The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-08
MAYOR COOPER'S CHARGES.
ctsEOr THE POLICE COMMISSION
'"N rms BKFORE GOT ROBINSON

ANp. fine NllNtN r Niiii Nr'o tr'itis'N a N'aANN
c-a,n,iseioncrs smith Nichols. and Erhardt.
"a certificates Of their removal. were placed in
Si' hands Of the Governor yesterday, Mr..
,,' ,.oyo corios Of all the documents to tho
..n.n,pors. Following are the charges;
N,yoL's OFFICE
Nrw YORK April 3. 1879. !
r. M. rf,rn,, tn' F'''~' coor0' Of The S'''' Of Noe
CO.. ~, charter Of the city provides that in
all cases q removals by the Mayor he shall
an,,r,unicote to the Governor in writing his
.oas,os f,r such removal. | transmit herewith
49,, .,rtieeotcs of the removal Of Police Com
n,,ssionsrs rrharlt. Nichols, and Smith, with
,ho f,uoving statement Of my reasons therefor:
Tbore ia no branch Of the local government
rb,se administration moro closely touches the
rconle than that oi tho Department of Police.
Tho securit, OF life and property Is largely de-
rc,,ion, mon tho discipline and efficiency OF
he force: the elections held in the city ara I'M
dor H. management and control: and. whit is
essential 20 the health, comfort, and conven-
fence u the citizens the care and cleanliness OF
the streets are intrusted 70 II.
Al the time Of my accession to Office in jan
nary last. the public mind was greatly dis
turbei over the condition Of the department
~-@Y fM-~- e-cWrnl- & f-w>ss.raJ assAtnss th>-
Affairs and conduct Of the department. giving |
suoh attention to tho matter as other pressing
publie duties would permit. when all and much
more than had previously been said against the
administration Of the department received the
support u an authoritative declaration on the
mart " Commissioner Erhardt. who. ut the reg
ular meeting Of the Board on the 21st day OF
January last. offered tho following preambles
and resolution:
W. .a. Tie condition Of the discipline 81 the police
force 8, .neh 30 awaken the most serious comment,
FOL. go L. sri..t Ntr. .ns "a amt 90,
eism and
preo, owing to carec ssness and inebreiy among
the member, OF the Police Board most damaging indu
enc the whole department has been exercised there
fore lcu
IL. . That the Mayor Of the city Of Sow York be re-
sae.i,d TO investigate this department without delay.
Instead OF taking up these charges and chal-
longing tho Investigation proposed. the other
members Of the Board of Police decided that
Mr.. Erhardt accusations should be filed; thus
In effect determining that 30 far as they were
Concerned nothing should be done about them.
A few days later there appeared In the public
press over the official signature Of Commits
sioncr Erhardi the following:
THE Mayor here inserts copy Of Mr.. Err
hard's letter published Jan. lol
On the day after its publication this explana-
ton " was read to the Board Of Police and or
dered on file. | thereupon requested Mr..
upon which his allegations were based. To
this Mr. Erhardt replied evasiyely. To a fur
thcr repetition Of the request he made a further
eyasive reply. coupled with tho misstatement
that he had already informed me Of all the
principal facts which asked him 10 state and
that he had recountcd these facts with specih =
cations and particula lars In the presence Of an
other Commissioner OF Police. then requested
him TO appear before me and give the desired
Information.
On tho 18th Of February. and on several sub
sequent days. Commissioner Erhardt came be-
ioro me and submitted many papers and made
extended statements. His answers were in
many respects eyasive. and manifested an I'M
willingness 10 canddly give full information
aud disclose the whole truth concerning tho de-
pariucut. 4 copy Of the stenographic minutes
ol these interviews was delivered 10 each Of the
otler Commissioners. Whatever publicity was
given o. tncm came through other agencies
corning the Other Commissioners tho ~ pdrte
staten, MS 81 Commis -ipn"r Erhardt 70 me. and
~ ks no use % them except a. To- him.
