The New York herald., 1877-12-19
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
Mayor Ely Demands to Know Why They
Should Not Be Removed.
NEGLECT OF THE PUBLIC STREETS.
Governor Robinson's Opinion on
the Mayors Power.

Mayor Ely yesterday afternoon took the preliminary
tens tor remoya, OF the Police Commissioners. Ru.
mors that such steps would soon be naugurated were
freely Tor the past few days, but the
Mayor come to any deanite conclusion IN the
matter until three O'Clock yesterday. Al that hour
he sent for tho representatives of the press and fur
nshed them With copies of letter which had been
sent to three OF the Police Commissloners-Messrs.
Joel B. Erhardt, De Witt G. Wheeler ana Sidney ?.
Nichols. The fourth Commissioner, General William
f. smith, is ut present in Europe. He Is expected
back about the 9th OF January. The following IS u
copy OF the important document:-
ELY's ARRAIGSMRNr
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
coss,osna CITY o,1x 1L1, T., pse @ Yssk s; ,s1'
SIR Tie infringement Of the Police Department seems
call for my part The duty o. cleaning
been nefhseniy performed The unclean and nlthy
puoc and dissaes tLs but has
syn y s p the am
been month from the public tor strsat
Client 70. ne proper performance Of taa. work
eide whsn should enforced and
when shoail BE permitted 70 20 Ignored ana after a,
time thsnenlorced them capriciousy ana by raid in
For .hs nehiciency and nstration oAe
Dpartmen. YOU ~ one o the % are n y
give opportunity to be hsaru in to the above
O'Clock this nice then and there 70 show cause
ups s % a Police Of y
SMITH ELY, Jr Mayor.
THE INVESTIGATION.
The Mayor had nothing further to say in relation To
the charges than the statements conveyed IN The
above Ast the result of the Investigation he
remarked :-"Unless the hearing brings to my mind
something VII ch 90 not know now w,ll remove
them. As 10 General Smith, he went to Europe with
my consent ana, under the circumstances, ~ would
be taking an unfair advantage to remove him during
WHAT COMMISSIONER ERHAaDr SAYS.
A reporter called upon Commss ioner Erhardt to got
has views upon the absorbing police matters The
Commissioner expressed himself IN an exceedingly
dccided manner AS TO tho part he had LaKeu IN
the prevailing excise troubles He claimed
that The order TO enforce the existing
statutes was proper one. The police force
could not interpret laws for themselves, but they
could aud would eptorcs them after proper inter-
probation The Excise law before its re-
cent explanation was considerably mudded, but
after the decision Of the Court OF Appeals made
plain, and it was the duty. Of the police. as law
TO uphold ,hs constitution and enforce mo
the law 70 the letter, and no influence,
political or otherwise, would prevail in deterrng
him from performing his duties SO long as he re-
NAMED public officer Nothing was said as to the
structures Of the Mayor In regard 10 the neglect OF tue
THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners NicEols and Wheeler were Invisible.
The former had not returned to his house up %
one O'Clock this morning, and no knowledge
OF his Whereabouts could be obtained by the reporter
Commissioner Wheeler WAS reported to DO out OF town.
REPUBLICAN CENTRAL coMMITrEE.
The Republican Central Committee hold their iase
meeting tor this year Republican Hail. Thirty-thir0
street and Broadway last evening In the absence Of
Benjamin X. Phelps, the president General Joseph
G. Pinckney, Woe president, presided The Executive
Committee met IN secret session at halt-past seven
O'Clock, and through their chairman, Nj. Joel W.
Mason sent in the following rcsolutons. which wore
unanimously adopted
Whereas Mayor OF tho city forgetting that he 10 IN
placed the charter judicial position,
has himself preferred charges against three OF the
Police and has required them to answer
without allowing them reasonable time tor preparation
Whereas charges based In part, at least
matters which he has himself declared that tho
Com mssioners not in fault; therefore =
Resolved, That denounce this act OF the Mayor as
attempt partisan Pofce Board. an
which has notoriousy yielded to the cainors
those who desire the enforcement OF the ex
istng WIN think that the best to
from republican Legislature modification OF those
laws Is by attacking republican officials.
Aer the adoption OF the resolutions and the read.
ing OF the treasurers report the Republican Central
Committee OF the year 1877 adjourned sine die.