New-York tribune., 1879-04-08


tist dispute-that if it was not very good
natured it was soon over with. The declara-
tion of the Secretary that, if resolution had
been wanted to complete the expulsion OF Dr'
Fulton, there would have been ten ready, was
followed by the refusal of the Conference 70
adopt the resolutions offered in his interest.
A communication received by the Brooklyn
Presbytery yesterday seems to explain some
part at least of the disorder which has at
tended the recent sessions OF that Oody' Inc
trustees of the church in whose building 'iie
trial of Mr.. Talmage is proceeding, complain
that the crowds of spectators whom the
Presbyterv still tolerates have sadly damaged
the building; pews are broken, boOk-racks
torn out, books and walls are marked with
scurrilous inscriptions, and even some oil the
pedals of the organ have been broken. Wheh
we add that this communication ends with a
warning in legal form, that the CHURCH will
hold the Presbytery responsible for any dam
age, it must be admitted that this is not the
least singular incident of this extraordinary
trial.
Mr. Cornelius J. Vanderbilt yesterday COM
pleted his payment to the daughters OF Mr..
Greeley. Deducting one payment made many
years ago by himself and another made by
Commodore Vanderbilt to the daughters
shortly after Mr.. Greeley's death, the balance,
including interest, amounted to SCI, ,lS7, all OF
which has within the past two or three days
been placed by Mr.. Vanderbilt in the hands
of Mr.. Greeley's daughters in person. This
adjustment of an old account is in every way
honorable to all concerned; and it is especially
agreeable to those who have been compelled
to follow the disagreeable details of the will
contest, to observe thai the Vanderbilt
brothers Wed with each other in their ear
nest desire that, as the first fruits of
the settlement the debts to Mr.. Greeley's
estate should be paid in full. Under cover of
this act, at once just and generous, we may
well unite in hoping that the other memories
of the late trial may soon fade into oblivion.
Mayor Cooper's statement of his reasons
for removing three of the Police Commits
sioners contains little that is new, but much
that is conclusive. The document is merely
a compact presentation of the various steps in
the investigation of the Police Department,
with the correspondence which took place be-
tween the Mayor and the accused Commission
ers. Whatever can be charged of the pohtl-
! cal motives which lie back Of Mr.. CoOpel's
action, bis position may be said to be impreg-
nable. There can be no question that the
| Police force has become good deal demOral-
lied. and it has been proved by the indisput-
| able evidence of a million noses that the
streets are not in decent condition. The
Mayor With absolute prOpnety holds these
! Commissioners individually responsible for the
evils which have grown up under the admin
istration of the Board. As a member of the
Board which has in its charge the care of the
streets, Mr.. Erhardt is responsible for their
pestilenta filthiness; so is General Smith,
| and so is Mr.. Nichols. As a member of the
Board which is the governing body
of the police, Mr. Erhardt is individually
responsible for the laxnesS of disci-
pine which renders the force unequal to
It's duties; so is General Smith, and so is Mr..
Nichols. This is the Mayors logic. 1t is i'm
possible to deny the justice of it impossible
also to deny that If all municipal officers were
held to such strict and yet proper accOunta-
bility, municipal government would be vastly
better than il ever has been thus far. The fact
that Mayor Cooper entirely ignores one of the
four Commissioners in these proceedings does
not affect the strength of his position toward
the other three, whatever light it may shed
upon Mr. CoOper's purposes. There could be no
doubt of Governor RObinsOn's approval of the
Mayors action, even if he were not a MEM
Der of that now powerful triumvirate with
whose schemes Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Cooper
are more or less familiar.