New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
COMMISSIONER ERH4RD1S CHARGES.

GENERAL WILLIAM z. SMITH RESPONDS IN LETTER
10 THE MAYOR ASKING FOR An I>NEsTIGA-
TON.
Commissioner EIhardt's charges against bis
associates n the Board Of Police Commissioners have
caused General william +. smith. President of the
Board TO address letter TO the Mayor in regard TO
tho matter. The Commissioners charges ad-
dressed TO the Board OF Police Commissioners
have not been officially LAID before the Mayor, except
they appeared in report OF the proceedings OF the
Board printed in The C,y Record II understood that
the majority Of the Board took the ground that as a
body they had right TO ask the Mayor to investigate
the charges. and that Commissioner Erhardt ought
to have preferred his charges to the Mayor,
when he would have had an opportunity to sustain
them. As the charges have now become a matter Of
noorety, General smith has sent letter to the Mayor
stating hrs unwingness 10 assist in investigation,
and Commissioners Nichols and Wheeler will PROBABLY
forward somewhat similar letters. Although Mayor
Cooper has the matter under consideraii'n IL
was stated last night hy an official associate
OF MS that an investigation would be or
dered which would embrace all the official
acts OF the members OF the BOar number OF aspants
for the position of Police Commissioner nave called on
the Mayor recently. They have offered IA said their
assistance IN the coming lnyestlEacn, S91e OF nese
ment, and think they can render valuable assist
nnSs i,e'f IS @ of mors resardns the Pc
lice Board, OF the most noteworthy being
that the charges made @ nov , ey ~ EfnaG rot
medltated plan To remove the present DelnOcraOc
Comm~ and point in their places men more IN
syinpatny with the Anti-Tammany party. The Mayor
will probably make any changes III the Board uut
after the pending investigation.
Tue following Is the letter OF COMMISSIONER smith:
The Hon. EDWARD COOPER
SIR resolution introduced into the Board OF Ponce
by OF the Commissioners, at She meeting OF the
Board on January 2l together with an explanation
thereof reduced meeting held to-day, causes me
10 address letter to YOU Ia my capacity as member
Of the Board Of Police Uhe acts OF which have
been questiOned), and also IN my character
as Police Commissioner, as some OF the
suecincatiOns point to Individual acts or un-
specified Commissioners. feel certain that from your
knowledge Oi yOu would not expect me 10 avoid any
Investigation OF my official acts and trust YOU will give
the matter such examination as may be necessary to
satisfy yourself entirely with reference TO thc careless
ness inciciencv or extravaganza ~ the Board, and
also of the individual members 80 lar as re
lates their Official position.
While the Board OF Police Is by statute ITS own fnal
auditor the Mayor has always the Ight ands furnished
by law with the means Of investigating the dsOuree-
lneut Board and so far as Know the Board has
always cOuricd investigation into It's financial transac-
tons. with reference 10 the examination into the con
tiOu police force proper 20 determine The Justice
OF promotions impartial discipline consistent en-
forcement Of law while the statute rests those matters
entirely with Board Of Police shall be OalY too
wei pleased 10 have you examine INTO them thoroughly,
aud viii aid the fullest extent in your Gamma
tlOn
With no desire 10 relieve myself from an equal re-
sponslDity with my associates cannot but fce that
assertions or such character conveyed by the res
OuOn should be responded 10 by each member IN ms
ind vidual capacity. and therefore address you ON
my own account Faithfully yours,
(-igncdl MILAN r. cAtilh'
Commissioner OF Police
Cop,n,issoaers Oeiee, Police Deparhsnt Ner- Yort,
LAM 1879.