The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-02
THE MAYORS LATEST MOVE.
CALLING UPOS THE POLICE BOARD
FOR MORE INFORM1TION
Rumors that he is Taking Legal Advice and
Seeking Facts Before Making Removals
The Aldermen aud the Commis.ioners.

II was rumorcd about the City Hall yes
terday that Mayor Cooper had been advised by
lawyer. who is an influential member Of the
| Irving Hall Democracy. that the charges
against tho Police Commissioners wero too
| general and that tho hearing given the Com
missioners was not as fair and full as tho city
charter prescribed. Later in tho day 1t was
said that the Mayor might open the case and
| give the Commissioners another opportunity to
furnish evidence in their defence before tho
certificate OF removal was sent to Gov. Robin
son. Tho Mayor, himself. gavo color to this
rumor by sending to the Police Commissioners
| about I. NJ the following:
MAYoR's OrrlcE. New York, April 1, 1879.
| To n, BDati g Polite of@s oy NJ Nee ro,k;
Under the provisions Of section ~ Of chapter 1856 Of the
Laws Of 1879 hereby require the Department "
| Police the following informatoni
The names or designations u the several committess
| OF the Board VI Police.
| II. The names Of the Commissioners who compose
each Committee and the period during which each such
Commissioner has been me iibcr of each committee"
| Ill The matters specially changed upon each com.
| mittee.
". The Of the Chairman Of each Committee, the
| period during which he has been Chairman aud the
matters oversight responsibility charged each
| Chairman OF Committee.
" The dates Of the meetings OF each Committee with
the names Of the Commissioners attending each meeting
since Jan !, 1873
vi The and rank OF members OF the police force
who on March were detailed assigned to special
duty employment position other than ordinary police
duty. with the nature of such detail assg nont or en-
poyment
VII The reports or reeomme auons ir any made by
the superintendent other superior officer relating To
the detail. assignment OF employment VI members Of the
police force. since the nrs day OF october. 1873 In every
case In which any such report recomme ndauon
lates TO more than ten members Of the force
VIII Concerning each complaint or charge, pending
against members OF the police force on the LIST day OF
July, 1873 aud concerning each complaint or charge
preferred against members OF tho police force between
the ist day ofJuy. 1873 and the ist day Of April is79
the following information. namely: the names - the
members 81 the force aeainst whom such COMPLAINTS
i.rfed Thereafter the dsts OF the preerment
OF TIE charge or ehsves, II any. upon ne
memner OF No the ioree me das Of eASh pgbne p
missioner or Commissioners before whom each Xamina
Police On each complaint or charge and the date VI such
hereby direct prescribe that the Information in
THIS subdivision required be furnished In the form fol
I9s sshSdus provide. shs, IN segsrss column; there
r,es Of ehsrss or ehSrses ehstsc or e6arsss date e
bosTd date Of any action by ne bosfdi
hereby request that the iniormauon above required
tween the service hereof and te Close Of Friday April
The letter is regarded by many politicians rs
an attempt by the Mayor under the cover OF
section OF the city charter TO get facts TO sustain
| his charges against the Commissioners which
} he could not elicit from tho Commissioners at
the meeting In his office that he called a hear
the questions asked in the letter relate TO his
: charges against the Commissioners. aud that
letter. might supply facts which the Mayor could
use 10 sustain some OF his charges. For ex-
eSnPpScd the the Eemmasioners % with n negeet 'S OF
duty. and In this letter he asks for statement
| OF ths number OF meetings OF the committees OF
the Police Board held in given time. and for
the name OF each Comm missioner present at
such meetings. Now. II the answer TO this
| question should show that OmmtasiOupr
Was absent from several meetings OF any com, ,
absence as neglect of duty"
The Mayor, refuses TO say what the letter
means. His friends say that II has no relation
to tho charges against the Commissioners that
no Is not backing down. ana that the certificate
OF removal OF the COmmiss oners will 40 to
Albany before the end OF this week. A gentle
man. who has the Mayors ear. says that tho
Mayor already has tho Information which his
tons contained IN the letter TO get from the
Commissioners themselves tho proof that the
lacts now IN MS possession ana 10 Dc sent 10
Tho letter Of Mayor Cooper was shown last
evening to MIR. Willard bartlett. counsel To Gen.
