The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-27
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
00- No news of importance by the Southern mail
Of this morning
Reform of the Police.

Whether the Board of Aldermen and Assistants
really intend to amend, alter or interfere IN any
respect with the present police SYSTEM is matter
OF so much uncertainty that it would probably be
waste oil time to propose any plan, however efh-
Gent, tor that desideratum, efficient preventive
police. SO lar, the public have been favored with
resolutions and reports, and plans, but these have
ended all such matters usually do, where there is
manifestly the lack of determination and courage
really to DO anything efficiently. The public, how
ever, are deeply interested in this matter, and while
on the one hand the present system and these con-
nected with it are literally abused for much that
they are not justly cbargeable with, on the other
there is no doubt but abuses exist which are dis
grace to the character OF the cty-nor should they
he permitted to continue where there is power on
the part of our Common Councils to correct Them
The most certain way to do this, is to expose them,
and to present facts for the consideration of the peo-
ple that the force of public opinion may be directed
to them Then salutary reform may be anticipated.
Much has been said about preventive police, or
the prevention OF crime, andSt is supposed that this
depends upon the character, nature OF appointment,
and pay othe police officers, and OF the magistrates.
Now, one most important fact in the consideration
of this subject, has been wholly lest sight of, and
yet so long exists, or IS permitted to continue
IN Its present practical OPERATION Will counteract
the best system of police that can be devised by the
ingenuity of man.
1t is an undeniabe fact that the most notorious
felon can at all times, if he or his friends have
money, defy conviction and laugh at the prison. the
police, and the courts. Let the indeiatigabe police
officer spend night after night deiying all weathers.
in anxious, seepess watching for the detection of
the midnight depredator upon the property of our
and at length, probably at the peril of his life, arrest
him and lodge him in prison for trial, after he ex.
ahmed and fully committed, he will be at large and
laugh at and defy the officers and the whole police.
How, it will be asked, Can this be accomplished?
The solution is easy. If he or his accomplices have
money, as they generally have the first thing is to
have the amount of bail fixed; the next is TO find
bail This is easily done, for there persons in this
CITY hO make hal hus IN hal
all the felon has to do is furnish the money top pay
the price asked and he isimmedately taken outup'
on writ of habeas corpus, before the Judge. These
bail brokers make their bargains according to their
charge; that 49, if they procure bail for $1,000, they
get 500 All the Judge has to do is to put the bail
upon oath, and if he take the necessary oath, the
felon is liberated, and that ends his case. If the
committee On the police in the Board of Alder
men have any desire to enghten the public and
inform themselves, let them go into an examna-
ton of the number of commitments of feons who
have been bailed out-then 60 to the District Attor-
neys office, and see how many recOgDiZanccs have
been forfeited, and the small amount that has been
recovered the many that have escaped trial, and
the amount of fees with which the city has been
charged in these cases.
tised to its present extent preventive fiddesck!
1t is this which requires correction. Here is where
remedy should be applied, and wherefor is 1t that
il has not been heretofore? The answer is at hand.
The perquistcs OF Office prevent it,
Having occupied more space than is usually allot-
ted in the columns of newspaper TO a comnlunlca-
ton, must defer pursuing this subject until another
day. But 1t Is my intention to expose TO the ppbllc
the workings OF the present system; and If necessa-
ry, give instances which have occurred. Meantime,
have the Police and Watch Committee OF the Board
OF Aldermen the courage TO investigate this matter
for themselves, and give the facts the public? II
would be much better TO do this, than leave il to be
done by
A PRIVATE CITIZEN.