The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-06

NEGLIGENCE OF Duty BY PoLIcEMEN.-The daily
and hourly violations of the ordinances of our city,
notwithstanding the great vigilance of our most
active and interchangeable municipal guardians, who
altogether number about nine hund.eet are enouob
to surprise any one wh9 mas never looked into the
volume Of laws relating exclusively to the well
beng Of the people Of this city; and it would seem
nat the said volume Is sealed book" to nearly
every man in the community, and especially to the
members of the police department. who, of all per-
sons should be the most familiar with its contents,
and their details A few days since, we recon-
mended that each station house should be supplied
with copy of the city ordinances; but we have
net heard that any thing has been done in the pre-
misses, and we have an idea of asking some men,
Der of the Common Council to offer resolution to
provide the deslderatum, in order that men who
solemny swear to fulfil certain duty, may know
| what their duty is.
| We are lmpelled to the utterance Of these re-
marks by the conduct of stage drivers and stage
owners, who carry on their business if they were
the only privileged characters in the community
above and beyond the reach of all law, or any rule
whereby other people regulate their demeanor.
Great fault is found with them for blocking up
L
neighborhood OF Maiden Lane; and we have re.
cerved many communications from persons who
suffer daily from the transgressions Of law by the
| Jehus who drive for all. We have an idea that
If the ordinances were properly enforced, Broad
way would never be choked up, because then they
would leave the lower end of Broadway as fast as
they arrive al it, whereas, now they "loaf along the
street at very slow walk, from Whitehall to the
Astor Honse; and when going down to the same To-
caliy they drive at very rapid rate; thus going in
great deal faster than they come out This causes
the great crowd in the lower part OF Broadway;
and to dy this evil, an ordinance was passed
of which the following is a copy Of the fret
| secuon:-
The owner driver person having charge of any
stage accommodation coach, shall not drive or per-
nit the to be driven in the city of New York. al
greater speed than at the rate Of six miles hour,
at a less rate than four miles an hour, unless OBJ
structed in the Streets under the penalty Of ten dol
| lars for every such offence.
The provisions of this section are too plain to
be mistaken, and are sufficient to abate the
nuisance complained Of by our numerous cores
pondents; but yet, we, see no effort made on the
part Of the police to enforce them. What is the
cause OF tins gross negligence of this lmportan
duty! It's not that those chosen and most selec
personsges have so much other business to attend
to, that they have not time to look into Broad
way, now and them for we every day see then
walking lelsurely, or sitting lazly, in that grea
thoroughfare, even In the vicinity of a large ian
of omnibuses, extending whole block, appearing
to be as insensible Of any violation of the ordl
nances, as are the very fag-stones on which the,
stand and walk. If such conduct is allowed b.
the Mayor and Chief of Police, what is the u.s.
Of the ordinances7 If it is not allowed, then lie
the ordinances be enforced. Policemen SHOULD
remember that they have sworn to do their duty
to the best Of their ability, and they should also
remember that their duties are to be found in the
ordinances