New-York tribune., 1879-03-17
nrT.11s OF THE REORGANIZATION.

MAYOR COOPFRs LETTER TO THE POLICE CoNNls-
sIoNERs-CAUsTs ASSIGNED FOR HIS ACroN-
TALKS WITH THE COMMIssIO ONERs-MR. WHEELER,
1T is SAID, NOT TO BE REMOVED.
Immediately after the election OF Mayor
Coorer TO Office IN November last 1t was rumored that
one Of his first Official acts would be TO reorganze the
Police Board The fact that two of the Commissioners
were merely holding office until the appoint
meut o. their successors, and that the other
two we're Tammany Democrats. thus belhg
politically opposed to both the Mayor and Governor
Robinson gave color TO the rumor especially as there
had bee n loud complaints against tie Police Board ior
its alleged mcGiciencY in clearing the streets OF
the city aud for other causes. Similar runos
have been current at different times since Janu-
CRY ! and wEen the Mayor began secret lnVcsu-
cation through Commissioner Erhardt II was geneTalIy
understood would lead TO fuliilment OF the
rumored removals. consequently there was moi hiHch
surprise when the following communication was served
Commissioners Smith, Nichols ana Efh"ruI edI! oh
Saturday morning.
MAYORS OFFICE. NEw-YoRK, March a. 1879.
SIR: Under the Board of Police Of which you are
m,mDer, the gOycrnmcH; aud dsCiphHG OF tne p2,.oc
force have Gccoue lax and incapable; Tue ponce lorce
has dcterOrated u efficiency and has become del1a
ized The Board of Police, oi "lc you are le'nel'
has not caused the streets OF the cY to he thor
Oughly cleaucd from time 10 time and kept thoroughly
cleaned. and has not removed from the CITY ua!y,
aud as ofteu necessary. all ashcs, CIV rubbish ana
Inc public duties which you were bound to fulhl; You
have allowed personal diasen9ohs TO preGSinae @ the
assumed. Your conduct has been uuDeoohihs your
Office. . , H., oeoo I,rli
These iuses warrant yOur removal from once VIII
give y0u an opportunity 10 be heard thereon AT ~
o'clock noon. Wednesday, March ~. IStS; at uno
Man OI's Office LD"A"D NON'i- -"'0'
This letter has been tho subject Of considerable COM
neut among koliticans and others, the general scnt-
1Dcut seeming TO be that decisive manner In which
t,e letter was written Indicated a settled purpose on
the part OF Mayor Cooper to re0rgann
the Police Department The charter providcs
that 1.-The heads OF all departments may DC
removed by the Mayor for cause anc after opportunity
10 be heard subject however, before such removal snail
take effect 10 the approval Of the Governor expressed IN
writing" The opportunity to be heard 1t Is under
stood Is all that Mayor Cooper intends to gVe as the
charter does not provide for regular trial. as E1ayor
Ey attempted to give under similar circumstances
WHAT MAYOR COOPER WILL Do.
When asked by a TRIBUNE reporter In reference 10
this point Mayor Cooper said that the hearing would
be public in the sense that reporters and others Woud
be admitted but he would allow his office TO be over
run by a multitude Further than that he declined 70
impart any information but gentleman known 10 DC
IN the Mayors confidence stated that IL was
probable that a short hearing would DE aIlO"eu
each commissioner, and that whatever arguments
their counsel desired 10 place before inc
Mayor would have TO DO handed IN before q
stated time in writing II may be stated as almost
certain that the Mayor will not so into any general trial.
or hear any witnesses has personally inspected the
streets and well acquainted with theiF nithy conui
toa he has also abundant evidence OF the existence OF