted with the authorities 10 stop the enforcement VI
the Excise law
cusicn may like 10 enforce an obnoxious law but
tbe are compelled perform the duties which the law
fegures OF place themselves II danger OF be
iug indicted II Iamnauy Hall eIeTs itself In the In
forests OF the IuOr dealers n does IN opposition %
tho law OF In, state do not know what Mayor Ely will
40 but know the last act OF the present Board OF
Police will be the enforcement OF the laws as they are
found on tho statute books"
The views Of Commissioners wheeler and Nichols have
oIregdv been published IN THE TRIBUNE. They claim
that no other line OF duty lay open 10 them that the
fault Is IN the law, and not in them. spasmodic raids
had not been anticipated but the commissioners could
hardly be expected 10 furnish common sense 10 the Pc
ItfrTO