New-York tribune., 1879-03-17
THE FIGHT AMONG THE POLICE.

ONLY COMMISSIONER WHEELER LIKELY TO BE REAP
PoINTED-A NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO BE cHo-
sEN, AND GENERAL "sHAKING Up" OF CAP
TAINs AND sERGEANTs TO FOLLOW sOON-THE
PERSONS WHO WILL PROBABLY BE APPOINTED
-IHE DISMISSAL OF GENERAL W. F. SMITH,
SIDNEY p. NICHOLS AND JOEL b. ERHARDf DE-
CIDED UPoN-CHARGEs AGAINST CAPTAIN WILL
IAMs.
The removal of all the Police Commissioners win
The exception of Commissioner ID. W. Z. Nheeier
has been resolved upon by Mayor Cooper. and the
changes are likely to be made within few days
For week past this step has been contemplated
md the successors of the present Board have
been discussed, and 1t was understood last
ovening that they had been decided upon.
The charges upon which the three Commissioners,
Smith Nichols and Erhardt will be removed, are
general in their character. and as stated below are
relative to the welLknown and admitted demorali-
zation of the police force, neglect of duty and the
notorious personal anlmosites existing among the
members of the Board.
II is well understood and openly asserted among
politicians that the proposed changes are largely
dictated By political motives and in the interest of
the ti-Tammany faction, as against the Tam
many party as now Iuu. Il is part Of the general
scheme to obtain control of the Tammany Society.
of which the early removal of County Clerk Gum
bleton and Register Loew forms part. Mr.. TlIden
is understood TO be the real mover IN
the matter, and that these removals are only pre-
limnary 10 the fight in April to capture Iammany
Hall and the struggle in the Fall to rcelect Cover
nor Robinson, and in 1850 to renOminate Mr.. III
den. Scores Of men in the public offices named and
in the Police Department in subordinate positions
are members of the Tammany Society. aud Their
votes can be controlled only by the heads of depart
mcnts IN power General Smith and Mr.. Nichols
/
tn9t they should be succeeded by Antl-lammany
men who can influence votes at the April election
of Tammany Sachems. The tight against Gen raj
Smith and Mr. Erhardt is, therefore, part of a fac
tion fight Mayor Cooper is pledged to appoint two
PcpuJlicans. Mr.. Wheeler is iudOrsed by all the
leading Republicans, and will probably be reap
pointed. Mr. Erhardt has little Republican sup
mort and will be removed. Mr.. Sheridan Shook IS
likely to be his successor.
For two weeks past it has been understood among
leading Republicans, and the matter has been dis
cus,ed. that Mr.. Henry Havemeyer would be one
OF the Mayors Anti-Tammany Democratic nom-
uees. and ex-Assemblyman James DAILY the other.
Mr. Uavemeyer is q son of the former
Mayor, William F. Havemeyer, large
sugar importer and manufacturer, ana one
of the few men indirectly connected with the cipher
scandal who was found not to he sInirched and
stained with that iniquity. Mr.. DAILY has several
times carried the XlNtb Assembly District against
prominent Tammany candidates, and has very
strong backing III his party and in the Board OF
Aldermen.
Mr.. Wheeler is the only member of tbe'Police
Board who has not been cited to appear before the
Mayor The letter addressed to all the others has
not been presented to him. This ii has been gwen
out was because OF his absence IN the South. lie
will return to-day but is not lkely--at any rate
is far from ccrtaln-that the charges pre-
ferred against the others will be directedat him.
Mr. Wheeler was very active in the campaign
which resulted in Mr.. CoOpeTs election, and IS III
dorsed by ex- Collector Arthur, Senator Conkling
and Republicans generally. as well as by many
leading Anti-Tammany men. About week ago
Nr Wheeler asked permission to go South for his
health, and in answer to his inquiry of the Mayor
whether or not he would be wanted for fort
night or so the latter replied that he need not re-
turn until called for.
Several of the gentlemen who have been talked
of as probable appoutees have been approached TO
know if they would undertake the immediate re-
organization Of the police force. While the answer
of each cannot be stated, 1t may be positively as
serted that those who will go into the
new Board Will be pledged to thorough
"shaking up" of the entire force. There
will be an almost instantaneous transfer of the
principal Captains. A new Superintendent Will be
chosen and the Inspectors will be shifted, The
Detective Squad will be changed and a new system
instituted the men detailed for this class OF Work
to be unknown, except to the superintendent