From personal examination 1 nave iophd
many Of the streets in state So filthy a7 90 ho a
source OF great discomfort Ia our citizens. a A.
rlus iinp.d mrht a. frame anu danger 10 ihe
public health, The greatest abuses being IN the
portion az Ga" city occupied uy tehc m"ht nous,
Eith ,heir crowded reputation. whero MOUNDS
az a-hrs, garbage. and refuse were allowed L.
accumulate for weeks.
Il appeared from The records OF the depart
mon; that the humber OF arrests made had
i"en rapily drcreas INK since $40. being CO.
less in 1877 than ia 1916 and IN 1878 nearly
iu SIC: while In tie years 1874, 1873. and ls1t
tie variatlons were small. IN no case eNtegd!p
present year the arrests were about l4QO0. Oh
oycr 400 less than during the same period IL
either Of the last preceding I'VE years.
After the close Of the interviews with Commits
s'onor Lrharlt and while was considerinl
how host 10 correct the existing evils, received
from Commissioner Smith. Just before u wa!
given 20 the public press, a letter wherein III
1'holncelthe communlcatlon ol Somihisslohel
Lntardt 10 me AS the deinmhtory statemei Is
-tLidl-nIOuger, chara 'terlzed THROUGHOUT
50 FAR as they concerned him. by iasehood o.
From the dssensions existing in the Board
the deterioration in tue enlclency 81 Tue force
IN respect to street cleaning became convince
Nat the Board as const uted. could not be relic,
upon 10 correct the existing abuses. and that
ers as should be unable satisfactorily To SHOW
tat tnoy were not personally chargabie with tn
INSTRUMENTATION and neglect OF the Board. ,
Anxious t. proceed within the spiri, as wei
a. laH letter of the law, examined inc statute
rotating 90 my powers and informed mysel
ol ite methods adopted IN Similar cases by m
predecessors. II did not appear that they hu
p" At'd as to establish sysiom on pracuce o
T. ient" proceed .uts which should 4e followed
il Il tup-Ar from the statutes that the pro
ceriIn- -'I .uli be- in tue nature OF trial. ~
u" authority given e. administer ontha or {
compel amy oleto give evidence | also applet
o. iis Counsel 10 the Corporation cohgrnin
Cue ul'ur. of the hearing provided for. HIS IN
tri lrtiH' = tho las agreed y IN mine. 70
c"Nti iruu hlm an opinion which was sunsc
prrulf, A-4 before tao hearing. reduced l
w.ltlA.'
~. NAi,uoy's opinion read a. the hearn
beg. iur Mayor 10 quutcnl
Anu. ul.h Hp rILSoi 90 removal ar" 10y law r.
q4.r.i o. he assigned before the Learning, !. j
tt..r 60 give tuc Commissioners the tuires
"lis .ttu.ty. prepared Is communication cou
tanning statement Of such certain causes d
io17 W..a which | had become aequHlute
Though my own observation, or the oilifi
g. .gl7 m.l. ty the Board or from other r.
laNu ln't rnut.on.
iClpy oi 'A. AayoI's letter Of March II is Re
Iurrnl fIl
Cmert lie charter Of this city the govern
n-ni ana dis uGne u tine lHh'c DrVarimel
hiui hc such a- mo Board may. from time
lilr hy rules mud regulations pres ribr' au
.h "u '." department b. p4t under tle charg
and ontrul 'i iuur Commissioners, VINO sht
perform all the duties aud exercise al I'll
I..N- rs now Dos law cuulrrred or IMPOSED upu
t. Po..'u u DlntiWclt.' II " alsl provide b
tlHItrr 81 81 tlr Laws ot 1872. that Nh
Board OF POS TO IA the clty ~ Now York sha
haNo ilIi and exclusive power ana authorli
and !s lA"rrhyI charged With tie duty Of ralu
ing all streets, avenues u be tho
oughly cleaned. fr "a t.IAe - time. aud b. pt
all tmrs thoroughly cleaned. and 10 rcnO'
from said city. duly. and as often as he'etear
tii aaan =, garbage. RUBBISH, ana HWeepln-s
Uulrr ihesr proyisionsI made tho statourn