New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-12
THE NEW POLICE BILL.
REPLY OF THE LIEUT-GOVERNOR TO THE
LETTER OF MAYOR WOOD.
SENATE CHANBER, ALBANY, March 9, TO

SENATE CHAMBER ALBAsY, March ., lsjj.
Hon. Fernando Wood Mayo, Of me Cny@ Ner- York
DEAR SIR: The receipt OF your favor OF the otn
met, soliciting my aid in defeating the bill no before
the Legislature for reorganization OF the Police De-
par,ment in the City OF New York, would have been
mere promptly acknowledged but for pressing snd i'm
pera'iye eI sgements. peg you 10 beleye me duly
sensible Of the honor you have done me by thus re-
quest and ready az eli times 10 do whatever may Do
In ny power within the propreties OF my official po-
sition 70 aid 10 such egslaiion a. Will promote the
welfare Of the City where reside.
need scarcely gay that l concur with you 10 'ne
fullest extent in Your estimate Of the services you
have rendered the City during that snAil poruoa Oh
your official which has elapsed la the tti mar
10 which you direct special attention, t1e closing OF
prog. shops Oh 81, oay and the general decrease OF
vice turbulence and crime consequent 'hereupon, you
hsye certainly accom- psbed results winch toe mass oil
the community mad come 10 regard a. ven nlgn n
possible. Inceed, 10 view OF past experience, the
uusc were almO-, much sstonished 70 see tue at
tempt made. they were 20 see II succeed on
also VI ders,snd and appreciate the truth oil yosr
statement that you oge oil this success % the Vsor
and fidelity with which your orders have been execu-
ted BY the members Of the City Police, and no one
will resis, more firmly than myself any legislation
which -bsll threa-d ID weaken Tie eiciency or relax
the ciscipile Of that department
Inave not been ABLE o. examine, with any special
core toe provisions OF me bill % which you refer but
90 far as cursory perusa OF il enables me % Judge,
Il
make in the organization OF Inc Police Department
axe less serious than you may have been led 10 sup
pose.
Under the existing lsx, which you have found EN-
Gent the control of ths Department rsse with q
Board consisting of three persoEs-the Mayor, ke-
corder ard City Judge-by whom ell lass for 10
government are framed, al charges Of the violation
Of them tried. and q penalties indicted. The new
bill pi opposes TO enlarge the Bosrd TO trs-the Mayor
beiur che and the other four being elected by the
n.oule. az tho remaining two are now. There are
obviops ressons l thing. why four persons, elected
for the speciul purpose Of performing the labocous
and exsetipg duties OF such a position, should per
form Them WITH more yigor and fidelity than two,
who are elected for other objects, and Of necessity
bu-cered with other duties.
Your objections to the election Of these off ,ers by
the people are undoubtedly entitled TO weight; bat
they apply with a, least equal forte to tue s,ns
feature of the present lag. And, indeed, II the so'
solute and and uncontrolled authority ~hicn YOU
dee desirable vested in the Mayor Alone 'asss
objections would stil sppIy,-unless, inaes1, ,o,o
power Of eectipg their Mayor we're taken sssy nvm
the people aIeo am aware Of the evis :. ~ y ay
follow too erea. o division Ct possr A"I =. 49,.
queu, responsibility IL executive ON ss a.
nc: ye: teen f<uId necessary . GU 's's'>' ''''' :"