Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-08

| IroKsprAHIKs AID ran PoLIcB Two ocmmuni-
cations appear In the Infsiiigcsr Of this morning
relative TO the late efforts OF incendiszss, snd one
| Who says he has written often a. 70 dres, asks
q where are the police :" and " Why are there no,
twenty men on horseback every night" &c.s As
both communications would seem 10 reflect upon
the efficiency and fidelity of the police of our city,
| We propose 20 make known the following facts
In the city of Washington, which comprises
larger area than any other city in the Union. Tex
cept New York and Philadelphia and which has
a population Of about 40, 900 in the warm months,
and about $4,000 in the winter months, We have
| exactly sixteen policemen, or one TO about every
twenty eight hundred inhabitants And in reply
to the question, "Where are the police 7" We re
ply, that they about the city doing their duty,
and displaying such efficiency that, n0twithstand-
ing the apparent facilities afforded for crime here
there Is actually one-half less committed, proper
onatey to Its size than there Il In any other city
| Of the United States- We say this from our own
knowledge and from statistical Investigation; and
we also state that the police of every other city IL
burden, and source Of taxation upon the inhab-
itants but In Washington they are source of rev.
enue to the Corporation of between two and three
thousand dollars.
The police Of this city know their duties, and
acquit themselves In q manner deserving the high
est commendation, and not censure. There is not,
however, enough Of them 10 attend to every mat
Let those who complain suggest the appointing OF
| larger number; and, il they will be % efficient
as those already appointed, there win be cause
of complaint
The Auxiliary Guard is one of the best organ
lied bodies OF night police in existence, but with
them, a. with the day police, the number Is quite
inadequate to the wants Of great city. and they
| are sometimes made the obi ct Of like censure
without reasonable cause. The general peace and
quietude which reigns throughout the night here
is remarked by al residents from other cities, who
happen to spend night here. The Guard are I'M
der the command of viglsnt, energetic, and &C.
complished captain, and the performance Of their
duties In the best manner cannot be questioned.
Incendiaries are more difficult to arrest and con-
vict than any other class Of criminals. Their mis-
deeds are always committed in the night; and
were the police within even one square Of them,
their escape is certain. There are no citizens up
at the time generally selected by them who can
stop them, and in the darkness the officer would
probably run by them, should they crouch in the
recess Of some door.
Another remark in regard to incendarics. Re-
wards have been offered for their detection which
have induced private citizens to watch for them,
and these rewards have not been paid upon the
apprehension and conviction Of the offenders. We
| remember where two of our citizens did take such
measures which resulted in the conviction Of onea
or two incendiaries, and were then obliged to pc
tition the City Councils for the offered reward
Upon this petition bill was framed which gave
them but one-half of the original sum offered as .
| reward.
Let these complaints be stopped, and the right
course taken, viz: to petition the City Councils
that larger number Of policemen may be author
lied to be appointed; and If twenty men on
horseback" are wanted, petition for them also. Do
not, however, censure the finest and most efficient
body both Of night and day police, there Is in the
country, for not being able to accomplish what
three times their number would scarcely be able
| to do.
CouSsELLoRs AT Law IN THE DIsrRcr.-Thus
far, during the year 1855, fifteen gentlemen have
been admitted to the Bar in this District and but
sixteen were admitted during the whole year in
| 1854.
Since the LIST day of January, 1850, there have
been admitted one hundred and eleven gentlemen,
| as councillors, &C. or course there are large
number Of these who do not practice here, but
who came here as members of Congress, not in
tending to reside. Hon W. H. Seward and others
are of this number. Another portion, though re-
siding here, do not practice. B. B. French and
others are OF this class. Still the number Of law
yers is large enough in all conscience.
| ALEXANDRIA AND WAsHIsGroN RArLRoAp--This
road-which will have depot at the Virginia side
of the Long Bridge, until permission is obtained to
have the road cross the river the bridge-is now
progressing rapidly In its construction. It Ia
thought by the contvactors 70 build H. that Il will
be open for public travel about the first Of Sep
| TENDER next.
This will open Q new avenue of travel between
| the two cities, and viii probably have tremend.
Gus competition with the steamboats, and omni-
buses which ply daily between the two places At
present
CrrY CONFERENCE.-The newly-elected Boards
Of the city government are to assemble In their re-
| spective chambers on Monday next at ten O'Clock,
A. NJ, where they viii be sworn in. Aher or
ganizng and choosing their officers, the Boards
will assemble In joint meeting and examine the
returns Of the Commissioners Of Election, giving
tor Surveyor and Register Of the city, and declare
who are elected to these Offices.
ADMITTED TO rHK BAR.--In the Circuit Court on
Tuesday, Joseph Bryan Esq, was admitted TO the
bar as an attorney, and counsellor of this court
upon motion of Joscph Il. Bradley ESQ.
William ID. Bell, was appointed constable In
and for the county Of Washington.
CRIMINAL CouRT.-This court viii como In on
the third Monday In june, which IL the 18th Of
this month. Several important cases win probably
be tried; among them George Raglan, the negro
for homicide, and w. w. Mann, on the charge Of
Inonel " taist pFttfnCeb lrOlu intc
firm Of Statbam, Smithson, 4 Co.
BKwARRi--It Ia said there are q large number
Of counterfeit and light twenty-five cent pieces In
circulation in the neighboring cities, and trades
men and others will perhaps do well BY being
guarded when receiving specie payments.
THRxArs.-Morisrty Hickey was arrested for
threatening 10 burn the house Of johanna Ryan,
and "her up In it, and also for assaulting her
with divers blows, and was sent TO jail BY Captain
Birch.
We learn that Mr.. VIM. Morrow, the owner Of
Apollo Hall, which was destroyed by Ere Tuesday
night, was insured In the sum Of two thousand
dollars.
PoLror CouRr-Before AorseH and Birch
John Nesbit, Scotchmsn, appealed "for Gods
sake that he might be allowed TO go TO work for
some person with whom he had hired, and he was
let 60 on solemn promise never 10 appear at the
guard-house again. This was the only Corporation
case this morning.
PoroNAc RIVER BoAr.--The Alice G. Price now
makes her trips regularly twice q week up and