The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-10
The New Police Bill.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On the 18th Of April last act of our Legislature ",
passed reorganixing the police Of this city This nc,
was demanded by public opinion for the purpose Of tax
ing away the appointment of the from the Aldermen
OF the several wards and placing II hands Of three
OF our highest most respectable and responsible mags
trates-the Mayor Recorder and City Judge The grea,
object to be attained the separation of the police de
partment from political influence and to have body Of
respectable and trustworthy men, who should devote all
their time and energies to the prevention OF crime and
the protection Of the property and persons Of citizens
from depreciation insult and injury That act was re-
ported by select committee Of city delegation OF
which Mr. Shaw chairman and having been consult
ed by him as to its provisions, from the deep interest
which he knew had taken in the subject of police
know that the provisions of the bill were matured by
that committee with great care and with single eye to
the public welfare
10 take away all temptation to have any political CON-
nection with tho Aldermen their election the term
OF Office of the police to continue during good be-
hayior with power in the Commissioners to arraign ry
and break every member of the department from the
.hei down 10 It's doorkeepers for neglect violation
/ OF duty.
Feeling deep interest in the new organization of th.
most important branch Of municipal government
have closely watched its practical operation have
placed myself in communication from time to time with
lie Commissioners with the Chief and With mi 81 the
men, and can, with confidence my fellow cti.
teess has been fully realized
The Commissioners established new rules for discipline
h, stringent but ola most palutary character which
.nvy nave with great ene.gy and with equal mpaftay
Sar M out hey preserfsed distinguishing costume
1e er ,ns men Dy which they be readily known to cti
vents them from shrking their duty they we're SO dis
po. The men feel that by the organizations their
respec dity ard their moral power been increased
and gen.ra pride and competition pervade the
whole depar, ,'uent have been told By the men that
they rejoice tina their independent position places them
above the necessity of being political machines to fur
ther the election o. Aldermen TO whom they their
appointment and continuance in office; and general
thing they have resigned their connection with ali po
cal clubs and committees.
The Commissioners, during the ten months They
the whole body and it is only to look at those
who have passed their ordeal to judge of the improved
in the body many whose four year terms have not
EXPIRED who are not up 10 the Standard either physi
cally, mentally or morally; but as their terms of Office
expire Idle out places Of such not worthy will be
supplied by better men, If any person will take the
trouble to go to the station houses Of the Twenty first
and Twenty second wards which have been entirely
gaDized by the Commissioners, they will find body
of both officers and Trvates who would do credit
to any police force in Europe II is fact not known to
many that certain portion of every day is set apart for
military drill and eyeutons so that they can move act
can bear witness to the untnr zeal Of the Commission
in the discharge Of their duties and that they
most willing to continue IN their discharge and that they
have complained and do not seek be discharged
from the onerous and responsible duties which have
been imposed upon them.
their appointments by party considerations 1t is duty
to state that two of the Commissioners belong to the
pointed and ponted by them up to the first of the
month eighteen captains and leutenants of whom ten
wings and eight democrats No higher compliment
could be paid to their character for mparaty than the
statement OF that simple fact.
On my attendance at the Court Of Appeals the last
month, learned that bills ntroducedone to make
the Chief OF Police the other the two and twenty
tains, elective ocers thus at throwing the whole
OF the city into the hands of irresponsible and In
many corrupt self ontcd political committees
or into the hands of the rabble and the law breakers
police; and to asonishment 7 found that the great
majority Of city delegation bending under th
outside pressure Of political and other influences which
brought to bear against them and that they
ready to ASS measure which would have utterly de-
stroyed the character ard efficiency of the department
On my return to the city took the liberty Of sounding
the alarm to the citizens The press-the foremost oil
which the HKRAID-pointed out the danger of the
measure the public looked upon it with exccraton
had the pleasure Of sending up to the Assembly remon
committee who had charge Of the b (although with re-
luctance) tie idea of giving 10 the people Hobsons
choice OF one OF ,he other OF the two political bues
people to vote for. Such remonstrances-ther COM
bined length being two hundred fee-for numbers
sented to our legislature They comprised the whole
body Of the bar, OF the merchants, Of the mechanics
traders and aborng classes Of every department of life
But II " the snake only scotched not killed"
The wire pullers and political committees being foed in
their throw police hands
of politicians directly have persuaded the committee to
report bill to do the thing indirectly and the
mittee without smelling the rat fallen into their
The proposal is to turn out commissioners the
three highest magistrates Of city, in whom any
where honesty and mpartiaty to be looked for
gisraes who being elected by the people and daily be-
fore the people, have to walk crcumspecty whether they
wish not and to have three private citizens appoint
ed in their stead and by whom2 BY the Adermen-po-
cians nominated by politicians Tn chances are nine
to that the three commissioners would be political
hacks selected to carry out party views by appointing
uarfy vueu And rfv ret tho
Of the Police Department and You win have close poll
tca corporation which will keep the city subection
rise in their might and shake them off. To be sure
the act says that the Mayor, Recorder, City Judge
the Aldermen to appoint the Commissioners but these
officers only nine to the twenty-five Aldermen, and
you would have the same scenes enacted which lately
at the convention of the parties for the ap
pointment of q Commissioner of Jurors.
The movement Iapprehend, springs from party which
expects to get into power at the next municipal election
and to carry in the Mayor who alone nominate the
Chief Police whose Office for six years at the end Of
which time the combined power Of the police department
defy any other party organization to turn them out
In fact understand that its party tendency is not de-
pullcrs have pushed up the ambition Of forty poll
tcians by limiting that is possible they may each get
the appointment of Commissioner, and that the
tempting salary may be FIVE thousand dollars
year each, and a clerkship at half that sum,
enlsting strong outward in Albany upon the
legsate the present Chief out of Office because he will
not prostitute its great power to political purposes 80
tnls, tnat nltnougn Di passed, IL TO
10 into effect Immediately and the Commissioners to
be appointed at once yet the Chief not TO be appointed
until the tenth day Of January next yearust ten days
after the Mayor whom they hope to elect shall be in
Quoted into Office.
The effect of the bill will be TO make four Offices
for politicians, at tax to the city Of seventeen
thousand dollars year. in return for which they will do
the dirty work OF the party that appoints them.
again, by the law of last session, every barrier is
raed against the admission Of improper to the de-
Isrtment. Every candidate must be recommended under
The signatures Of twenty Ave reputable citizens who
% five nd
horne q good character for honesty, morality and
sobriety; also, he must present the certificate o.
surgeon that he ia of sound body robust consttu
tion, and able TO sustain the abors Of patroman He
must also establish to the satisfaction Of the Commission
that he read with and write legiby the
English language that the first four rules
arithmetic and s in all respects proper person for
the service All these checks omitted in the proposed
act.
There another fatal bunder in the act showing the