The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-31

and not rare occurrence for the statement made by
complainant the watch house TO differ materially
from his sworn testmonvst the police oice-indeed il
tines the that the witness al the watch house
becomes tho prisoner police Office In consequence
the captains OF the watch being authorised to al
minister oath the sporveness or magnity OF
NAV consgn best citizens the cells of watch
house. to detained until the next morning and until
discharged by the proper authority unless they should
be improperly discharged as implied in the quotation
during the night but magistrates confined themselves
granting discharges in such cases is here stated
may occur there would be just ground Of complaint
hs however, proverbia that the has been the
general practice OF some Aldermen, who seldom
acted magisteriay, except in dschagng prisoners from
wa Oh houses and the practice with all the evils which
have resulted from be attributed to the inconsistent
cy and injustice ofthe present system.
sth The Police Department should be under the con-
troll OF chief olcer for although there would be DIS
trics and sections there would be but department.
and uniformity OF practice in the several districts and hsr
monious and effective action when the main force of the
Police should he necessary could only be secured o the
ftmay he said that the Mayor Of the city its Chief Ma
gistra,e and the head OF the Police be it so and he is
equally the head of every other department OF the city
for it is his duty to vigan .nd active in causing the
laws and ordinances Of the government OF the city to he
supervision and control the conduct and of all
subordinate officers" We, he cannot conduct the bust
Chief Engineer OF the Fire Department, and Supernten
dents for almost all PURPOSES No man who has any
knowledge OF the duties of the Mayor the business Of
the Police Department, will pretend that the Mayor
perform his daily duties in the Mayors Office, his
duties President Of the Board OF Health Super
visor, and as director OF various institutions =
man will seriously contend that the Mayor can
to- also the Police Department and circum.
stances connected with IL, that time and attention which
chief officer fPsice The duties the Mayo are already
sufficiently numerous and what has been said above of
Ponce ocers dsvotng al their time to the business Of
applies with full force to the chief officer
All communications of great importance should be made
the head department for the ends Of Justice have
been defeated by magistrates and officers being engaged
IN the pursuit o. the same Snlec' without OF ss
responsible r the character and conduct OF the subord
mates: and hst proper discipline may be maintained he
should be associated with the commissioners in the expe
ling ofincompetent and improper members.
7th. All laws and regulations for the health and clean
ness OF the city, well for the security of the citi
and their property should be enforced by the Police
Department for the violation of the ordinances could
escape their notices. and the laws would be rigdy
forced. II is7 not intended to recommend any
ganizaton Of the BOARD Of HEALTH but suggest the pro-
priety and necessity of their views and being
carried into full effect by police prepared for any
gency The subject ofproperly lighting the city night
is entitled much consideration here's the security
the citizens from accident design makes important;
and whether be faithfully done, shameully neglec
ted only be known to those who duty
all nighin the streets the duty Of lighting the city should
therefore be performed under the direction of the poll CO.
especially as the city would sustain loss by making
the station houses the repositories of oil that a
ter the lamps had been supplied The suggestions here
made relation the duties of the police strongly
mended by motives of economy, their adoption
would render unnecessary the present arrangement
any other respecting inspectors pub
lie places of omnibusses hacks and and numerous
other special officers But the duties of some of the po
lice officers would require them be continually in par
tcular wards they should not be subject
several aldermen at the same time and the subdivisions
OF the districts should for this and other reasons m
ted TO the boundaries of the wards and each district should
comprise entire wards,
The strict scrutiny should be exercised by the
department within legal rules of course into the
ofconducting business by pawnbroker keepers of junk
shops and dealers secondhand articles for the facil
afforded disposal stolen goods en ers largely
into the calculation when robbery is meditaed And
police that will require the prompt and continual action
oits members in all parts Of the city confded
the power and the imp ratve duty assigned TO prevent
streetheg yng which and crime; and to
a W king
ofobscene papers and lbdnou prints, the great
ofvsnaty and profgacy.
The populson the city increased rapidly within
the last past and there certainly much
necessity for an efficient police now as there ever was
and the following remarks made by Chancellor Kent in
1886, may now be repeated with increased orce:"When
wecometo consider the actual wants of great numbers,
and the incessant needless and awess
suits TO pilferng to nemperanceo disorders Of all sorts
IN such dense population as exists in this city, and who
always less under excitement and the impulse
ofhe collisions and the storms of the passions
out be deeply impressed with the importance peace
and safety of an active and stern police"
have here given general outline Of the mprov ement
which is required my opinion in the police department
il would demand time complete plan than !
could devote the subject and abilities Tar beyond my
pretensieus to give il practical effect. Of po
lice might have all the characteristics herein contained
and fail to produce the reforms but believe the
suggestions here made susceptible of detail that would
constitute system under which with good and efficient
officers and mrn, ruisnsm would, to very great extent,
be subdued evil dsers driven places less dangerous
them to operates temptation crime removed from the
sing generations and the lives and property of
these changes suddenly simultaneously; be
produced carefully and gradually but with view the
ultimate ohect the system should be put in operation not
only without commoton, but mperceptbly except by its
RESULTS must be free from soopgecning and the
Of secreervice money, and must in all things fully
cord with the institutions OF our country.
am not prepared TO state what would be "he probable
increase OF expense attendant upon such improve
ment as not ascertaned the cost of the present
system completed list OF officers and men, with their
amouHt OF paw, for the plan in contemplation; but the
annual cost of each watch post IN the city s9l2 two
men at as per highland many of the present city and
ward officers would unnecessary f the change should
be made think the required Improvement would be ac-
compshed without any increase OF expense and that az
ter the construction OF the necessary buildings the
form system would be less expensive than the
Aworkhouse, TO which persons should be committed
who are not NJ subjects for the aims house. and ought
not TO be committed TO the penitentary may cassed
with the mprov required but the consideration
the subject must be omitted for the present.
strict compliance with the resolution OF your honor
able board would require the little time can appro-
PIRATE to the subject should be empoye ed in reply ing
the express terms OF the resolution but permission
queed to state that my onnion the Cling of civil
and criminal cases in the courts has been
commended, would not be sslutary measure for one
the other branches Of business prsbably both would
be improperly disposed Of Nor would improve
ment to increase the Of the special Justices as to
authorize them issue search warrants proof by
affidavit that there's good reason to believe that Offenders
Witnesses legal evidences OF crime are in
any building place mentioned in the affidavit The
Of this power without precedent would be too
hghhsndei for this country, and these times and would
sot with all its abuses be tolerated The jurisdiction Of
the police tribunal has been, successfully by various
acts extended 20 embrace great variety OF subjects and
by OF January %, 1889 powers conferred up
IT, sssssed believe by similar tribunal ia
our country"-tNote 67, laws relative to the city OF
New Ysrk.1
though the subject not exhausted have been
fined to any plan model but having been called on to
my opinion have done without restraint pro-
badly too freely on some points, and they
Very respectfully submitted,
ROBERT TAYLOR
New York, Jan. 30, Is43-