The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-24

the NV to restrain their lceniousness. There
are, also, in the city, large number OF hau
thieves, who prowl about after children distinguish
ed for long and flowing locks, and who are ~nony
mercilees in their desperate and daring usde' |
They have been known 10 follow young misses
even INTO their houses, the more successfully 10
succeed in their vocation, without being seen oy
those in the street II is for wretches of this de-
scrption, as well for general watchtulness over
citizens DISPOSED to break the health regulations and
similar ordinances of the city, that day police is
REQUIRED How efficient il may be made, viii be
found when the activity of the police magistrates is
in harmony with that of those men who are con-
stantly on guard as the custodians of the good
order OF the people.
1t is not through the police regulations or through
the city ordinances alone, however, that New York
is capable of being made a remarkably healthy
and desirable place OF residence. Nature has boun-
tifully supplied her on two sides with rivers, in
which the tides carry out to the sea the waste OF
sewers, virtually cleansing the city every day
while an abundance OF Croton water is supplied by
the public aqueducn, to wash away from the
streets all the garbage and filth that may accumu-
late in great metropolis. Abuses, of course,
interfere with the means of preserving the cleanli-
ness and comfort of the city from these advan-
tages; but any observer must be aware that with
well directed police every infraction of the law, in
perpetrating nuisances, may be met with punish
meat, if those who convert the streets into sewers
are only made liable to the penalties which their
conduct merits. The laws themselves are abun-
dainty stringent. The whole trouble has been that
we have had no chief magistrateNwho has dared to
look beyond the action ofhs predecessors into those
specifications of duty, which should always be the
guides of our Mayor. Still, We are happy to be-
hese that favorable change has commenced.
Hitherto, little has been done TO sustain that cha
racter for the city which its laws would justify a
stranger in believing it must possess. Our city re-
ports now exhibit, from day to day, very great
signs of an Improvement. The regulations for the
better conduct of omnibus drivers enforced with
degree of zeal that has already produced a
marked change in the business of that useful but
too often ndiscreet class of individuals. The hack
ney coach drivers will, very properly, in for
some atten on also. They are often most abusive
and law. defying men, though licensed by the city
government. Untrue to the interests of their pro-
preters, they extor largely from strangers and
are too often nected with establishments of ill.,
fepute, TO which they have the holiness, some
times, TO take innocen. and unsuspicious females.
which the history OF the police and the experience
of society display in connection with their voc2-
ton Few of them abide by The city regulations
to fares, and the sooner few public examples
are made OF then nfractone of the law the better
will il be for the community.
Dor Mayor has made good beginning The re-
pairs and cleansing of the puohc thoroughfares,
for which our citizens have always been heavily
taxed, have been commenced IN eamest-the police
system generally has been made more efficient
infractions of the law every quarter are visited
with exposure and punishment-and the public
good seems 10 be rising paramount to the mere
pleasure Of party and of individual profit au ong
the members of the city government The oaly
fear is that SO acceptable beginning may too
speedily termiBa.e--that the exertions Of the Mayor
and his officers will be relaxed, and that, in a few
months, the reform, in which all good citizens have
rejoiced, will be dream Of the past. We hope it
may not be so. We hope that Mr. Kingsland will
rise superior to all considerations but those coz
nected wia his duty to the public and the require
mems OF our municipal lave.