New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-06

election to m the vacancy was gwen ny inc
state for the election in the next mo h:
1t was held that tho person receiving the ing gn the
vi nd NOT m the vacancy by appointment.
But this decision rendered under section 10 Oh ~
ofice of any Judge of the supreme Court shall be.
come vacant before the expiration OF the regular Term
anp0infmcnt by tue Governor until 1t shall be supplied
at the next general election Of judges, etc"
In 1869 this article Of the Constitution was amended
to read that any such vacancy occurred IL should
I'll ed at the next general election happening not less
the meantime the Governor should appoint ETC. There
fore appears that the friends OF the candidate who are
him for Judge Russels place the strength OF the
Cowles case, will be disappointed 1t is impossible to
sell could br sustained for moment.
. AN INSULTING LET TER TO MAYOR GRACE.
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS REPLY TO THE MAY
OR's COMMUNICATION RESPECTING POLITICAL
ASSESSMENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
Police Commissioners Nichols and Matthews
awaited yesterday, with much Impotence an opportu-
nifty session Of the Board in order TO deal with the
Mayors letter the subject of political assessments in
the Police Department. All the Commissioners except
Mr. Mason who not present exhibited surprise and
ytuous indignation at the alleged disc Osures OF that let
ter rs soon President French arrived the Board
went into session took up the letter, and adopted the
following resolutions which offered by Mr.. French
and out general order by the Superintendent
Whereas. II appears from q communication OF the
Mayor OF the City OF NcwYOrk that he has been Z" in
formed sources which permit of no doubt as to the
Truth Of the statement" that assessments for political
purposes have been levied upon the police force and
other employees o. the city departments, and now In
process OF collection; and
Whereas, The Mayor declares it to be fact that the
pOwer OF office is being mssed for corrupt and part
san political purposes;
of the officers and OF this department be especially
directed,
Jts-To the face that the Mayor believes 1T ia i'm
possible that politics should bc purified
public service ever put upon proper footing. il such
practices are TO prevail in which belief this Board most
heartily conours.
Sccond-o the fact that the Mayor protests cmphati-
cay against the prostitution Of Official power for
rupt purposes" in which protest this Board most
ThrdTo the fact that OF the officers or men OF
this department must misuse Tor the purpose OF cor
rnptly cajotng or otherwise /" extortng money or
political purposes"
ton Of official power by the members OF the police force
for corrupt Of the character above described
strict compliance with the provisions OF this general
order will be required of all members OF the force
Next reply to the Mayor read by Mr.. French.
and having been approved by the Commissioners except
Mr. Matthews, who wished 10 he recorded In the
tive but did to discuss the matter" was forth
with copied and sent out It begins by commenting in
satcn language the fact that the Mayor sends his
communications the Police Board late in the day
that the Commissioners reply be published in the
morning papers with his letters. It then continues
follows:
An inquiry into your motives is found to bc appropri-
ate when IL ~ recalled to mind that few ago
Won ppcarcd before the community the chief apostle
ct-cleaning reform so noble, unsciflsh and pub
csplritcd were your avowed sentiments mat Inc very
newspapers which had once persstenty urged your
utter unntncss candidate for the MayOralty were
bcgued into The beet that was your sincere purpose
TO divorce strcctCleaning from politics." the
rent phrase You well know, and the people arc
fast finding out that your urotestaions Of superior civic
yiuc but subtle prccnccs FOR obtaining the power
which would enable you effectualiy % divorce street
cleaning from any politics except your own particular
yari ~: and to-day Informed from sources WI en-
permit OF doubt OF the truth 81 the statement" that
with scarcely an exception you have managed 20 "di-
yurcc from the labor of Understanding every Repub
lean sweeper carman gnngrnan sahleman, ccrk fore
man. inspector other Cmploye and have made OF tho
department great machine, especially devoted to
ihs CITY whether, II these things be 20. they afford
instance Of what you pleased to call the prnstu
ton ot Official power for corrupt parpoaes II would
perhaps be unbrcomng Ia this BOarl to suggest.
In view ~ courc In relation 20 street cleaning and
which admit Of iOubt 10 the truth OF tie state
mcnt," that You are actively engaged IN managing the
o 81 he rost rnrciye Contributions Won have vet
made to the campaign, We not justified IN nlerring
that the purpose which you claim 10 have In view Ia
ytng tha, letter h not really the one which actuated
youI but, waving any further discussion Of your
, III hoard IA We nierrrrt yyIIr letter NJ very
distinctly ntmatcs and, Indeed, substantially charges.
that by own direct procurement or by our connlN
aucc members of the police force have been recently
compelled to MAKE contributions for political purposes.
luu studUusiy refrain from fnyOring this Board with
the name Oh e person who brought the matter 90 your
sources of your information. you declare the
very threshold your letter that the such
~ permit doubt to Clio truth of the statement
To somewhat summary fashion OF concluding the
the Board earnestly Objects aud respect
Tst~Tnat whoever that It has given its advice
or consent 10 the extUrtOn c.Joery Of money from
the members OF the force states what IA false And this
Il ard Is informed and does not believe that any
Aar been levied upon the police force o. any
mrInbcr tucTcof IL VIII Do pleased, however 70 nve5t-
gate tbe sources OF your information In that regard
you viii Aindy indicate what they are -
Sceond-Tnat with the single exception TO which your
attention VIII presently be called tho sentmenIS 10
which you have given expression IN your letter are
hrart y approved rs every member Of the Board aud
Inc same ale embodied IN general order which has been
TINS day promulgated, nhu oi when copy Is hStclh ~
closed We think proper IN passing 10 suggest that THIS
order would have been cheyrluly Issued upon the,
smPlcst intlnaion from youse as 10 lts necessity OF
ptOprety that might have been thereby spared
the pains OF preparing the elaborate communication to
which We now nave the honor 10 reply.
Ihi,d.-lhe request in your letter which the Board
advise IT. suhOrtiinAtes under circumstances
TO mako any contributions through their fellows
MAYOR may have his prcrOgativo,
Ia the Judgment OF this Board no such action you sug
opinion that when citizen becomes policeman he does
not cease be citizen, having all the rights and prvl.
Irge witch hercuntO pertain Neither the Board itself
nor the individuals VINO compose VIII attempt to con-
troll any member OF the force ia nahng such contbu,
TONS ~ may desire Tor charitable social political
or rel glOus purposes The Board believes that every
cIuzcn, whether he be Mayor, Ponce Commsaloncr OF
upon political affairs and may properly contribute ne
drsir for the advancement OF tue interests Of that po
tca parry whose fortunes he ioOwsand whose success
ne b,rves most favorable to the cause OF good gov
ernment.
The letter was carried TO the Mayors house by Chief
Clerk Hawey, having signed and put in official
form.
Commissioners Coleman wrote letter to the Mayor
yestcrday stating that he did not believe that any po
tcaI assessments had been levied In his department
I'm the Department of Public Works, In the County
clerks Office aud other departments regular assess
cnt of pig per has been levied aud collected while
i'm many instances the percentage was great deal
higher. There good deal OF laughter yesterday
among the heads OF these departments at the Mayors
letter from the fact that IL not written until the
assessments had been all levied aud collected.
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.