The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-09


our municipal government, and who watches the
working of the complicated machinery by which 1t
is carried on, approves Of the present police system
II is undoubtedly good one but into all systems,
however good, abuses Ill creep. The authorities
are of course, willing 10 correct such abuses when
they are convinced of their existence; and 1t be-
comes the duty Of the press to make them known,
in order that The evil may be remedied Unfortu-
naely, the officers appointed to serve on the police
are subject to be removed whenever it so happens
that their term expires during the ascendancy of
the political party to which they opposed and
il frequently comes TO pass that welEtrled and
faithful officer, who knows his duty and who does
it. is turned out, to make way for some person en-
tirely unfit for the place, and whose only recon-
mtndauon is that Of having sc voted for the party
during election times"
1t would be an easy matter to find nine hundred
men perfectly competent to perform the work of
policemen faithful, active and vigilant persons,
who would never finch from their appropriate,
though sometimes disagreeable duty, and who at
the same time would demean themselves gen.
tlemen. But, as matters go at present, there are
too many members of the police department who
have entirely mistaken their vocation man may
make very good steamboat runner, or capital
baggage smasher, and be entirely unfit for the Of
fee of policeman. 1t may be that man will
grace fighting ring, and yet disgrace the police
department., if by any means he should become
connected with it. man may sweep streets or
dig bitches perfection, and yet want the quall-
cations necessary TO make good guardian of the
public peace A man may be excessively noisy at
the polls whip in voters to admiration, and still
want those qualifications necessary to make a o-
lice officer. The truth is, that the present mode of
appointment is bad, and hence men are frequently
placed in the responsible situation OF policeman,
who, by education and natural disposition, are en-
tIrely unfit for the post assigned to them. Men OF
violent tempers, and unaccustomed to seli-control,
are placed duty in a crowd, with slaves In their
hands or clubs in their pockets to be used at the
suggestion Of their ungoyerned passions; thus
armed, they likely, when irrltated, to infilct
severe injury on quiet cltizens-all through mis-
take, of cOurse-as to perform their legitimate
duty. We have heard of several instances, lately,
where the most licentious of power has been
made by persons wearing the police badge, greatly
to the detriment and personal injury even, OF quiet
and we'll disposed citizens. The other night, at a
fire, young man of a most peaceable DISPOSE
ton, while in the prosecution of professional
duties, as a reporter for the public press, was
actually felled to the ground by blow on the
temple, given by policeman with his staff. II
the blow had by chance fallen half an inch from
where it did, it would, IN all probability, have
proved fatal. The authorities promptly interfered,
and the unoffcer-ike conduct of the " STAR will
probably result in his dismissal from the depart
ment.
There are, within our knowledge, several
other instances of the abuse of the little brief
authority Of officers while on patrol duty, con-
sisting of impairment interferences in matters
which did not concern them, and a tyrannical use
of the petty power which the municipal regua-
tons give them On occasion, three gentle
men were enjoying pleasant conversation on the
corner of Broadway and Walker street, when an
ignoramus with club in his hand and a star
his breast, approached, and ordered them to move
on. He was very properly rebuked for his imper-
tnence, when he arrested the whole number and
took them to the station house, whence they were
in a few minutes released by the alderman of the
ward On another occasion, as we are informed,
a man Of suspicious appearance followed a gen.
,leman and lady for some time through several
streets, till at length getting tired Of being logged
about the city, the gentleman turned round and
boxed the fellows ears, whereupon he pulled out
brass star and announced that he was police
man. and actually proceeded to arrest the person
who had thus, with great justice, chastised him.
We do not know whether these latter cases ever
came TO the knowledge of the Mayor OF Other
leading officers Of the city government. We are
glad to see that they act promptly when they know
of the preparation of abuses Of authority, on the
part Of the police.
II would be well for persons, when they
are subjected TO annoyances OF the kind
referred to above, TO 90 directly TO the
Mayor or Chief of Police, and enter their COM
plants. The abuse has grown to such a mignl-
tude that IT must be checked. 1t is due TO the
hundreds of good officers connected with the de-
pariment, that the individuals who commit these
gross outrages should be known and dealt with in
a proper manner. The Chief of Police and the
Mayor will, we have no doubt, see that all such
complaints are properly and promptly attended to.
Ii is not beat TO submit TO mpositions Of this kind
any longer.
TnE MEDICAL OyFIcKRs THE CORPORATION
AND TIE CnoLERA.--We have not yet had that re-
por, on the cholera. When is it TO sppearl How
do the physicians AT the cholera hospitals treat their
patients How many actual bona Ede cases Of
Asiaiic cholera have appeared in the ciiyl Why
don't the Medical Board speak out Are they
afraid to speak outl Have they nothing to COM
munica,e to the public Have they no eyesl Have
they no powe of observation f the city authorities
DO not attend to this business, aud do their duty to
the public and to the cause of science, we shall,
ourselves, immediately institute investigation,
= ,... .i.t.a 81.