New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-01
TALK WITH TUUPLOW WEED.

HIS EFFORTS TO SECURE NoN-PARTIsAN BOARDS FOR
NEw-YoRK-INTFREsT IN Mr.. WHEELER.
1.-THE Hon. Thurlow Weed, who has been personal
and political friend of Commissioner Wheeler, was
visited last night and although weak from recent
Illness occasoned he thought by the warm weather.
was willing to give his views on the Mayors action.
81 have read of it," he said, 4" SO far as reported
in tho morning papers. but owing to i'll health
l have not given the attention TO the matter
which my warm interest In the securing of nom
partisan Police Board for New-York would other
wise have demanded. have known Commissioner
Wheeler many years, and have always esteemed
him highly both as q political and personal friend,
and have always thought that he made an efficient
and faithful public officer hope that when he IS
heard on the 4th of August he VIII be able to pre-
sent such full and clear showing of his accounts
"a vl entirely vindicate him from the charges now
made against him."
As to the political aspects Of the recent and pros
pective removals of Police Commissioners. Mr.
saidi"I will regret exceedingly If the Mayors
action changes the Board 10 a partisan body. When
he came INTO Office he found Commissioners Wheeler
and Erbardt, Republicans and Smith and Nichols,
Democrats in the Board. Now, although
change may have been advisable, trust 1t
will not affect this balance of parties.
During the administration of Governor Seymour
spent three years in Albany laboung for nom
partisan Police Board The Legislature was Repub-
lican or Wing and the Governor Democratic. We
finally succeeded in passing bill, which was signed
by the Governor for Board of four commissioners,
under which two Democrats were named by the Ex-
ccutive aud two Republicans by the Legislature
The Board so constituted was an honest ana EN-
dent one Afterward q Democratic Commits
sioner died. and / strove to have ms place
filed by a member of the same party. But DIT
Manierre, a Republican, came up from New-York
and obtaining
Governor Fenton. This disturbed the equilibrium
of the Board, but it was subsequently restored,
Then Tweed came aud destroyed the non-partlsan
character of the Board by inc9asing It's number 10
five In the same way labored to secure for New
York nol-partisan Board of Supervisors, aud after
we had succeeded Tweed again effected change
for the worse. / also worked Tor non-partlsah
Board of Commissioners or PuOhc Charlues
and here again Tweed's hand appeared after
that desirable result bad been attained
in the increase Of the number to five, VINO attempted
10 have their salaries increased from Tf,0oo 10
$40 900 year. This was only defeated by tho I'M
compromising opposition of Comins5iOncr bower
who had been appointed at my instance. HIS action
MT that time has saved the tax payers the dincfence
between the two amounts yearly Tor nine OF Ten
II have not been at the Mayors Office for five or
six weeks nor at Police Headquarters for two
or three months until to-day, when | vas down
there in the interes, Of Sergeant Granger q good
officer and a faithful Union soldier lwcnt there 70
ask for him the position of captain, which | healu
was vacant | have sccn the statement tnst Mayor
Cooper's action ~ regard 10 the Police Board ISL
part Of Nj. lildens Presidential campaign tScIlS5'
and nTesumc il Is true II II is So It should be de-
feated at any cost. This city wants non-partisan
Police Board, That it may be honest and
efficient aud also Tor the protection OF thn DSl-
l0t-box which esteem OF the highest importance.
When Mr. Cooper was elected he va, committed TO
the policy of maintaining the nou-partisan charac-
ter of the Board And whatever may be the resut
of these charges against Comnissioner Wheeler,
trust the Mayor will keep his pledge IN regard 10
the balance of party in the Police Board. L Trust,
however, that Mr. Wheelers removal VIII not 10
found necessary"