The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-06

confident there Is but one opinion entertain
ed of the police system at present in operation
in New York, and thai is that it fails to answer
the expectations of its orignaiors, and is made
quate to the prevention of crime, not but that
the number of arrests is greater since its estab-
lishment than ever before, but of this more
anon.
Since we have last written on this subject we
have investigated the working of the new police
system, aud we are satisfied that great deal of
Its inefhciency is owing to the manner in which
the members are appointed The appointing
power rests in the Mayor; and that official APP
points, on the recommendation of the aldermen
of the several wards, Tom, Dick, and Harry, and
all other loafers who hang around the
polls at election times, and work with all their
might Tor the success of certain candidate;
who, in many cases, G ives promise before hand,
that in case of his success, he will have those
men appointed; and these men generally are APP
pointed to the police. Now, how is it possible,
that pure, moral, respectable men, can be found
in the police, when this is the manner in which
they are appointedl We do not mean to assert
that police force is composed of this descrip-
ton of men but from the manner IN which they
are appointed, it is reasonable to suppose that
terials. We all know what is the character of
those men who neglect their own business, and
enter into elec,ioneering forthe promotion of men
to the Offices of aldermen and assistant aldermen.
This is one grand defect in the system, and we
should be glad to see it remeded. The appoint
ing power should not be allowed to remain as it
ls-but 1t will never be altered or amended until
our citizens, and principally our tax payers, will
learn to separate our municipal affairs from the
general politics OF the country. 1t is the high
est Importance That the police should be men of
CHI aracter and respectable standing, and we think
W. might have them so, if there was board of
examiners, composed Of an equal number of
wings and democrats to sift the character and
reputation of every man who applies for an
Office in the police
There are stringent ordinances against en-
numbering the streets and sidewalks, against
hanging signs further from stores than a certain
distance, against selling lottery tickets and keep
ing policy Offices, against driving quicker than
certain rate through the streets-iu word, we
have laws which, if enforced, would make this
noble city Of ours one Of the best conducted,
most orderly and best regulated in the world
They not put in force, although the police are
bound by law to enforce them. Let policeman
make descent on one OF the lottery or policy
shops in Broadway, and the chances are against
his holding Office another year. The owner of
such shop possesses political influence, which he
will exert against that policeman; and he will be
backed by all his associates in the same business,
in running and hunting down the faithful officer
who has dared to fulfill his duty by enforcing
the law. Will the policeman do his duty under
such circumstances Will he deprive himself
and family of bread by fulfilling his duty The
same may be said of all other corporation or
dinances-they cannot be enforced as long as the
police appointing power is regulated as it is.
But the police must do something to show the
people that they are not altogether idle-that
they do something at least to earn the money
which they receive from the city treasury. Ac-
cordingly, we find that the number of arrests for
slight and trivial offences-if offences they are
were never so large as they have been since the
new system of police went into operation, while
at the same time crime has increased in fright.
full ratio Not one of ten complaints that are
laid before the corporation attorney, is rrose-
cuted by that functionary, because they are ridi-
culous and frivolous; and we are satisfied that
if our citizens would subject themselves to the
trouble and inconvenience of prosecuting police
thority, there are not hundred policemen
in the city that would be found worthy OF
being retained in office. There is, therefore, a
direct temptation for them to exceed their duty.
They know they must do something for their
money; and when they cannot, under fear Of
losing their situations, do what the law declares
they shall do, they use their own judgment in the
matter, and arrest on their own responsibility;
and what the judgment of some of them may be
worth, can be seen from the returns of some of
those worthless, showingthelr inability to write
or spell their own names. If these policemen
hear two persons speaking little louder than
usual at the corner Of street, they approach to
see what the matter is. They eye the persons,
to see whether they respectable ; if they
are, they will Immediately command, in
Dutch or an Irish brogue, the two per-
sons to talk easier. Such impudence and as
sumption will not be borne. He is told
to 60 about his business-words are ex-
changed, and the result is that the two quiet
persons, who may be good citizens, are taken to
the station house, and lodged there tor the night.
The policeman makes his complaint, the prison.
ers are conhaed al night and all this could be
avoided if the policeman knew his duty. But,
in case men, who are known to be what is call
ed fighting characters-men who are known to
be able to use their muscles tolerably freely
make any noise, there is no interference with
them They can commit any thing short of
murder with immunity; and if you are attacked
by set of rowdies, and robbed and beaten, you
will in vain cry on the police for protection
Not one in such cases is to be seen. 1t is the
law-abiding citizen. who will not strike or knock
down the officers of the law, who suffers most
from the present system.
We hope to see this defect in our police sys-
tenn remedied; and the only way to remedy it,
is to place the appointing power in the Mayor,
to be used by him on the recommendation of
board of examiners, composed of men of both