The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-30

HE POLICEMEN AND THEIR DUTY-THE CRorON
WArKR.-We are often astonlshed at the perfect
impunity with which our ordinances are violated
every day in the year, by very large portion o,
the people of this city, who ought to know tina,
they are transgressing, not only IN open daylight.
but in the public streets, before the gaze of every
wayfarer, when they throw garbage, ashes, vege-
table trash, rubbish of any kind, into the differ
ent highways and byeways Of the city and we
often think that if our nine hundred starlight
watchers would fulfil the oath to which they SUBJ
scribe when they are sworn into Office, VIZ, "to do
the duty Of policemen to the best of their ability,
there would be no transgresson of the ordinances
whatever. We are very sorry to say, however,
that there is lamentable ignorance of the ordi-
nances manifest in their manner of fulfilling their
oath; or laziness or lassltude, consequent upon
life Of idleness, which makes them Indifferent to
every species of transgression except open theft
or a row in the streets, or something else so fla
grant in its character as to make every citizen feel
ii his duty to interfere.
Many nuisances, which might be abated If the
policemen would do their duty, are " In the full
tide of successful experiment y and particularly
one-which Is the use of those little Croton con-
veniences called " streetwashers," by means OF
and pedestrians OF tie male order are made to
walk IN the water with leaky understandings, and
very finely dressed young ladies', whose feet are en-
cased in gossamer ARE 'sent to their long account
because of catching cold, by having their feet wet,
In violation OF the ordinance in such case made
and provided. There are many other inconve-
niences attending the unreasonable and unreason
able use of the street-washer - but as we have
neither time nor room to speak of them all in this
article, we will give an extract from the ordl-
nance which was intended to prevent them. The
ordinance was passed July Sd, 1914, and pro-
vides-
That in each and every succeeding year, from the
frst day Of May to the first day of November, all per-
sons forbid to the Croton water for washing
streets, sidewalks steps or buildings, after eight
the first day Of November to the first day of May fol-
lowing, after nine, A. NJ or before six p NJ, under
the penalty of five dollars for each offence"
This ordinance was designed to prevent the
Croton water from being made nuisance; and
although its provisions are as plain as very long
nose on short mans face, yet the police
men seem to be entirely ignorant of the existence
OF such regulation for as we travel through the
different thoroughfares, we find the water flowing
all about us, and at all times of day; and some-
times we see policeman wading through the
mpld fluid, steering the same course we do, or
''sitting on RAIL- very quietly smoking segar,
not dreaming, though IN doze, that he is all the
time winking at violation of the ordinance, or
entirely ignorant of its provisions
This paper was established for the benefit of the
public; and inasmuch as the city guardians are
appointed to fulfil the laws of the city, we recon-
mend that every station house be supplied with
copy of the corporation ordinances, to the end that
our vigilant and trustworthy policemen, number
ing in all nine hundred or Whereabouts, may know
something of the duties they swear to perform,
besides catching thieves and experimenting vaga-
bonds. This is the age of rational reform in cor
poration matters; and as the police are very i'm
portant component of our corporation, it is very
| proper that when man swears that he will do
his duty policeman, to the best of his ability,
he should know what his duty actually is Let
him, therefore, read the city ordinances, and re-
member his oath.