Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-28
NUMBER 80.



The case of the New York Police Commits
sioners has some elements Of special interest
for Vermont readers. for two of the Commis-
sioners were officers Of Vermont regiments in
the war, and have many friends and aequain-
tances in our State. Their Office is very
important one. To the four Commissioners
is given the entire charge Of the police of the
city, who constitute small army in them
selves, and on whom depends the main
tenance Of public order in the great metrop-
olis-a matter in which every man of the
millions who visit New York has personal
interest. The Commissioners have also for
six or seven years past been charged by the
Legislature with the duty of keeping the
streets clcan-a branch of business entirely
out OF their line. undertaken by them un-
willingly, and in which they have been
hampered by various legal and other COM
| plicatiOns. As the police force can with OBJ
vious ease be made an element of tremendous
political influence, the responsibility attach
The Mayor appoints the Commissioners and
the present Board was constituted three or
four years ago by Mayor Wickham. the
members being equally divided in politics,
and the intention being to secure nom
partisan Board. Gen. VIM. F. Smith. a
Democrat, but not considered violent par
do Of ha I'd
Commissioner Erhardt, well-known law
yer and Republican, who had made a
good record as a soldier (of the First Ver-
mont Cavalry and reputation as reso-
Lutte and competent officer as Provost
Marshal in New York city during some of
the most turbulent periods of the war, in
that city, was largely charged with the
discipline of the police force. The improve
ment in the morale and efficiency of the
police became matter of frequent mention in
the New York papers and the quiet and
good order Of the city during the labor riots
of 1877, was strong evidence that New York
had reliable police force under resolute
and reliable control. The term of Office of
Commissioner Erhardt and of others Of the
Board expired, but Mayor Ely, having taken
his office under pledge to maintain a nom
partisan police board, made no appoint
ments Of SUCCESSORS, and the Board has re-
mained unchanged. In time it became
evident that there was a want of harmony,
which ended in an open break, between
Gen. Smith and Col Erhardt. This prob
ably surprised no one, who remembers Gen
Smiths frequent troubles with his brother
officers in the war, and how hard he found
it to work in concert with any one, or in
any matter for which he did not receive all
the credit. A new mayor came into office.
and still there was no change in the
Board. Commissioner Erhardt was anx-
ious 10 be relieved but proposed to
do his duty while he remained. Two or
three weeks since, he forced action on the part
of Mayor Cooper by calling his attention to
the demoralizci condition of the police force,
which he attributed to the disorganizlng ex-
ample and action of the president Of the
Board, whom he charged with inebriety,
neglect OF duty, partisan political action as
a Commissioner, and misapplication of funds
in extrayagant furnishing of the police boat
Seneca In a series of interviews with the
Mayor, not given to the public, Col.
Erharlt is understood to have sustained
these charges by detailed evidence. Gen.
smiths reply was communication to the
Mayor in which he said; MIR. Erhardt's
representations, so far as they concern me,
are characterized throughout by falsehood or
peryerslon wherever they are not false they
are perverted to false conclusions The
upshot of all was the citing Of all the Con-
missioners, with the exception Of COnmis-
sioner Wheeler who is absent from New
York for his health, to appear before the
Mayor, on Wednesday, to show cause why
they should not be removed. On this oc-
casiOn the Mayor cut rather a peculiar figure.
lie was asked BY Col. Erhardt to specify
any instance of neglect of duty on
his part. He declined 20 do So. Mr..
Erhardt then submitted written |
reply to the Mayors charges maintaining
the legal position that his term had expired
and that he cannot be removed for charges. |
because the statute has removed him, and !
he is only holding over under another stat
ute of public policy that forbids a vacancy
also that it is unnecessary to remove an |
officer whose place can be duly filled any
hour lie is willing and indeed anxious to
leave, but he does not propose to be put on
a plane with colleagues who can be removed |
for neglect of duty. When Gen. Smiths
counsel rose to speak for the General, the |
Mayor refused to hear him, and, on his per-
sisting, called in an officer to remove him
from the room. Finally, oneof Gen. Smiths
lawyers Vas permitted to read statement
in his behalf, the Mayor meantime refusing
to listen and diverting himself by whistling
during the reading. The removal of the
Commissioners is expected, and the appoint
ment of a Board which will be in the anti
Tammany and Tilden interest. Some change
in the Board is clearly called for by every
consideration OF public policy but the opin-
ion prevails widely in New York that in dis
pensing with Col. Erhardt's services the
city will lose an honest, fearless and faithful
Commissioner, with genius for organiza-
tion and discipline, who has done his best to
keep the police strictly non-partisan, and TO
bring the force to the highest stage OF
efficiency and that he can do without the
place a coed deal better than the city can do
without HIM.