New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-19
EXCITEMENT AT THE CITY HALL.

| POLITICIANS GREATLY EXCITED OVER THE REMOVAL
OF COMMISSIONER NICHoLs-sOME OF The
CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED 10 THE GOyERSoR5
ACrIoN--MR. MAC LEANss CLOSE Personal RE-
IATIONS WITH MIR. TLDEN-THE MAYORS COM
MENTs Oh HE RESULT.
The Governors action in removing Police Com
missioner Nichols caused great excitement yester-
day among politicians in the city. line removal Of
the three accused Commissioners had been regarded
as determined upon by the Mayor and the Cover
nor. When it became known yesterday that
only one had been removed the politicians
and oncc-seekcrs were greatly exercised in mind
to know whether the others were to be saved. 1t Is
believed by those known To have close political re-
lations with the Mayor that COmmlss Ouer smith
will be removed or viii have opportunity offered
INN to resign within a few days and that success
sors TO Commissioners Erhardt and Wheeler Will be
nominated by the Mayor at the next meeting of the
Board of Aldermen.
The Mayor said last night that he had no word
from the Governor regarding the cases of Commits
sioncIs Smith and Erhardt, but a gentleman from
Albany who had been in consultation with the Gov
ernor stated his belief that b"A would be- removed.
f. is well known, however, that great political in
nucnce has been brought 10 bear on the Governor
to save General Smith. The fat that Mr..
Erhardt's term of Office las expired, and that
no successor could Oc confirmed without
the aid of Republican vote, ia the Board of Alder
men. it is thought may !cal 70 the return
OF the papers IN IN, case without approval.
Many unors are aloat with as many different
versions of the reason for the Governors action
Commissioner Nchols's ease alone. but it Is urged
that such action is Indication of his purpose in
regard 10 the other Commissioners The reasons for
the Governors action were given by politicians gem
orally as follows: Had tho Governor removed tho
q a. .
the Police Board might have been indefinitely de-
layed by iujnction-, mandamuses and other means
that it was believed would have been Invoked by
the removed officials. Then, too, the new Commas
,loners would have been uuaccustomcd to their
duties. Now the Mayor has the cooperation OF
Commissioner Wheeler and Commissioner MacLean,
the latter having long been counsel TO the Board,
and familiar with the dltics of has Office The
appointment by the Mayor of another Com
missioner and his recognition by Commissioners
MacLean and Wheelec, would give quorum TO the
Police Board. If then there was delay Ia confuna-
ton by tue Board of Aldermen OF successor to
Commissioners Ernardt should the latter be re-
moved, it would not interfere with the operations
Of the Police Department.
Opinions of politicians were divided, however, as
TO whether Messrs Smith and Erharlt would be re-
moved AT all, though 10 Wa. Tie almost unanimous
opinion that they would not long remain in tho
Department. Commissioner Nichols was the chair
man of the Street Cleaning Committee. and the oiil-
cial head OF that bureau He vas held by Mayor
Cooper to be directly responsible for the dirty
streets, though the Mayor claimed that the other
Commissioners were also responsible, though per-
haps not in equal measure. This fact and the addi-
tional one that Mr.. Nichols is an active Tammany
Hall Democrat, is thought to have influenced the
immediate action on ms case.
Tho Tammany adhercnts were deeply agtated
Yesterday but this their chronic condition Of
late. They were loud in denunciatIon of the Mayor
and Governor, and stated their belief that all
Iammany officials, including Controller Kelly.
would be removed Mr. Kelly says he has good
reasons for believing that sweeping change Is
planned by Mr.. Cooper and Mr. lilden, and that IL
all done to exert an influence on the Presidential
election of 1850. The facts that MIR. MacLean',
Dec Eiith Page-