New-York daily tribune., 1844-03-14
r. n z T r [ B u n E f.
Police Reform.

Police hefOrAn.
Tba. there are abuses enough in our Police Sys-
,,r, hath in its management and its organiza-
-, 10 have sunk City in the Olden Time,
20 have very little doubt; but whether there is
;,,el;cence, sclfdenial or honesty enough ahoat,
a;,ber amongst the People or in the Rulers they
sn,oint over them, to radically and cfcctually
ar.ct these abuses, we regard as u matter far
roore Questionable. The enormous quantities of
nnhlic money andlegislative wisdom which in all
,arts of the world arc annually expended in the
.;scussion, alteration and modification Of Laws
and the pretended reforms in their administration
would, if luiciousIy and benevoently applied,
30 very far towards dispensing with the necessity
Of Laws by removing the main Inducements
noverty and ignorance-to the commission of
crime. However, hoping but very family, to sec
any early and thorough reform, we must still look
with interest upon the various changes in
the ramihcatons Of the present pernicious system
of Government which extend to the surface, and
which seem to be all that is visible to the conde-
scepding scrutiny of Common Councils, who
s,Oop from their obese dgnltes to pat their mu-
nicpa family upon the back. put their fingers
soothingly and irresistibly into its pockets, and
with an awful frown send naughty boys and girls
TO bed without their suppers, or lock them up in
dark closets-provldcd they have not the means
of paying for better entertainment.
We have therefore been close observers of the
moves recently made on the subject of Police Re-
form, as it is rather ostentatiously called, by the
two Boards of our City Government. After a long
preparation, and many preliminary hourishes from
those presses devoted to the very necessary bat not
very pleasant occupation formerly held by the
crows and buzzards in Charleston, we have at
length the vouminous and elaborate Report Of
Aldermen TILLoU and Woodruff to the Board
ofAldermen on the subject of a reform in the
City Government. Fearing that there Is IN 1t
sad want Of that vitality taking root in the
very bottom and foundation of its subject, so ne
cessary to the life and healthful growth of all
Reform, and doubling whether any but the most
superficial and Inefficient benefits can even have
been contemplated by its progenltors, we will
proceed to state the leading features of the pro-
posed reform as briefly as possible.
The Report of Alderman T. and w. recon-
mends the removal Of the Aims House establish
nents from Bellevue and the Long Island Farms,
and their transference to Blackwe's Island. 1t
proposes to occupy the Northern Half of the Is
land, comprising about fifty acres of land, with
heseveral departments of the Aims House; and
the Southern half with the Penitentlary. This
arrangement would leave the property at Belle
vue worth about 100000, and that on Long
Island, worth say $s50,000, at the disposal of the
Corporation, for sale or ather purposes.
1t proposes to unite the Fire, Watch and Con-
stabulary Departments, for the exemption Of
large BODY of citizens from the services of those
thus qualifying them for other public
duties. Hence will result an increase of the jury
list, and less burdensome apportionment OF jury
duty.
The number OF persons which will be employed
under the proposed amendments is 1852, instead
Of 1869, as at prcsent-but their pay in the ag
gregate is to remain about the same as at pre-
is, somewhere between s500,000 and
100000 per annum. This feature Of the bus
ness we strongly protest against; nor are VIC at
all wiling to admit, as this amendment does lhat
the pay of individuals at present employed In the
CITY Government is about sirty-sir per cent too
lop. We think this is decidedly reforming back
wards.
A poudrette establishment is suggested, where
hy the Inconvenience and annoyance now expe-
renced from certain sources will be ercmedled.
1t IS proposed to establish Public Slaught
House at some suitable position IN the upper part
Of the Island, on the bank Of one of the rivers
that the Slaughter Houses now existing IN the
populated parts of the city may be dispensed with
and tie health and comfort OF the people IN thelr
nclghborhood promoted.
These arc two indispensable improvements
The establishment of public Slaughter-dous Is
a matter that cannot be too earnestly pressed
The health and life Of the citizens are interested
IN the question::
Tosuppress gambling, the enactment OF penal
laws is recommended, rendering 1t a penlte ltlary
offence
|, is proposed to punish each act of adultery
with years Imprisonment in the County } All :
and seduction, with three years confinement N
the State Prison.
The abomination Of the third ter is proposed
to be abolished, by the exclusion OF tral1'y rom
places of public amusement.
The Committee estimate the number OF esrihe
women in the city at upwards of lo'oo9' sno
though, in the opinion of "Jurlsts and Leg'Sia
Tors of esteemed reputation, humanity ano gooo
policy favor the idea of licensing and regulating
BY law" the receptacles of this class OF persons
II is deemed best, out of respect to the : pFelu.
does and principles of this community. no, "
10 recommend such an arrangement at thus tiine'
Such are the principal suggestions OF the ne.
port and we leave them for the consideration oi
all, But the most valuable and interesting poT-
ton of the Report is its statistics of CRIME ana