The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-08
The Police Committee.

Inc investigation that IS being prosecuted
before the legislative committee has already
earned claim to public gratitude for the dis
closures it has extracted from the Mayor and
the Police Justices who have been examined
before it. From their evidence it appears that
the condition of the Police system in this city
is SO shamefully corrupt that it is absolutely
miraculous that 80 little mischief has been
done. It seems that, in many instances, the
Police Justices al in the habit of Issuing war
rants and releasing prisoners in a manner and
on grounds compared to which the recent case
Of Connolly is a marvel Of purity and regu-
lsrity. That an understanding has been had
between certain abandoned members of the
legal profession and certain police officers and
turkeys at the Tombs and the other city
prisons, whereby the prisoners incarcerated
are not allowed to see any lawyers but those
in the conspiracy, who pay for this monopoly
commission Of forty per cent on their fees to
the policemen and turkeys. That o class of
individuals exist called "bail masters" who
make business Of becoming bail for prisoners
for consideration; and who, without assets
exceeding thousand or two or perhaps few
hundred dollars, are accepted by the justices
as bail for prisoners to an aggregate amount
of fifty thousand. That, with the help of the
conspiracy between the Tombs lawyers and the
TOmbs officers and policemen, poor fellow
who is arrested on charge of crime, is inva-
riably robbed of all he has before his trial is
over. That policemen make business of
levying black mail on those equivocal estab-
lishments which are ex o6scio subjects for legal
punishment, and that until the Mayor ordered
the officers on duty in Leonard and Church
streets to be changed every week, handsome
income was extorted by them out of the houses
Of i'll fame in that neighborhood.
Such are few of the more glazing infamiss
means of bringing to light. They are emf
nently suggestive.
So far as the lawyers and policemen are
concerned it does net appear that any COM
prehensive remedy can be applied. More vigi-
lance may be exercised in the engagement of
policemen than heretofore, and faults, such as
those charged here on the force generally,
may be punished when traced to individuals
with immediate and memorable expulsion.
The captains of each ward may be held in
some degree responsible for the corruption of
the men under their command; and the unfor-
tunate creatures who are oftenest the prey of
the unprincipled officer may be encouraged to
defend themselves by denouncing their ty-
rants. A portion of the detectives may
be employed constantly as overseers, to ex-
anime and report upon the conduct
of the force in the various wards. With
a plan of this nature, honestly and faithfully
carried out, it ought to be possible to secure
eleven hundred men willing to work without
roguery for fourteen dollars week and this
without resorting to any such measures as the
alienation of officers in different localities,
efficiency.
As to the Police Justices, many plans may
be suggested. 1t would not be impossible, we
imagine, for a Jealous public officer to obtain
evidence enough to indict few of them and
there is always a possibility that a jury
might be found to convict. But this plan
is at best half measure, and sadly
apt to fail at the moment it is most
needed. The better method, unquestionably, is
the one indicated by Mayor Wood-the ap-
pointment of the Police Justices by the Cover
nor. The more that is seen of the fruits of
onr present system of an elective judiciary, the
wider is spread the distrust of it, and the in
clination to try at least for time and in the
case of certain Judges, the plan of appoint
ment as used in New England and Virginia.
Whether the power of appointment should be
vested in the Governor, and under what con-
ditions and for what period of time the nom
nees should hold Office are matters of detail
which could easily be settled after discussion. !
With regard to the main principle it is be-
lieved that there would be very small por- |
ton of the non-political citizens of this State |
who would vote for retaining our present sys- |
tenn as whole. And assuredly, the branch of |
the judiciary which calls the most loudly for |
any change which looks like reform is the |
police magistracy of the city Of New York.
MIR. Bolts FOR THE PRESIDENCY" ANOTHER
M kYys II -