The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-06

Report on the Re-organization OF the Pc.
lice, Fire and Watch Departments OF this
City.
We commend the following extracts from the
report of the Common Council on the above sub
jects to the notice Of our readers
'Notwithstandng The large sums yearly devoted
TO the Administration Of justice, crime is still in
creasing in this city in all the gradations of guilt
from slight misdemeanors to felonies Of the great
es, atrocity. The ordinances Of the city, aad the
laws oil the State. are habitually violated with i'm
punity. The properly Of The citizen is lfered,
almost before his eyes. Dwellings and warehouses
are entered win AN ease and apparent GOODNESS and
carelessness Of detection, which shows that none
are safe. Thronged as our city is, men robbed
in the street. Thousands, that are arrested, go
unpublished, and the defence less and beautiful are
ravishea and murdered in the day time, and no
trace Of the criminal is found The man of busi-
ness, in his lawful calling, al the most pablo
Of our city, is slaughtered in the sunshine and
packed up and sent away, by the most public and
known channels OF trade, and suspicion is hardly
excited.
The fire department, heretofore the pride and Sc.
curity OF the city, composed of men in whom good
character is native, and good conduct habitua, is
becoming, instead Of an efficient good, an active and
visible evil. The citizens are not generally aware
of the extent to which its present organization has
promoted vice and crime. Many Of the fremen
have become refractory, obstinate, and quarrel
some; and the engine houses have, in many in
stances, become gambling houses, drinking houses,
and brothels where The troops ef idlers principally
boys, who hang around the engines, MS volunteers.
assemble with such others as they can entice to
enter these school houses of inIquity, and devo.e
their nights 10 orgies the most debasng, and impu-
rites not to be named 1t is there that have been
formed gangs OF dsturbers of the peace that march
through the streets and defy the law, and thence
have gone foth those adopts in villany, that the
selves skilled in committing all sorts of crime in all
sorts Of ways have taught their art to pupils Of the
brightest capacity. 1t is under such influences
nd To ~ WI red nj lo
mics Of ,en,ep in the day time, in the most public
Streets in the most quiet and orderly par OF the
city, have laid aside their fire dress, and, by
certed arrangement, wayaid and attacked in the
most deadly manner, other fire companies and re-
turned from the Of riot and bloodshed to re-
oice in perfect impunity, because no examination,
even under the solemni,y Of an oath, could break
through their O. mhinatons and expose the guilty.
1t 10 thus that the deterioration Of public MORALS
brought on by a bad system Of police, is always
Characterised. Grimes Of shocking atrocity and
extraordinary holiness are the proper indications,
and the natural growth Of its later stages. And
TINS the evil principle of our Police organizatio
has been allowed to work unchecked, till its poison
fruits have rpened to their greatest bitterness,
and hang in the largest clusters.
Itssems to tho Committee, also, that these cir.
cumstences, growing out Of the neficiency of the
preseit system to prevent crime are at this time
pressing upon the minds Of the people, and causing
all classes to enquire what is 10 become Of us, il
our city is made the asylum of the depraved and
| profirte, whom better systems and wiser laws
| have 0riven from their native homes. All seem to
| see that New York is made the place where not
only the impurities Of our own society are brought
together and made manifest, active elements Of
evil, but is also the central deposit for the worst
issues Of other countries. feeling Of anxiety and
| alarm, looking at this growing evil and casting
| about for some change in whichthe community can
find protection, to indicate the present as that
crisis in suffering, when reform be most fortu
nately undertaken, and when enlightened public
opinion will strengthen the hands Of the city au.
thorites, and sustain them in the introduction of
system that will in some degree secure the peace
of the city, and the persons and property Of the
citizens.
The plan of the Committee is sketched in the
following passages:-
For ano her reason, the present is a favorable
time to Introduce change. The Croton water
will be brought to the city in July next and will so
radically change the fire service that entire re-.
| sary. The fire duty will then be comparatively
light. The service pipes in the houses and work
shops-the hydrants at the corners of the streets,
and the fire plugs at proper distances, will furnish
never-failing supply Of water in the most availa-
bic form, which will be carried by its own force,
above the highest roofs in the city Engines will
be much less needed, and hook and ladder and hose
service will be the principal labor. We ought not
to omit this opportunity to introduce great reforms
and to substitute body of paid fremen for those
whose valuable gratuitous services have been &C.
companied it'll so many evils. ..
The plan of the Committee seeks to increase
".
the Criminal Courts much more onvcniently &C.
cessibie and TO unite in one body Of men, all the
functions OF fremen, watchmen and policemen.
These are to be picked men, Of kind disposition
and good character, selected, far as NAV be- from
the present watchmen and fremen. They are to
spend their whole time in the prevention and ex
tisction OF fires, and the prevention and punish.
ment of offences against the laws Of the State and
from the city treasury. They have the two most
powerful exctements to the vigilant and meritori-
ous discharge Of their duty in the constant prospect
Of promotion and increase Of pay, and for extraordi
are TO rendezvous at twelve station houses in 20
many districts Of the city, which station houses
TO 10 court houses, watch-houses, look out sta
tons, engine houses, and keepers dwellings and
lodging rooms. 1t proposes the creation Of q new
court for the trial Of petty offences performing the
duties Of the Special Sessions) TO be called the
Police Court, to be always open, to be usually held
by three ofthe Police Justices, two others of whom
are, to be constantly performing the present func.
tons Of the Police Magistrates, in relation to feo-
MES. 1t proposes ais the giving Police powers
to the present six Assistant Justices Courts, and
increasing the number to twelve-one for each dis.
trict These are to be always open and usually
held by the Justice Of the district, but his alb
sence, by any other Magistrate. The jurisdiction
is extended TO one hundred dellars, and they arc
specially charged with enforcing the city ordi
nanees. nf tHl a
As executive offic ers Of the Police Department,
performing the duties Of day patrol, and night
watch, and the duty Of fireman after the Croton
water shall be brought to the city, eight hundred
able bodied men are to be permanently employed,
who will be amply sufficiently withiproper atera-
ton, TO perform all those daties with ease.
Fires will be less frequent from the greater num
Der Of lookouts, and the constant supervision Of
prsctised fire wardens, and the general care Of
large body Of men liable to FIRE duty. They will
also be much more readily extinguished when we
bring to that servics men paid from the pubic trea-
sury their whole time devoted 10 the public ser
wise and their skill aad resources increased by long
practice and familiarity with the best modes CT ma.
nagement, and their ambition exsrted by the hope
Of promotion and increase Of pay.
The plan provides twelve look out stations,
where all the FIRE machines are stationed, and
where the earliest notice will reach the firemen
On the breaking out Of the fire, the machines will
be instantly hurried to the spot, under the direc-
tion Of the engineer and focman and at the fire the
Ill H. H. n a.