The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-25

nent then ordered to be accepted aud entered
The Recorder having thanked the Grand Jury for the
industry they had exhibited during the term they were
dir haIged
rREsENTNEHT OF THE GRAND JURY-CENsURE ON THE |
POLICE DEPARTMENT LAW AGENTS OF THE cORPo-
RATION, AND PUBLIC OFFICERS GENERALLy-US- !
LICENSED TIPPLIhG sHors-THE LICENSING sYs-
TEN AND lTs ABusEs-TEhPERANCE VERSUS THE
MAINE LIQUOR LAw-REMARKS ON JUVENILE
CRIME.
The followngi copy of the document
To the Honorable The Court " General Sessions Qf the Peace,
The grand inquest In closing the aruous labors the
to consider ali Of the numerous subjects given In charge
by his Honor the Recorder their assuming the jurors
duties The aIgsness Of the number Of pending COM
plants felony which deemed Of first Importance,
arily occupied their attention unremittingy
that h.r matters Of complaint investigation could
shure but sparingly their time Many subjects have
h en- left wholly untouched while others have been
glanced ut in .uch manner to partially prepare
mbes If this body for more thorough Discharge
Of duty in time to Crimeits Inducements. its
pro us-has been the eess subject Of in
yes tgnion in all its various characters seems to
intemperance may claim nearly every victim as
it's legitimate Off pring. The few exceptions presented
cond.rat merely served to impress on this grand
inquest the necessity n careful faithful and impartial
charge Of duty by those in authority. The idle and
dis strongly encouraged in their career Of crime
by the mpunity sometimes accorded to criminals gull
ty AZ thu melses who find shelter under the influence
which position family or wealth can too frequently
command at all times the duty OF the public officer
to nerve himsclf against such Establishments and to
gard all offenders on an equality In dischargng his
duties honestly in this respect he contributes towards the
advancement Of public morals and the dmnuton of the
violations OF Inv For all experience has shown tnat
the evil doer il not effectualy deferred by the
severity OF infection by the certainty Of punishment
The grand inquest feel called upon to present as .
growing and disastrous evil the disposition the part
Of public officers to shrink from the faithful discharge Of
duty The experience Of the present week has awakened
fear presen organized the police department
fails in being useful the public has been taught to
exp,ct il to prove Whether the ineffective service
dered equivalent to the burden it imposes the tax
payers is form in which its utility may be consid-
cred Another is embraced in the system itse-in the
natural tendency of permanent local organizations Of
this character to become the tool of INSCRIPTIONS pt
cal power-the nucleus Of faction-or, eventually to
usurp all political power to itself by controlling and man.
aging the conversations Of the people in their prima-
~ political meetings to the great injury Of the repua
ton Of our republican Institutions
For years official report has been made Of the
large number Of constantly engaged in the viola
ton Of the excise laws; yet when the officers through
whom reports collected with few and honora
bic exceptions called upon sustain them
nient forgetfness the Official he evinces
great lack Of perceptiye faculty a. to eectuay dis
qualify BIN for the pot Of guardian Of the lives and
perty of citizens that the published official state
ment of these violations Of law fabricated to give i'm
portance and show Of activity to the department which
facts do not sustain
The time for re.organzing the police Of the city
government is rapidly approaching and the defects Of
the existing system should be freely exposed to view
In any attempts TO create useful civic police let
compensation be dependent on services rendered-let
character and capacity be the qualifications to appoint
ment-let merton be good cause for removal-when
guilty of gross violation Of law let officer be handed
over to Justice (not suspended N days and then
restored with the booty in his pocket to repeat the Of
fence with adroitness)let every official compre
sona political friends none-lc their duties be preveu
tive and actively detective; but above all let appoint
ment to Office be in way relieved from the tyranny
OF party politics.
