The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-22

Mr.. OAKEY HALL on LAW AND Police RE-
foRM-Not the least valuable evidence that has
been given to the Legislative Commission ap-
pointed to inquire into the state of the admins
tration of justice in this city, is the letter Of
Mr.. A. Oakley Hall. Mr.. Hall was desired to
give his opinion as to what reforms were need
ed in the administration of criminal justice in
this city. He divides the subject into five
heads. and considers each separately.
He is Of the opinion that We have Jagged
behind England in our criminal legislation.
There, it appears, no sooner is a new species of
crime invented than law is instantly framed
to meet it; so that ut this moment no known
form of crime or fraud can escape punishment
from defect in the law. Every one knows
how different it is here. Schuyler, it is said,
might stand his trial with comparative safety;
and it appeared on the Peverelly case that a
man who fires building three feet from one
that is inhabited is not certain Of conyic-
ton for arson. With all our laws We cannot
put down mock auctions, or lottery shops, or
prize fights. Fclonies are compounded with
immunity in the very face of the Officers of
committed with tolerable safety, both by
individuals and by corporations Sr want
of statutes that will resist the assaults of in
genious lawyers. Besides being SO imper-
feet as to be easily evaded, our present crimi-
nal statutes contain many absurdities. A man
who steals property to the value of S29 90
goes to the Penitentiary for few months; he
who steals $50 worth goes to the State prison
for term of years. To remedy all these de-
fects of the law, Mr. Oakley Hall suggests that
either the proposed new criminal code be pass
cd at the next session, or that the public legis.
laton of Great Britain on the same subjects
be adopted bodily. Mr.. Hall considers that at
the present day crime possesses cosmopolitan
characteristics; and more careful statutes than
the English he does not think can be frame I
With regard to the police, Mr.. Hall con-
ceives that the Office Of Chief of Police should
he abolished and the duty divided between two
oilicers--onc clerk Of police, acting under
the orders Of the Mayor, and performing the
indoor work Of the ofiice--the other an out
door officer, to be called Superintendent Of
Police, with command OF the force. With re-
gard TO The men themselves, Mr.. Hall thinks
enormously, perhaps-that the chief evils of
the present system would be obyated if po-
liccncn were obliged to change their beat 4
gularly. and not TO reside in the district IN
which they serve. In this case, the tcmpta-
lions to be corrupt or unjustly le-
nent would certainly DO removed bat on
the other hand, would not the policemans
value be impaired by his diminished
knowledge OF the locality Mr.. Hall, OF
course, recommends that river police should
be established. IF the piers or the sullcn
waves possessed voices" says Mr. Hall, "what
tales OF robbery and murder and suicide they
would rCcountr'
The police magistrates, "with two exceptions
so notorious that it Is unnecessary to name
tlem,r perform their duties creditably, ac-
cording to Dir. Hall, and as efficiently as the
imperfect machinery Of the law will allow
How absurd the law Is in many particulars
may be imagined from the fact that if police
magistrate were convicted Of the grossest mai
ieasance he could not be removed or displaced
unless he chose to resign. They are at present