New-York tribune., 1879-04-08
HOW TIE COMMISSIONERS FEEL.
CONVERSATIONS WITH GENERAL SMITH AND COM
MISSIONER NICHOLs-BoTH CONFIDENT THAT
TIE CHARGES WILL FAII.

CONyFRsA lions WITH GENERAL Smith AND COM
MISSIONER NICHoLs-BoTH CONFIDENT THAT
THE CHARGES WILL FAIL.
General Smith said last evening that he had
been expecting dispatch from Albany IN the after
noon but had received no information relating TO
the communication TO the Governor, nor had he
seen the charges. When they were laid beiore
him be hastily glanced them, and re-
marked that it was strange that Commissioner
Wheeer's name was nowhere mentioned But them,
ne sald "we look for strange things now-a-days" He
could not say what he would in the hear
ing before the Governor. Tho Mayor. he said, had
drawn mferences which misleading, and not based
on statements made by the Commissioners them
selves He wondered how the Mayor learned that
they were in constant consultation with their legal
advisers, the Commissioners were not aware OF IT,
opportunity TO be heard. asserted by the Mayor.
About the citation of causes for removal General
Smith claimed that there was no law whlGh REQUIRED
ashes. dirt, rubbish and garbage" 10 be removed
from the city daily. He was also surprised he SAID to
find there was nothing novel IN the charges Cen
era Smith said the Police CommissiOnersbp was not %
position which he desired TO retain, but he wanted To
retire hOnOrably and not III such way as lhe mayor
proposed.
Commissioner Nichols was found last evening with q
party friends He had not seen the Mayors charges
aud was gratifed when copy Of them was shown TO
him. They were read rapidly and certain passages
were comm very freely and III terms not COM
pmeutary to the Mayor. There is nothing new here"
said Commissioner Nichols, after he had finished
the reading (which have not heard before, ana wch
am not fully prepared TO meet had expected 10 ma
some specIHcatons but these general cdarges Mean
moth except that the political eXgencles OF the case
make II rather for Mayor Cooper 10 get con-
troll of the Police Board provided he and there Is
where be Will find himself mistaken Governor Robinson
is thoroughly fair SO far as have ever heard
and there thing in TINS document whlch VIII prove
fatal when he 10 consider carefully; ana hat
Is tbe omission of any mention Of Wheeers name Now
maintain that the Police Board are not cua0le in the
matter OF street cleaning and that the streets OF The
CITY are IN good order to-day they have ever been
IN the early days pr but If the Mayor should be able
To prOye that work been neglected the money
squaudered and should fix the responsibility upon the
Street-Clednng Committee, he VIII have some dhCuty
In explaining Wheeler is less responsible than l.
when we both on the committee. he political
bargain will be apparent the Governor for
MI, :, 80 Ian,I my IA
(" The fact is that Arthur and wheeler tOd mayor
Cooper that owed his nomination to them and that
Wheeler must projected so he sent wheeler out or
the city, promised TO get rid OF the rest OF u.s. SO far
as his efforts accomplish IT, All ne wants u
to get control OF the Board IN the Interest
Of those who give him ms orders. Erhafdts
successor would have 10 be confirmed by The
Board OF Aldermen term had expired; but Smiths
and nv own would need rnation as they would be
apuointed to I'll uReXpited terms. These Two with
Wheeler would give Mayor Cooper working majority,
and that is all he wants"
We'll rather think will II IT takes three carloads
of Nyitnesses" replied the Commissioner. shall de-
myself at every point ana nave no doubts OF the
result This is a purely political movement to which
Governor Robinson will never consent to lend the ad OF
his high prerogatlve. . -
Commissioner Nichols, " Is the unklnd way IN winch
Mavor Cooper has turned Erhardt He listened 10
MS complaints against Smith got him down TO his ofce
and squeezed him dry aud then turned on hm ana put
him in the same boat win tue rest OF US was 700
bad" -
Commissioner Erhardt was out with Mrs. ErhaTdt last
evening and If his impending trai troubled his mlnd
at all 1t at least did interfere with his social ell
fragments.