The New York herald., 1845-11-29


new opinions-and new principles.
The POLICE DErARTa1ENr-PUNIsHM OF OFTEN
pERs &c.--There are few persons, who have given
the subject of the Police Department any consdera-
tlon whatever, bur must have come TO the conclu-
sion that an important change in the administration
OF justice is greatly needed; particularly so, as re-
CARDS the punishment, or rather the treatment, of
those individuals who are arrested for minor Of
fences, such drunken and disorderly conduct as
sault and battery, &c., &c For instance, let us
suppose that an habtual drunkard is arrested in the
street for disordery conduct of course he is taken
to the head quarters of the Ward Police, and locked
up until the following morning, when he is taken
before the sitting magistrate OF the District, and,
probably, fined IN the sum OF S.; IN default OF
which, he Is committed to the city prison for term
of from five to thirty days. according 10 the charac-
ter Of the offence Now how is he employed during
the period of his incarceration What expenses are
incurred for bis support9 By whom are those ex-
penses derayed Is any beneficial result, IN mo-
raj point of view, effected by his so called imprson
mentl
In the first place, then, in reference to the manner
in which this class OF prisoners occupy their time
during their confinement-i is conceded, that abou.
a
Gus duties Of sweeping the corridors of the City
Prison, the Police Office and Court of Sessions
Also assist in the kitchen for the same number of
hours; this task being completed, they, with the
rest OF this numerous class OF inmates, generally de-
vote the remainder OF The day iweather permtting)
10 their favorite amusement Of "ptch and toss" in
the prison yard, on which occasions their bolster
Gus laughter may be heard in the surrounding
streets
With regard 10 the next question" what expen-
ses are incurred b. their so termed Imprisonment. p
1t may be somewhat difficult to give correct and
satisfactory answer; nasmuch as the expenses IN
Cured on their account, are by no means limited to
their support only while ncarcerated. On the con-
trary, we must take into consideration due, yea,
avery large proportion of the amount annually ex-
pended, in the shape of salaries to Magistrates,
Clerks, the Police force, including the Chief, Cap
talns, Assistant Captains Sergeants, and about 800
prvates besides other officers attached to the various
departments of the City Prison. as we'll as the cost of
suitable accommodations for them and, unless the
subject be viewed in this light, is impossible to
conceive what one worthless character, of the de-
scription previously referred to- costs the city in
the course of year, and the amount of tax that
must necessarily be imposed to meet the same
Then again, who called upon to defray the ex-
penses thus incurred by the offending parties 7" ANY
one may at feel satisfied that the violators of
law and order, in these cases. are not the individu
ais who bear the burden of taxation If this be the
case, as it most undoubtedly is, the sober and in
dustrious mechanics, the enterprising tradesmen,
the merchants, and worthy citizens generally, are
not only compelled to support hundreds of dssolute
dissrdery and dishonest characters, but they are
likewise called upon to contribute largely for the
protection OF their own property from the depre-
dations of the daring and accomplished rogues that
nfest our city.
In the next place, then, we ask whether any ben
efclal results, in moral point of view, effected
by such brief terms Of Imprisonment those i'm
posed in the referred to. We believe not, for,
IN most instances, sooner these offenders
leased from their cells, Crowded their finances will
permit,) than they are again found in glorious
state OF conyivlay;'' > and this routne of arrest,
imprisonment and discharge i repeated over and
over again. until the confines Of the prison are no
longer dreaded by these degraded objects
Before closing these remarks, it is proper to al
lude to another class Of individuals that must not
be overlooked We refer to the numerous females
who are sent TO the penitentiary vagrants by
fesslon--yes, vagrants by confession-the principal
portion OF whom prostitutes OF the most degraded
character. In the last stages OF disease peculiar to
that unfortunate class Of females, who daily apply
to the police magistrates be sent up to the Island
for couple OF months, for the purpose of getting
well which being granted, they taken to the
hospital and placed under the charge Of the talented
physician and excellent nurses CT that institution,
where they also provided with every thing that
is requisite for their comfort and when they
sufficiently recovered, they required to perform
some light work about the building until their re-
spectve terms Of residence at the Island shall have
expired, when they are discharged, return TO the
city, and almost invariably resume their peculiar
and unholy calng-and, ere many months have
elapsed, they again sent back to the Island to
undergo another patching up OF their shattered con-
stitutions
Such is the state Of things at the present time 1t
therefore becomes our duty to inquire whether
change cannot be efected-whether measures can
not be adopted which would, in great degree, re-
lleve from the immense burthen of taxation that
is imposed upon in consequence of the trans
gresslons Of the degraded representatives of hurnanl-
ty referred to in the preceding remarks-whcther
they cannot, TO considerable extent, be made TO
work out their own salvation or, ia other words,
w soHcuhiig toWafos reHiuheraung the city and
county of New York for the large sums Of money
expended on their account, either IN the shape Of
suitable fines, or by labor for period that will an
swer as well. Their employments can be confined
to such branches shall in the ieas, degree, if at
all, interfere with the interests OF those females who
labor almost necessarily 10 secure for themselves an
honorable and respectable livelihood
This is another branch OF reform now necessary
IN this city. 1t is by this loose way of managing
the affairs of this city that our citizens have their
taxes increased four per cent in one year
RECOGNITION or ST. DoMINGo-It is now ascer-
tanned that the obje CT of the late mission of Mr.
Hogan, on the part OF the United States, TO the