The New York herald., 1879-03-17
MAYOR COOPER'S CHARGES.
DEFENCE TO BE MADE BY THE POLICE COM.

MIssIoNERs-oLD AND NEW EXCUSES.
The fact that yesterday was Sunday did not pre-
vent politicians from congrcgating in the lobbies and
corridors Of the uptown hotels to discuss the
charges that have been made against the Police Com
missioners by Mayor Cooper. whose letter was made
the forerunner of some startling facts which, il was
said. might confront the accused officials when they
appeared to present their ut noon
Of next Wednesday. Doubts were freely ex-
pressed to whether the investigation would be
conducted in public in spite of the fact that the
Mayor had on last Saturday decided to have an
open examination. The quidnuncs. however. re-
called instances when chief magistrate had said
one thing day and another thing the next. and
an persons With whom the HERALD reporter con-
versei yesterday seemed inclined to believe that the
Commissioners would not be allowed the privilege
of examining and cross-exnmining witnesses who
might lie called for or against them. But the two
questions that seemed to be everybodys lips
were:-"How they defend themselves9 What can
be said in Justification of the condition Of the
streets during the past winter p p'
COMMISSIONERS ANSWER.
For the purpose of obtaining answer to these
questions the reporter proceeded to the house OF
gentleman who has been connected, in one way or
another, with almost every trial of police board or
commissioner that has taken place this city in
.
resentatives of the present Board although he win
not be able to take prominent part in the proceed-
ings. When the herald representative called on the
gentleman yesterday he found him busily engaged
in collecting and coliatin memoranda IN relation to
the Street Cleaning Bureau and other matters. Upon
being requested to give outline OF the defence Of
the Commissioners in the coming fight with the
Mayor he declined at first to do so, stating that he
had not yet become very we'll acquainted with the
of his clients last, however. he yielded and
prefacing his remarks gave short history Of the
formation of the Street Cleaning Bureau. He then
continued as follows:-
''Of course you will understand that before wa
make any defence whatover we will make a
formal demand upon Mayor Cooper for moro
specific charges. II he has any, shall ask him to
let us have the right to cali and examine witnessed
in our own behalf and we shall protest against the
attempted removal of Commissioner Erhardt because
his term has already expired and his place may be
filled at any time by the Mayor with the consent Of
the Board Of Aldermen. This last point is. in my
Judgment. o good one and will be pressed upon the
Mayors attention If an opportunity is given. If it
Is made to appear that Mr.. Cooper is seeking
to evade provision of law by removing Mr.. En-
harit it will not look WELL AS 1t is now the con-
sent OF the Aldermen is necessary to conhrm Err
hardt's successor; but If he were removed why
could appoint gentleman to the position indepen.
dent of the City Fathers-"
How about the charge in relation to the cleaning
Of the streets? % asked the reporter
'sOh that's all bosh," answered the gentleman.
''The Commissioners do as well as they can under
the existing state Of affairs and this my opinion
will be proven to tho satisfaction OF everybody Tho
law it is true provides that the streets be cleaned
and kept clean, but the Board has been surrounded
by so many difficulties that it is absolutely inn
possible carry tho strict letter Of the statute
es @ ad
to clean tho streets has decreased every year, nnd
rnss nSs or 1 a n
three hundred miles Of streets have to be swept and
cleaned ut certain periods. and the ashes and garbage
have to be collected on nearly four hundred miles
Of streets. All this work has to be done every day
according to the law. dotsled statement of all the
ment since 1874. together with'the number of miles
OF streets cleaned the loads of ashcs garbage and
be made. It will bc shown In this connection that
although the city he's increased in size during the
past six years the amount OF money given for the
work Of street cleaning hes steadily decreased"
DUMPING GROUND.
''Now come to. perhaps. the most important part
gentleman as he took from table bundle of docu-
ments tied up with red tape. II hold here in my
the present Commissioners by residents OF Long
Island for dumping refuse in Gravescnd Bay and Is
other points on tho Long Island shore. Proof win
statement that there is not at the present time,
has there been since 1876. regularly designated
dumping
street Cleaning Bureau Tho law. 1t is true.
taken % out to sea; bH. our answer to
facilities for doing this. The number and
capacity Of the scows IN use by tho department
entirely inadequate to the proper performance Of
We will show that frequent application has been
made for the necessary appropriation to purchase
build new seif.propelling scows, but thst our pcti.
until recently. when 10 received somc consideration
their hands. IT, instead Of going out to which
the dirt within he Narrows or in the sound. the
Shore Inspector. State official. believe, instantly
commences proceedings. In several cases persons
subjected TO punishment. either by nc imprison.
ment. All this and much moro besides of the same
character will be fully explained 70 Mayor Cooper"
ALLEGED DISQUALIFICATION.
Tho gentleman. in answer 70 some further ques-
tions said that the charge of Mayor Cooper TO tho
effect that decentralization had taken place among the
members Of the police forco would be entirely dis
proved. Mr. Erhsrdt Is expected to give over again
his testimony and show by the records Of the Police
state of affairs alleged 10 exist. The Commissioners
will point IL ~ claimed TO many efforts that no
made TO remodel the police force better basis,
which mot with the hostility of some Of his col.
leagues.
Mayor Coopcrs attention by the counsel for the
the action Of the Chief Magistrate in not serving Mr..
Wheeler with copy OF the charges. IN case he
should fail to do so by "Wednesday next the point
will be raised by Mcssrs. smith, Nichols and Erhardt
that, as the charges of the Mayor made against
tho Board OF Police, Commissioners Wheeler should
have been treated in the same manner as his cob
leagues. should this question be raised said
sell might be 20 bring tho matter before
court and thus tho investigation could be indeh.
nitely prolonged.
TEMPERANCE.
Mrs Ida Won Icggctt differs from the majority Of