The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-04

nc Ielty Oh " SHY uHus
We are getting out OF all conceit of Mayor
CooPER. He insists on making himself
ridiculous. His first inconsidcrntc move
mcnt against the Police Commissioners he
followed up by second no less ill-adviscd.
He began by announcing TO these municipal
officers their condemnation, Mt the same
time proposing TO put them on trial without
the advantage guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton 10 the mcancst Of accused persons, the
aid OF counsel
Next, the Mayor, grossly pervcrting the
meaning Of section twcnty-scvcn OF the
charter. attempted to establish n novel in
QUESTION to which the Commissioners should
be subjected, and through the instrumental
ity Of which he hoped to prefer before the
Governor spccious reasons for their re-
inoval.
The section referred 10 requires the Sow
eral departments to furnish to the Mayor
such information n he may demand. or
course that means such information touch
ing the Police Department. it, numbers, or
ganzation, expenditures, or doings during
the term Of the Mayor demanding the same.
1t does not confer. and could never have
been intended to confer, on the Mayor au-
thority to require Of the Board oi Police a
history OF the Police Department from the
time Of its organization or for any period Of
time anterior to the term OF the Mayor who
makes the demand
The Constitution Of the United States re-
quires OF the President that he shall. from
time TO time, give TO Congress information
Of the state OF the Union; but how ludcrous
would bc the idea that on this provision
there could be based a demand that he
should write a history OF the country. or
that the present occupant Of the White
House should give 10 Congress Information
Of the state Of the Union under Mr.. JEFFER-
son
Yet under this simple provision Of the
charter Mayor COOPER demands of the
Board Of Police statement Of the dates OF
the meetings OF each committee. with the
names of the Commissioners attending each
meeting since january first, eighteen hun
dred and seventy-cight-one year b.f0re he
came into office He also demands Other
specific information in reference TO official
acts of the Board in the year eighteen hum
drcd and sevcnty-oight, when he was pri-
vate citizen.
The Mayor is evidently acting under the
suppostion that his election had a retro
active effect. and conferred upon him some
official authority in regard to the Board Of
Police during the year preceding the COM
nencement OF his term Of Office.
This is an cgroSuus mistake
During the entire year eighteen hum
dred and sevonty-cight Mr.. SMITH ELY, Jr.
held the Office Of Mayor. All the au-
thoIity belonging 10 that office during
that year was vested in him, and in him
exclusively. Il died with the expiration OF
his term of Office NJ part % II descended
TO Mr.. Coop.E, who il simply clothed with
the sane authority from the beginning u
the present ycar until the expiration of his
term otoaicc; or urtil what az present docs
not seem improbable, his impeachmcr. and
removal.
Mr.. ELY, while Mayor, exercised his au-
thority over the Police Board, and tried to
change il, hut failed. Certainly the Com
missioucrs cannot hc tried second time.
by Mayor COopER. for the same conduct for
which they were tried and acquitted before
Mayor Ely Nor can they be held account
able 20 Mayor COOPER Cor any act for which
they were accountable 20 Mayor ELY.
II Police Commissioner We're liable to
trial by two successive Mayors with our
often recurring changes in the estimate Of
official duty, he would be not unlikely t. oX-
pose himself TO conviction and removal by
one Mayor for the very course OF conduct
which had constituted his chief merit in the
eye Of the preceding Mayor.
In regard 10 this movement Of Mayor
COOPER in It's entirety, it deserves to be
ANONYMOUSLY condemned. II is Il pitiul
attempt by small low cunning, to accom-
plish indirectly political purpose.
Mr.. COOPER knows perfectly well that he
Is not acting honestly toward the Commits
sioners, or toward the public. lie knows
perfectly well it is not information he is
after. lie IS trying, by pcryersion OF
authority, to accomplish an uncunstitu-
tional unlawful most detostablo thing, aud
that is 10 compel a person 10 accuse himself
before the officers who possess the power
T. destroy or to remove him.
The city Of New York is disgraccd by
such conduct on the part Of its Chief EXecu-
tive Magistrate
II looks as II the time were not far distant
when the inquiry may become general
whether there are not sufficient legal rca-
sons why the Mayor should not be permit
ted to serve out the full term for which he
was elected
This inquiry is certain TO be in the mouths
of many this morning, when new move
mcnt is announced on the part of the weak
and dcludcd Mayor against the Board o
Police II consists Of n letter to the Com
missioncrs, which our readers will examine
for themselves, and which could be- easily
understood If it were only dated at Bedlam
The Conflict Between the Senate ana
Assembly.
ole Ia ...tI