Smith who said that he had not sevn II beforr.
and that IL must have been sent quite late He
was unwilling to cypress any opinion in regard
! to II except that lie had no doubt any proper
request OF the Mayor which was authorized by
wh STh ~SSyf BY hs Ss Board Of Poes
So far As Gen. Smith WINS concerned. Mr.. Bart
lett said he was sure he desired the fullest puo-
| icity for all his acts as Police Commissioner.
He added that the TINS suggested IN the Mayor .
a | commune tiOn hS tNat MNAln Nulcu 10 ueSlrei
= = the information seemed very short. IN view OF
(, | ths clerical work that would he necessary.
Mr.. Bartlett WIS asked whether he thought
| the Mayors letter indicated any change OF plan
| in the course To be pursued against the Police
j. Commissioners. He replied he would rather
; | not express any opinion on that subject.
l When asked whether the cnses referred to in
the eighth paragraph Of the Mayors letter con
| cerned any particular individuals. lie said ne
| had no reason TO suppose they did
Mr.. John ID. Townsend. Commissioners
e | Nicholss counsel after no had heard Mayor
A | (DDpar's latter which WAS apparently SurDriS-
] ing news to him. read; said ,,.,,
! | his conclusions as TO the guilt Of the Commis-
" | stoners before he began To examine them Mayor
Cooper would have acied m3r9 ,3r, Justly t9an he
imposcs an unnecessary tax upon the time OF
the Commissions when he calls upon them 10
I | furnish answers 20 questions that the Clerk of
4 | tho Board can readily give. What course the
| Commissioners VIII pursue II IL rot in my
). | rearhes the Commissioners officially they will
o probably meet their counsel and decide what
n action should be taken in regard TO It,"
: Al Yesterdays meeting OF the Common Coun-
i ell Alderman Roberts offered the following:
Eha Ry -eea9n Is of chapter i ,, E. Of !hS L,w,o
consent the hoard OF Aldermen, appoint the heads o
nomnanons to an any VscSnccs when shall ,ccur iS
rcA,ea OF the eSSr9S@ 9 s, ct The ter. ct S'S "a s Gsel
J. Hoard OF Aldermen within ten days from the day OF the
SAsss yseaq.iSs adw szi, IN IN he once Of Pole,
u having eSprsd on May is57 Sna 'ha neid 9y Dewitt
nauons Tor appointment 10 such in once o.
Police Cnmnt ssnncrs have been made by the MaNor u
| the city ui Nrw YORK to this Board Oi Aldermen, aud
Whtros, The MaNor has cited one OF the Police Com
mssinners whose ci oihcr eNpref on May 1877
to appear before him and show caue why he should
be- removed the uace Police Commissioner, und
itisditicult how officer whuse nf ufice
has expired, and who holds by Virtue vi express
statutory provisions can he removed from ms ohee
A | ccpt IN the manner provided by law aud
"a HLersa, The terms of section ~ OF title U chap l. par
Of the Revised Statutes follows; Where
duty is or shall he enluned hN law public IN
II Ger or upon person holding any public trust or
A ployncn every wilml neglect to perform such duty
special provision shall have been made Tor III,
II punishmtnt OF such delinquency, shall he n misdr
~ meauOr punishable herein described" therefore be-
~ Rsoiai That the Mayor Of the city OF New York bs
he hereby requested 10 report to this BOARD wha
r reGsuns exist why such vacancies IN the office
|. Pocc should no. "a filled, and why
81 nominations nave made 60 this oarl oI Aldcunrn
IN order that their consent may be gwen to appoint
- ments IN accordance with tie directions o uc city
a charter.
/ Mr. Roberts moved the adoption OF the pre-
"A nmhle and resolution, and in support Of his
A" motion said that the Mayor had violated the Law
X by not doing his part toward nlling the va
/ cAncies created 10y the expiration nt the terms
"a OF Commissioners ErhHrdt and Wheeler. an
Is the Board of Aldermen hhoul teach him tha
AZ he ia not above tho law The Mayor dlsrrgar ir,
y all law justice and even common decency H
n the hearing OF the Commissioners in his OH 90
n He wns to blanc for amy lnriii len " thAt may