The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-11

Total. Il 206
On looking over this report, we find that 1t con-
tains some very curious and interesting facts,
which, we have no doubt, will be entirely new
to our readers The principal one Is, that for the
last SIX months the extraordina rily great number
of sixteen thousand nine hundred and seven per-
sons have been, at their own solicitation, accom-
modated with lodgings at the several station
houses, scattered throughout the city. This Is
very strange, indeed. 1t thus appears, that IN
addition to the persons who provided for in the
Aims House, this great number have acknow-
lodged themselves to be destitute of home We
are credIbly informed, that many of this descrp-
ton of persons are well educated, great MANY Of
them well dressed, and men who, from their out
lines, it would be supposed were in rather CON-
Portable circumstances. This is feature of New
York society which has hitherto escaped the no.
tice Of the press, we'll as of the public and it
shows the truth of the old proverb, that one half
of the world knows not how the other halt lives
In his communication to the Common Council,
Mayor Havemeyer suggests certain alterations in
the police system, which he thinks would be at
tended with good results. One of these is, that
as the department is now managed, police officers
are liable to be dismissed on every change of
parties in the city government, and persons of in
experience substituted in their places, which must
affect the efficiency of the system. This IS very
good, as far as 1t goes but 1t does not reach tho
root of the evil We have repeatedly urged this
reform ourselves, but in a more extended sense.
and coupled with another reform which Is of
equal Importance, viz: alteration in the
system of the nomination Of policemen. At pre-
sent the nominating power is vested in the Alder
mo Of fhe ard oil
tricks, and articles, and corruption which some
times characterize the efforts of gentlemen who
have secured their nominations as Abdomen, to
be elected; although, as we stated day or two
since, there must be some secret way by which
those unpaid gentlemen can reimburse themselves
for their time and labor in carrying on the city
governments else they would not be so anxious for
the office. We have learned from a source which
is entitled to credit, that candidates for Aldermen
have, on many occasions, made bargains with
persons in their wards who were deslrous OF JOIN
ing the police, to the effect that If they would use
their influence in securing the election of such
Aldermen, the Aldermen, In return, after their
election, would use their influence to have them
appointed as policemen. This, we are informed,
Is the system at present in operation and when
we reflect its tendency, and the evil results to
which il must necessarily lead, the wonder is that
the police department is as efficient as 1t is 1t is
evident that 1t should be broken up as speedily as
possible. AS long as it is permitted to exist, the
police department will be occupied to great ex-
tent with low, paltry, pot-house politicians. To
get rid of 1t, we would suggest, as we have done
on former occasion, that there shall be a board
of examiners, composed Of certain number of
members of the Common Council, of both parties,
whose duty 1t will be to receive applications
for office IN the police, and to examine into the
character and qualifications of applicants, throw
ing ASIDE the question OF what their political
opinions may be; for they have nothing to do with
the duties of policemen. II the appointing power
were taken away In this way, and the Mayors
suggestion adopted, we have no doubt that the
police department would be much more efficient
han 1t now is. We do not mean to say that, as
the department is at present organised, all of the
police officers are OF the character which we have
described so far from that, we are satisfied that
there are many respectable and honorable men in
it-men who are in every respect competent to
discharge the duties and responsibilities which
rest them. The Office Of policeman has Its
responsibilities IN him must necessarily be
vested certain amount OF discretionary power,
which he must be capable of exercising, not to the
injury Of the citizen, but to his benefit and that Of
the community. Let that power be placed in the
hands Of a man who, by want Of education, know.
ledge, or experience, Is incompetent to use it
properly, and that man directly becomes an in