New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-12
A NEW COMMISSIONER APPOINTED.

WHY GENERAL SMITHS ACTION WAS DELAYED-THE
LETTER TO THE MAYOR-APPoINTMENT OF Mr.
MATTHEW'S AS HIS SUCCESSOR.
General William F. Smith yesterday resigned bis
position as Police Commissioner. This step was not
unexpected. Several weeks ago he informed Mayor
Grace that he wished to resign. The Mayor pre-
vailed on him to withhold his resignation, and 1t
was generally believed that he would servo out his
term, which would expire May 1. Thursday Gene.
raj Smith called on the Mayor. and it is understood
that he t. en- inmated his intention of resigning at
once, consequently the Mayor was not surprised
when he received yesterday the following letter:
NEw.YonK March IL. 1881.
To The Hon VIM GRACE Mayor Of he Otty Of Neo York
sIR; ! hereby resign my ONCE rs romeo 0O'""'''-
Refore YOU were chosen MAYOR you we're aware that
my intention 60 resign as soon &c maj aeerIn ~
ton had been reached tne ains mp V your pre-
decessor Those proceedings have terminated 10 my
and nay s 81 the p IN s
since this reached have at your request,
should determine what was best for public interest,
which time trust has now arrived. yours mDsI to
spectfully, NM E. eAIIii'
Tho resignation was accepted and the Mayor at
once sent for James Matthews, senior partner otthe
law firm of Matthews, Foley, Hyatt g. Rapallo. Mr..
Matthews signfed his willingness to acceptthe posi-
ton, and was at once sworn in by the Mayor, and
was given his certificate OF appointment. Armed
with this, ne proceeded to Police Headquarters,
where he met General Smith by appointment.
, no HAY noi,tica siSn6eance was to be attached
TO General Smiths resignation. He replied;
III know of no special reason further than that
given IN General Smiths letter. de has been Tor
some time anxious to resign in order that he might
look after his private business aftalrs nave re-
ceived no other communication from MIN thah the
letter you have already In private converse
ton General Smith has often told me that he was
dissatisfied with the working of the Cleaning
Bureau and as he was unable to eject any clnangs,
he was anxious TO be rid OF any responsibility iOr IT,
You have, of course great confidence In the ne"
Yes. i believe Judge Matthews will make
GOOD Police Commissioners thoroughly efficient
one. His appointment was not made on POltg,0Sal
grounds. Politics had nothing to do with II. The
appointment was made purely on business principles
For that matter, intend that all appointments
from this Office shall be made on tie came plan. In
this way the best Interests of the public VIII be sub
served and the various departments OF the City
Government be well administered"
General Smith was appointed Police Gommls-
soner May l.. 1875. by Mayor william II. WEE VICE
ham for a full term of six years Early In 1877
Mayor Ely acquainted the Police Commissioners,
then comprising Joel b. Erhardt DeWittC' wheeler,
General Smith and ). r. Nichols, with MS intention
of removing them on charge OF general mismanage-
ment aud incompetency and specially f9r tnelr neg
lect to cause the streets Of the city to be properly
cleaned These charges fell through Evs sG
of office. April 5, 1879. Mayor Cooper preferred
charges against the Police Commissioners, declaring
and incapable, and had deterorated; that
the streets had not been properly
cleaned, and that no satisfactory explana-
tion for this failure had been made. For thesr rea-
sons the Mayor announced his determination 70 re-
move the Police Commissioners unless they could
give satisfactory e1planaAlOns OF theH 1ppaEeht
carelessnesa Mayor Cooper refused to allow the
accused officers to o:r,ar by counsel, ana sent 10
Governor Robinson 1is charges and recommends
tIon for the removal OF the COMMISSIONER. me
Governor concurred in certain removals. but the
charges against General Smith were not acted upon.
August o. of that year. when Governor Robinson
cOncurred in his removal, and James E' Morinon
wac appointed to fill the vacancy.
MIR Morrison could not agree with his Democratic
colleague Charles 4. MacLean, and resigned NO
vrnler "a 1879 John X. pOOrlils who bad pre-
yiously held the position Tor Two years. 10 III 'ne
remainder of an unexDired Term, was appointed TO
succeed Mr.. Morrison. Meantime commissioners
Smith and Nichols had contested IN the courts me
mower of the Mayor 70 remove them without sum
c,ent hearing of the charges against them and the
Courts decided in their favor: Gtneral Suli'h Was
reinstated ny a decision of the Supreme Court on
June 10 1880 and was at once recognized by, a
majority of the Board of Poles, anu resumed MS
duties IN the Board. =, ", ,,...
James Matthews was born in New-York CITY IN
1927 but five years late. his parents removed 10
Sullivan County N Y. He Itcelved II fair education
and stud,ed law IN the Office of General A. Z. NYens
then Acknowledgement under q Ivernor Bonck. lilo
was adm ted to the Bar in 1870 ami was aiterWard
elected Comfy Judge and Surrogate OF Sullivan
COnntv serving as such from 1896 10 lSOU. lie
was elected 10 the Assembly in 1864 ana again III
1865. and served on the Judlc,ary COMMITTEE. Cn
tue expiration OF his term OF Office he removed 70
this city and established law premiership with a.
b. Werner, superintendent OF Public instruction.
Several years ago Mr.. Matthews formed the law
firm of Matthews Foley HYATT a. RapallO. lie has
acted as counsel for the Delaware and hudson Canal
Company The Lake Shore and 4lichigan Southern
Railroad Company. and other large corporations lie
has always been a Democrat, and has been dele
gate to several State Conventions he was Tor sew
eral years member Of the Tnminany Hail General
Committee from The XXlld District but last year
hiraxU fFnm n