The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE POLICE BOARD TROUBLE
MAYOR COOPER PROPOSES TO TRF
THE COHMTSNIONERS

Ordering them to show Cause why trey should
not he Removed r,r Neglect or puty-What
Mersrs. smith. Nichols, ard ErhRrdt say.
Michael W. Brown. first messenger In
Mayor Cooper's office served upon Police Com
missioner Erhnr1t. at 8 o'clock yesterday morn
ing the following:
MlYoR's OFFICE March -. 1870
Jo,' EThardi Ee, Po'ee normos'o"sr @ms o'V Of Nev
I'ok
sin. Under the Beard OF Police OF which you .
member. tho government and discipline Of the roics
force have lax md incapable; tho notice force
has deterorated in efficiency and has become demor-
alizci.
The Bonrd Of Police OF which you are member. has
not caused n the cv 30 to thoroughly cleaned
from time to time, sni kept them thorouehlv cleaned.
aud has removed rom the city daily sud Ms often az
necessary. all nshcs. dirt ruhiish. and rarbaee.
You have been Negligent in tho oschargo Of the public
duties which sou were borud to nhl
iuu have allowed icrsonHl dfehF"ns n preclude me
proper exercise uf tie official trust which you assumed.
Your conduct has been unhcc'minr your onlee.
These causes warrant your removal from office.
will give you opportunity 10 be heard thereon st
~ O'clock noon. "Wednesday March ~. 1873 NJ the
| Mayors office. EDWARD CoorrR, Mayor.
Similar letters wcrc subsequently delivered
/ to President Smith and Commissioner Nichols.
Commissioner Whcclor is out of town. and was.
therefore. not served with the letter.
The Commissioners were not surprised at tho
Mayors action. MIR. Nichols said that in the
past week he had heard rumors that the Mayor
| intended 10 rcuove the entire Board. He. how
ever. received no direct information. by letter
| or otherwise. ns TO the Mayors intentions. nor
| bad he been asted to resign his Office
don't wish % talk much about the matter" no
I continued " but will sny that | shall not go
down. without giving my opponents good
Coming as II did on tho heels Of Andrew II.
| Green's polite request for bis resignation. Gen.
Smith was not surprised nt Mayor Cooprrs
| summons hut did not care to talk on the SUBJ
! )rct. He had placed the matter. he said, in tho
hands of his counsel. who would say AL he had
Mayofr f ON M W.dncsday. w." TRa General conciui"3
with the sentiment that be had meyer turned his
back on m enemy, aud would not begin now.
Commissioner Erharii affected to he much
pleased NJ Mayor Cnop"r's new departure. but
ne r.Ers.I he f I M u Bra P9' Ses ,aSsn ss,,
Mayor Cooper. tho present status, would have
hcen reachcd on Jan. 2. instead o. March 10. In
plainel in his conference with Mayor Cooper
had much increased. Since The conference tho
had Increased TO i5O witch were now awniting
the decision, OF himself and coleagnes-p de-
Gson Which N some @sgs' nS %1Iq pr3o%S re, ,oS
particular pains To say TINT he did not regret
the acton, on his nari which had prec, pitate !
willing TO have his course rs Commlss oner
riigil' Investigated, and he hored that from
force would be thoroughly investigated and
| purified. and rll abuses rooted ont. The torco
generally h" chRracirrizct ms demoralized.
that he hal afforded the Com miss toner's will be
public. His answer was TINT il would.
" Do you mean hy public herring TINT tina
Comm iss sioners Will he given nm opportunity 10
present documentary and oral testimony In
their defencp2' the reporter inquired.
" ! don't say that" the Mayor replied.
mean that the hearing will be in nv officp. anl
will not be conducted with closed doors. OF
course | don't intend that nv office shall he
crowded hv people who have no Immediate in-
tercst in the matter. l mean that the herring
shall b. public. In other words that II will be
open 10 tho newspaper reporters and others
, Like the meetn.ss OF the Board OF Appor-
tonment." the reporter interrupted.
Tho Chief Magistrate smiled as he answered
Yes That's it,"
] "Wi YOU say why yon have determined "a
| remove Commissioners Erharit and Whepler
d | whose terms expired long ago, nnd whose
; pacrs you and the Common Council may MI al
8 anv tmey'
The Mayor looked up from the warrants thai
, | he WAS sign ne. ami repied. / had rather no
: | discuss thHt question until II is raised by the
Z Comm issiun"rs Ht the caring"
| Al this point tho Reporter vcntured 10 nsk
why copy of the Mnyor's lcter WIS not liver
, | to Commissioner Wheeler. The MAYOR arose
, from his rlnir and replied Mr.. Whec!er Is
4 not IN town
Do you intend to serve him with tho lattcT
whom he returns %
Tho Mayor sniingly answered, IT viii hs
time 10 answer thnt question when he nrriy"s r
town. urvor proulcSy or make predict 0ns.
The Mayors action was the topic In poiltict
| circl's yrsterluy. Al sort o' opinions w"rC
expressed tho prevailing sentiment being tha
the removals viii not be made.