The Grand Inquest deem necessary in this
ton to present the law agents OF the corporation as in
efficient in the discharge of portion Of their duty While
the merchant other engaged in transactng lawful
business is annoyed with multiplicity of petty suits for
temporarily ncumberng the streets the Chief Of Police is
periodically announcing to the world the number Of
living in the constant violation of the laws of the
land and yet inquiry it is found that prosecution
for the penalty provided for the violation of the excise
laws has been commenced during the past year-thus
aGording encouragement to candestine traffic only
to the injury Of the morals Of the community but de-
willingly conforms to the requirements flaw.
Excise laws such in force in this city. had bet
ter be repealed at than Intellectually enforced The
trihng amount Of money required for license has,
doubt it's effect in contributing to these violations and
in this particular the law requires modification.
flhe rate of tavern license instead of being fixed at
So raised to- at least 500 it would only have
the effect of reducing the number of drinking houses
but would the efficient aid Of the license holders
under such increased in snppressng the unlicensed
tipping shops The laws Re improved in
another feature to the great advantage Of public morals
The sale of strong drink ought to be separated from the
sale Of other merchandise. To effect this the Commits
sioncrs Of Excise ,hould be prohibited from granting
license for the sale of liquors places where groceries
other merchandise sold The plain and manifest ad
vanaGcs which would result from such modification of
he law dpenses with the necessity Of enlrging it
in this paper Should these alterations be made in the
law, numerous advantages would be gained and
wrong done any party Thereby the number of places
for the sale of liquor would be greatly diminished
Those holding license would feel compelled aid i'm
varg the character Of the business The county trea
Jury would be the recipient Of at least equal amount
Of revenue, probably much increased amount. The
suppression Of illegal traffic would then have become the
interest every licensed dealer the spirit of
abstinence would expire for lack of food feed upon
And thus obviating all future attempts procuring
Quixotc enactments incapable being enforced we'll
as effectively aiding the great OF rational temper
ance.
The Grand Inquest presents that such improvements
our Excise laws would cfectuay acuate of the
most fruitful parents Of diminish the Of
the duties of criminal courts and CORES
pondngly reduce the heavy draft the public purse
required Tor the maintenance OF our public charities and
prit on discipline
During the investigation of this question many prac-
tees w,ie proven committed by the members of the
several boards OF Excise warranted by law any
surposable necessity. The Grand Inquest. therefore,
precnt in violation Of law the granting licenses
persons unknown to the commissioners or any of them
They also present in violation Of law the signing of
licenses in blank to be issued in the discretion Of the
May Is marslal.
They also present in violation Of law the signing of
licenses in blank to be issued the discretion of the cap
The Commissioners Excise are the only parties au-
tho2ed by law to exercise the discretion of discriminate
ing whe her license shall be granted without power of
delegation substitution. BY parties the license
system to be regarded trick by which to
collect tax on trade and of securing to few officials
extra per diem out IF the fund raised They do
not to regard the post Of high discretion and
responsibility, where the character fitness OF APP
pcant important trust In the name of this great
city is to be scrutinized and disposed of according to
its merits but the main question Of inquiry to
have been. Has he ten dollars money p
The Grand Inquest also present gross violation Of
law. permits granted by members Of a Board
Of Excise allowing persons sell liquor without license
Several Of these most fragrant violations of official duty
have been exhibited Want of time alone prevented such
action as would put the implicated officials their dc
fence II is hoped, then. exposure public
Of such extraofcai acts will tend to their entire sup
preston.
The Grand Inquest are required by special of
duty to refer to another of those prolific of
and eventual misery Every year the power Of control
ment by parent and guardian the youth Of city
TO diminish. In part this be the result Of de-
feet In the laws regulating the relation between master
and apprentice: aud, III part Is undoubtedly to be
ascrbed to the willingness Of parents suffer their un
fedged offspring to shift for Themselves Previous 10 the
pusedop hilanthrops interpreting his mawkish humanity
and deprying the legal guardian of the power Of whoe
restraint and correction the higher grades of crime
were confined to adults But since youth has been al