New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-11
GOOD PAY FOR POOR WORK.

and fifty. three men, ard a Chief. When the De-
partnent was established the Captains of Police
were paid 500 per year, Assistant Captains
5000. we believe. for which they engaged to su-
peryise their several commands. to perform all
the duties of Street Inspectors, OF Health War
dens, of Fire Wardens. aud of Dock Masters;
while the men, then getting $500 year, were to
assist in these things to act as officers in Courts
and also to light the lamps and riag the tre bells
No complaint was made of the amount OF work;
appointments were eagerly sought, and the main
difficulty was in selecting from hosts of sppll-
cants the number of about eight hundred men
required. Since that period, the number of men
has increased to |, I50--more than 40 per cent
and the pay to 800 each for subordinates; $500
for Leutenants, and $1,000 for Captains
or at the rate Of forty per cent. year. In
the meantime, one after another of the
quietly shufiled of, until they have got rid Of
nearly the whole. The lamp-lighting was given
up long ago: partly because it was not sufficiently
dqnifed for an officer" to perform and partly
because more votes, and consequently more jobs
were wanted in the Street and Lamp Depart
ment. About hundred men were provided for
in this item; for which the people paid $4,000
ayear. Then there was some difficulty about
bell.rineiDg, and the Department was soon re-
leved of that duty, giving place to 30 men, at
cost of sis, 900 year. This did very well for
the policemen; but the captains were smarter
yet. They got clear of seeing that these duties
were done; then they got extra men appointed to
attend courts; then threw off the duties of Fire
Wsrdens, there being II men and one clerk now
in their places, at a cost of $500 per year;
then they evaded the duties of Health
Wardens, there being % other men appointed,
at SIC OOO year: and finally they have got of
street inspection, putting the City to an expense
of nearly 100000 per snnum for that service.
This is doing pretty well, The Lieutenants do
nearly all the work of the Police, while the Cap
tain has, one by one, shufiled off every item Of
duty, at the same time increasing bis pay nearly
40 per cent, and retiring upon an annuity of
thousand dollars year, to lounge as dead-head
at theatres, promenade Broadway. aud talk
politics. There are some exceptions, of course;
but we know quite number of instances where
this description is literally true.
Thus the Police Department which cost
S4o7 600 in 1850 now costs $3.50, 400 year,
while duties to the amount of 800, 900, annually
have been shuilled Off In round numbers, includ
ing al expenses, we must put down the cost Of
this branch of the City Government at Oae MI
lion Of Dollars per annum! And what do we get
for it Look at the daily records of murder,
assault, robbery arson, burglaries, drownings;
at the pocket. picking, mock auctions, badger
bats, ring fights, gamblers, great and small,
beggars in crowds, illegal rum. sellers by hun
dreds, Sunday rum sellers by thousands, lottery
and policy dealing as open as daylight, attacks
on accompanies, and at the gangs of pestient
and dangerous ruffians who go I'm yhipt ofjussice.
1t is TINE these things were changed. The Police
is expected to be an active Department. not the
lazy mans retreat, nor the hslf.psy hospital for
de cayed politicians. We 6nd an increase of pay
at the rate of 40 per cent. in three years. aud an
increase Of men nearly the same; we fud
the cost of the Department doubled within five
years, while all the duties except patrol contem-
plated in the act establishing the Depart.
ment, have been shiIked, AID finally egislated
away. We do not object to fair and
liberal pay but we insist that there should
be fair return. The Police Department
ought to perform all manner Of superiutend-
ence such as ofstreet cleaning, paving, sewering,
CrotOn water, erection of new buildings, laying
Gas and water pipes, making drains; stages,
hacks, carts, cars, ferry-bOass; in short, they
should perform all public duties which consist ia
such outdoor supervision as the above. They
should superintend repairs to public buildings,
to streets and roads and paveuents light
and extinguish lamps, examine weights and
measures; superintend markets; perform the
necessary duties ia regard to what are called
out door poor and such other miscellaneous
matters as might from time to time occur, Nearly
all these du}ies might be done without in any way
interfering with regular patrol. The Captains
themselves could do half the work, and have
plenty of time to play besides. A proper arrange
ment comprehending these objects, carried out
honestly and in good faith, would save at least
half million per year, now paid either by the
Treasury or by assessments on property con-
cerned for the services named. Let US pay the
Police amply; but in return let them show will
hngness to earn their money, rather than intrigue
and lay pipe here and at Albany to get rid of the
duties originally imposed