The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-04
Proceedings Of me Boards Of Aldermen
End Council.
s0MPTRS ,LF.a FLAGG AND THE NEWSPAPERS.
THE WoRksNoMEN's PETITION.
TRE APPOINTMENTS.
MEETING or THE COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION,
DC, &c, &c.

Dest-mayOr Wood, the Police and Heads
81 Departments, and the Filthy Streets.
Our new Mayor has commenced his official career by
thorough inspection and reform of the various depart
Eents under his immediate supervision and control
He is determined to the abuses which have
sted long in the Police Department and for this pur
pose he has introduced regulation which, if
sed into ee in every case must be attended with the
most beneficial results book has been opened at his
office, IN which complaints against the police and other
officials connected with the city government for neglect
of duty improper conduct registered every day
This is reform that has been much needed and il is
not confined to the police Alone it has caused quite
excitement among the ofcehoders generally The par
ties who have contracted for the cleaning of the streets
win be particularly affected by it, the Mayor has ex
pressed his intention not to sign any of their bills
proof of their failure fulfil the Obligations of their
contract to the very letter. But this is not all:
The Comptroller, who has hitherto paid them
IN his own responsibility, ana even when he
quan,ed with their negligence in this respect viii be
prevented from doing in future, the Mayors sig
nature must be endorsed all the bills before they
be paid Our readers at present fully able
reaize the importance OF the pursued by Mr..
Wood in this instance from the state of the Streets
which were never in worse condition than they are
Even the sidewalks covered with thick
Shiny, slippery mud, which is bad, If not worse to
walk upon than ice Broadway, which is usually the
with safety while the bye streets absolutely reek
ing with filth For all this indebted to Mr. Fagg
who, while refusing to pay the salaries of many the
officials about the City Hail. actually endorsed the Claims
Of these contractors, when he had proofs before him
that they were imposing upon tue city In
presenting bills for work which was never
performed With the of correcting this as we'll as
other abuses Mr.. Wood has addressed communication
TO the Comptroller, calling upon that official to furnish
will IF
contracts file in his department. which
M course of being performed, which have not been
commenced, with such information in relation thereto
may enable him to comprehend the obligation of the
sity and of the contractor in every instance. This
move in the right direction, and, If followed up with
energy, will put salutary check the arbitrary
tbCrty he has assumed
SIMILAR communication has been addressed to the
heads Of the other departments; that may look
out for complete exposition of the in which
their business has been conducted In addition to
these he has issued the following instructions the
several police captans:-
MAYORS OFFICE, New York, Jan. 1, 1855
SIR-I enclose 10 you through the Chief Of Police
certain instructions TO the men under your command
to which ask your attention You win see that every
requirement is complied with, and that the results be
reported every day to the Chief at his office, in your
usual morning returns. will also take this occasion to
ask of you the most rigid adherence to the rules and
regulations governing the department, and express
the hope that discipline will be observed without reaxa
by regard 10 the smallest requirements of the service
requires the compliance with every order, however
trivial apparently unimportant it recognises
right in subordinate to judge the practcabilty pro
priety Of direction issued by superior officer You
must be responsible for every derecon Of duty by the
force under your command, for IL rarely that
efficient and faithful captain does not make efficient and
faithful You will that in your station house
the apartments always cleany That your books
correctly and regularly kept and that no games are
played for money or profanity permitted that religion
and politics be entirely excluded from discussion that
loud talking and quarreing he prevented and that
order decorum and attention TO public duties be strictly
FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor,
To Capt. -, of -- District.
To each member of the Police Department the follow
ing letter of instructions has also been tent -
MAYORS OFFICE, NV York Jan. l, 1855.
s-I have this day assumed the Office OF head Of the
Police Department Of this city, and shall expe: and r."
uuire adherence 30 s rules and rpula lions. In your
hands is placed the OF the property and lives
well the order peace and outward moral department
of the whole community.
Though you cannot extirpate vice, you can 10 much
to suppress it, Vigilance and honest DISH ,r OF
your duties will not only enable the peop pay more
for your protection by reducing the which crime
produces but add to the responsibility of your positions
and TO the security Of its continuance: There Is now
efficiency Of the police There should be NJ cnuse for
it, Let there be none Your duties are light the pay
not beral social standing good aud the term for
which appon ed renders independent of the contn
gencies TO which the operative and other aborng classes
subjected You hold positions OF trust aud honor 70
which the pride and ambition OF any man need MT ee
ashamed TO aspire.
ed you 10 be my aids in efecting this. cannot
look the whole city to that all is right but you
can for me. rely upon you You are TO be tine eyes
through which the tn are of my duties to be obsery
ed and the messengers to convey to me through your
officers faithful and truthful reports.
addition 20 the rules and regulations n force
in the department and the several directions thereiu
you requested to take note of ard comply with the
It is hereby made your duty report every day when
on duty, to your commanding ohcer me following IN.
formation and an emission TO do so and 10 conform to
every requirement Of this circular win be deemed dis
obedience, and punished as such.
To report every street uncleaned upon your patrol
Every unlicensed public house for the sale OF liquor.
Every public house kept open on the Sabbath
Every house OF prostitution.
Every gambling house.
Every street not lit at the proper hour,
Every street sidewalk encountered, and the party
parties offending.
Every excavation made under the sidewalks streets,
Every nuisance and the party offending.
Every supposed derelicton by any officer Of the cor
Every violation Of the city ordinances.
You are further directed to dsperse all gatherings Of
men or boys Of the streets other public
places 90 Sabbath day where disorder Is produced
To enforce the closing opubc houses on the sabbath
10 protect the stranger emgrant from extoston
imposition
them to the several public and private Institutions Gre
To see that the ordinances Cor the removal Of snow
and ice from the sidewalks and cutters be promptly
You are further directed FOR creating riot
For being intoxicated disorderly Ia the streets
For iujuring public or private property
For stopping the free passage OF the crosswaks by
tartmen coaehmen, or others
For throwing oHa garbage, vegetables and rubbish,
the streets.
For offences OF any kind against the laws.
Your faithful compliance with these directions " re
ouested Let consideration induce you TO omit one OF
Them.
You have now determined chief officer who viii not
he different 90 single deFelctou OF duty upon the
part those for whose conduct he IL responsible to the
comm unity. Very respectfully,
FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor.
The following report made by Captain speight Of tho
t ,ofice district 10 orders nf