The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-06
The Legislative Police C0mmittee.
FACTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLICE OF NEW

The Leg islativc Police COmmlttee.
FACTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLICE OF NEW
YORK MAYOR WOODS TESTIMONY.
The q mmttee appointed at the last session Of Legisi
ure inquire and repor, upon the criminal courts
and the police Of this city, held session yesterday in
the City Hall, Messrs. Crosby, Hopkins, o'Kesfs and
stuyveant being present. The following the resolu
ton under which they act:-
STATE or NEw YORK ASSEMBLY CHAMBER !
ALBANY, April IA, 1855. !
Resolved, If the Senate concur That committee OF
tn ee r, House and three from the Senate be
pointed TO visit tie city OF New York and the city Of
Brooklyn, and the committee have power 70 send for
persons and papers, for the purpose OF tanning the
ode procedure In the criminal courts, Office Ut the
Chief Of Police station houses, penten,inry almshcuse
and city prison IN said cs and that they report to the
next legislature what II any, further legislation is ne
cetsary for Impression and punishment Of crime
and the better proecn Of persons charged With crime
Resolved. That Messrs Stuyyesant Baker, aud Okeee
BIZ of such cOmmitte on the part OF tits Assembly.
Resolved That the Senate In Seaate April
1855.
Mayor Wood was the first witness called who testified
as follows:-
O. How many police courts there in the city2 A
There are four police cognized su:h The
Mayors court Is branch Of be First district really
O. How many police msgistratesf A. There are about
seven.
O. How many policemen A. The whole number is
q. who details the policemen to serve the criminal
ware nts issued by the police cours9 A. The Mayor.
Q. Have certain officers been kept that duty for
10 they get O0tter imam othef omccfSF
heretofore there has been period axed foe DETAIL they
been kept for three to Ave years. the law makes
distinction in fees Of poll emen they are allowed to re-
ceve presents only with the Mayors consent which is
given printed FORM and the donor must specify his
gift all recorded In book the receipts recorded
last year amounted $12 000 officers in courts receive
more their applications not frequent for the
Mayors CONSENT hence more seek for those situations
Under order, to go into effect on the 10th instant
they will be detailed only for six months.
Q. Has there not been great complain OF fraud and
txtortion made against such oicers and II So what II
missione,s Of The Police A. Bu few complaints have
been made to the about fraud and couson on the
part OF policemen
@. What If any, alterations or amendments ought to
be made in the organization Of the police courts the
mode Of eec.rg the judges OF said courts the
Of conducting the proceeding. before them to better
subaerye the ends OF public stice? A. Our Practice
proceedings mosdefsctve In police courts had
Police magistrate placed in my Office 10 remedy Those
principle and in practice there Il no responsibility; it
they do wrong, they cannot be reached there Is no
rae in any other public officer; they deal with property
and lfeas prejudice or interest may lead then have
suspected COLLISION between magistrates and policemen
.sknners," &c hence have made my changes. There
is another evil. one Police magistrate refuses to re-
ceie compia int other magistrate viii receive it;
gets rid Of the complaint the ground Ct nonresidence
in the district the police magist 60 to the station
houses dismiss complaints and discharge oenders the
Mayor has heard complaints FROM them refused by police
Magistrates, and had them indicted the Mayors magste
Judge Under the present laws he has all the magste ia
possessed by lie Wilt Clinton when Mayor Of the
city All the municipal power has been fritterei away
while the criminal remains intact He thought the po
lice agtIs,es ought be appointed by tho Governor
instead Of elected. The number Of police magistrates he
cesned sufficient for the interests of the city For the
last ten years the police magsracy of the city has dete
rioraed The durarion OF their term Of Office is not
important he mode Of creation appointment. The
nine executive departments Of the city independent
OF each other, and irresponsible except to the people
The char Of the police might be much improved by
Ct pay The touses Of bad repute IL Mercer
street he had discovered, had their avore pons emen
and he had broA it up by causing the officers these
beats to be changed every week. He had also found
that persons would have collision with policemen in
other parts Of the city, and this was the reason io
changing the
The committee then adjourned till this morning at ten
O'Clock,