The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-11

New York PoLIcK.-It cannot, we believe, bs
denied that what New York Is mostly IN need Of,
arr ceao streets and efficient syst~ m OF police
nsi'her Of which lave we ever bsen blessed with.
IL regard To the streets, have gwen up all hopes
ofsee'ng them clean again, aud have Determined
that Is useless to refer TO the subjec ct any more,
at least so long 20 the people as apathr tic az
they hsve been for some years vast on the subec'.
Not 70, however, with the system Of police. We
have it II our power TO form. ss efficient muolsi
pal police AZ that possessed by any other city ia
the world.
The .Teat fault in the present syst m Of police
If the shortness and uncertainty of the tenure Of
office. II is acknowledged by all who are at al
acquainted with the subject, that, to be good aad
efficient policeman, a man must 60 through sys
TEN OF apprenticeship, and that 1t requires ser
vice of nj least three years TO lake him reliable
and available "a guardian oil the interests con-
fided to him. Now this education, II we NAY use
the term or training, cannot be obtained under the
present system, because the tenure of office IL
limited to two years; aud re.appointment Is 30
precarious, depending as it does political lnAa-
ence with the party that may at the termination Of
his tenure be in possession OF the city government.
II the policeman going out is of the same pa ty AZ
that in power he stands chance OF re-appolnt-
me ut If not none al all, and another is appointed
in his plnee. Now, 1t is apparent that, under such
SYSTEM our police cannot, in the nature OF things
be efficient. They made. ca nGessitate rel, az
tive politicians; premium 10 held out 10 them to
take part IN our municipal elections and CANVASS
and intrigue for the Of the party to which
they would look tor re. appointment with proba-
bility of success.
Another consideration If, that under the system
at present in force, the very precanousness Of the
tenure of office dscOurages the members OF the
police from taking interest in their business.
and making themselves acquainted with the de-
tails of their dutles, as well with the haunts.
! habits, and rendezvous OF the numerous thieves.
burglars and other scoundrels who lnfest our city,
and are continually arriving from England and
| other countries A policeman, If he 10 like
his fellow men, of which there every probability,
will not undertake the trouble and labor OF making
himself fully competent for his Office if he holds
| it at the nod of politicians, and Is subject
to change with the revolutions in our city govern
ment. He will rather get through his duties az
easily he can and with the least possible incon-
venience to himself.
1t is obvious that this evil can be remedied very
easily, and the manner in which It can be done IL
apparent. Let the police be removed from the
political arena--let them have no direct personal
influence IN our eectlons--et not them and their
families be depending for continuance in office,
and bread for themselves and families, on the sue.
cess or defeat of any party. Let them be appointed
during good behavior-subect at any time, for NAL
feasance or neglect of duty, to be discharged. If
the system were thus modified, It would be the in
terest OF every man the department to become ia
miliar with his duties, and to make himself as eff
Client as possible. We would then, In the language of
| the committee OF the Common Council, to whom
the subject was referred, have police that would
seek to elevate the standard and char acter of its
profession, and thereby secure to our citizens
faithful guardians of their persons, their families.
| and their property--competent and faithful men,
who had alta ined sufficient knowledge of their
duties % make them capable and efficient, would
not be removed to make room for political favor
ties, whose only recommendation may be an IN
fuence with the party In power In our city coun-
| ellis.
We believe that's bill embracing some, or all, of
these views, 10 before the Legislature, and we
hope 1t will become law. fit pass, it will 90 a
good way in providing what we ought to have--as
competent and efficient body OF police as any in
the world.
THE ONLY ExPATRIArED IRsHMAN OF THE IarsH
REEuoEEs DIR. McCarron, the brother-in-law of
Charle ns,f1uy x~Et t~ n