The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-12

from the several oeers who shah In all ess, ~ .AAs
responsible for the conduct Of the subordaasr andsI
II thought that making the pole. hold once dur
Ing good behavior would remove Il entirely from polti-
cal innuences II may have had such elect TO q de-
gree but whilst the power TO appoint suspend and re-
move Is political and elective, 4 win be expecting too
much Of human nature osuppose that political lnaa.
A perfect police system be founded upon freedom
o AL ssesR. those b merit arising
when the generals Of army srs psrfodicalIy sub.
jested to change and In some BY the and
Influences OF the army ITSELF II w be almost mposs
bic to remove tho partisan elements, which, ut every
election, are necessarily aroused into activity.
. The whole Police Board elected NJ the late cleo.
tion-two OF the late board (the Recorder and City
Judge being candidates for elec ton-and policemen
would have been more or Ioss than men II they could
have remained different spectators Of the result
am nndent the judiciary the proper authority
Tor Determining police matters nor are its mem 5crs
qualified either by habits Of HE train Of reflection,
TO make good commissioners The bench this service
would each b. benefited by separation. Ny colcaxues
on the present Police foerd tally concur in theso
opinions.
II shall be my aim 10 impress all connected with tho
police that Official merit and not partisan influence, "a
what Is expected Of them, and 80 far az my power
tends IT shall exercsed for the entire eradication OF
politics FRI m the department.
On the arst Of January instant, issued new orders,
HsnALDl and TO which call your attention. IA develop.
Ing the principles upon which shall administer the 10
par'ment In connection with this subject II may be
proper Tor me to add that there has been opened In the
Mayore oicc, under my direction, book for recording
complaints against the police, well a. for violations
Of the ordinances and laws where charges will be
tanned, and acted upon by me IN person.
The police are required for several purpose, other than
the protection OF the public interests OF the city for
which II should not be Obliged to pay.
There Is squad Of the eorps detailed for
the duty Of boarding vessels from foreign ports with
emgrsn passengers and other service rendered. before
referred to- which should be paid from tho and Of the
Fmigrant Commissioners. Many other policemen are
stationed at the several railroad depos and ferries and
a
prieors and for the protection Of their private interests
ana not 10, public purposes. ihs expense 'haui, DO
don, where the police system said To be better than
own such In the practice; and the general govern
mept has adopted the with reference 10 the
salaries Of its custom house officers, when acting for
private convenience or safety About thirty thousand
dollars would be thus saved
The expenre OF the police force has attracted atten.
tisn and has been properly suggested that IL be
used for many public purposes, for which tho city now
In considering the cost Of the police IL should not be
forgotten tbat1 Is almost entirely made Of salaries
This departmtn mt dsburses little money for any 9TH
purpose. II makes contracts and procures sup
Plies and il confined 70 the disbursement OF such sums
Tor compensation to the officers and men, has been
fixed by the Common Council BE II more less,
officer connected with IL In amy way responsible. II 10
true that much. duty nav performed by subordinaes
under other departments be performed by the po
lice without impairing It's eicisncy. Ny dire,ton has
already been given TO the patrolnen TO act street In
spectors and to report through their officers to me,
every instance where the contractor fails TO clean the
streets within his district They have also been requr
ed TO report all excavations made under the sidewalks
streets by builders Others the object OF which IL
TO supply informa tion 10 the OF Streets by
which he collect the legal claims Of tho city for ap
Propistng 10 private use any portion Of the streets
II my Recommendation Of consolidating all business
appertaining I, streets into department IA carried
out many collateral branches be put under the Po
There question that the several duties OF police.
entirely too light In view OF tho necessity OF
MATERIAL, the aSmoeT o. Up, public
and you viii find ms ready to enforce It's practical ope
ration.
SPRING CHARTER ELECTION.
cannot omit expressing my conviction that much
benefit could be derived TO tho city by separating the
election FOR charter officers from that for State
tonal oflcers.
As now conducted, our local interests are almost en-
trely lost sight Of In the conflict state national
iues A the lesser Ia always Iorbed by the greater
Is the apparently tmalcr affairs OF city govern
mtnt lost eight Of in the contest candidates for higher
Offices.
The magnitude Of our municipal interests calls for the
closest scrutiny into the qualifications Of persons take
charge OF them ether considerations than those
Dected directly with local questions should be included
In the cansass for city rulers The evils Of frequent
ele ,tions Of Little Importance compared With tho
danger OF the selection Of Improper men, In the strug-
gle Tor n Governor President persons entirely dis
qualined viii sometimes slide unobserved into local
The election law whichp places the candidates 70. ooun
ty officers the ballot with candidates for State
officers increases the evil Al the a,e election Their.
txcit ment Of election day II IL very dficul for
the most intelligent voter 10 select the for whom
where the duty imposed upon the terate ignorant
II is SELDOM exercised especially II there BE- cunningy
devised ballot, not permitting substitution
CENTRAL Park.
The commits soners appointed to open tho Central Park
progressing with the work Since the organization
OF tbs Board has collected and examined evidence
title to the lands TO be taken for tho park In causing
the necessary surveys maps Of blocks and proaiss u
grades TO be made in personal view u tho lands DO
taken, and Ia procuring such information In regard
thereto may 10 guide to Just valuation OF the
also in determining the area OF assessment for
special benefit and procuring maps OF the and In
procuring evidence Of the value Of the Improvements
Tho land TO be taken and engaged in tho valua
ton Of the lands themselves II will be remember a
that this park Is TO be bounded south by Fifty ninth
street. north by Tooth street. east by the Fifth avenue
and west by the Eighth avenue and will comprehend
Of hundred and seventy six acres say 10
From which deduct, State Arsenal IA
Cotton Reservoir 3s
Proposed /" ...........1i2
Streets and avenues 49,. 100
Belonging 10 the city. "a jas
leaving 20 be paid foracres.. 3ss
Which, by estimating at sin teen lpts per acre, mskss
ak thousand two hundred and eight lots 10 be paid
by the city and by assessments upon Contiguous pro
perty. The important question Of tho valuation Of these
lots hss not a, Jet been positively fred by the eomms