The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-06
THE NEW POLICE BILL.
Interesting Correspondence Between j. w.
Gerard. ESQ and Mayor Wood.
LETTER FROM J. W, GER ARD TO MAYOR WOOD.

DEAR sm-I returned to the city last evening from
Albany where had gone for the double purpose
tending the Court OF appeals and Of presenting to the
Legislature the remonstrsuce signed (as informed)
by upwards of eleven thousand New York. cit
Of 1868.
Ye,terday, a new bill to reorsanize the police of
city introduced inso the Senate Mr. Crosby ncor
porated into bill to amend charter, which gave
rise to very animated. exciting and acrimonious de.
bate IN which your administration of the government
Of the city and OF the police in particular fully
criticised by Mr. Crosby aud Mr. Dicainson, 1.-TWO sena-
their desire to pre.ec. The the %
Of the city Of New YorA (pot snrusted to their
charge with to i.s'en ap1o as nss psiss G system.
baton OF any one OF the four honorable senators who
Il was stated BY these gentlemen that in offering this
Police bill they out your views and wishes,
as expressed BY yon in your communc atoms TO the
Common Council Of the lst and lltn OF January in de-
posing this bill does the Recorder and City Judge
as Commissioners with you and by substituting their
place three private citizens. who tney admitted from
scope OF the bill would be poht cal partsans
and woud be expressly elected such by two domi
nant parties the day AT the same time that the two
Senator's who advocated the bill TO carry out
your views and wishes, supporters in your Of
made broad charges against your political honesty in
the discharge of your duties Mayor and ss the head
az 1hs Ro sGss
not ssy) that wanted the OF that department.
to aid the democratic party.
Now SIR, as have tasen great interest for the last
few in the police Of NeF York, and have endes
vored although private citizen to aid in every way to
originally urging the adoption of tbe UNIFORM which has
created great in the appearance of
the men and although did all could to elect op
posing candidate the Office which yon hold yet
win do al can to keep you in it, 80 long you
therefore thought il my da,y to state to you frankiy
the charges that made against yoa in the Senate
Also to give your vie VS. generally Or the Oil have no
right as party coadJutor to ineFrogats yon on the
subject ss have generally been tins opponent of the
party which placed you in power; but think that the
cizens Of New York have right hear from you the
truth alehood of the charges thro-n on. by those
who in BREATH proessed in the Senate out
them '' 'rf''''
also ask Of you f you reply this letter. whether
may make such OF your .t.nk proper,
by making known to the public through the press
'' '''''' ' ~ JAMES " dERiRD. =
MAYOR WOOD TO MR. GERARD.
MAYORS CY1cE, NEW YORK, April s, 1865
DEAR SIa-Your esteemed favor OF the 4th inst Ia
ceived cannot conceive that any ythng my messages
TO the Common Council which have been referred to,
positions made at Albany tbs winter to amend the pre-
sent law relating to the police of this CITY, 1t Is true
that in both this inaugural and recommendatory
sages, auson is made to the present police system,
detective but II is plainly and distinctly set forth
we be that the defects lay in the restriction Of the
powers Of the Mayor as head Of the Police Department
and not that he held much power, i the theory
Of the proposition before the Senate In the first Of
these documents this position plainly asserted, when
say, .though ostensibly head Police Department
he Is not practically in the essential elements OF
thority that Of controlling the Of
his own subordnates The Chief OF Police holds his
place Independent of the Mayor that officer having been
Board Of commssioneTs, under the Law Of 1883 which
they construed to give that authority. He cannot
soi appoint or remove the humbles cordnate in the
service make the rules and regulations for its GO
or these requisites Of power necessary TO
make an efficient police corps, he is BY Law deprived
arm hand Of unrestricted power besides it is wrong in
principle to make any public officer responsible for the
yidual power to remove.n
Here is somplaat OF the Of power OF the Mayor
La 1l.,.l
otherthst he Is responsible for the conduct of tbs po
lice, and hence should govern itthst tso commissions
ers who out vote bm and control the appointment,
and removals should be placed beside him mansg,
IT, To leave no doubt as to these beius views then
~ now quote again from the recommendsory msssag
Of January IL, 1855 =
This department. Of the city government placed
directly under the snpsrysion q the Mayor than
power to appoin ment and removal which, after all,
stue the great elements OF control feel much response
bity and concern.
And again st carrying out the idea tha. there should
be but one head and but one po~er Of onmsnt and
removal and that the two Judges who part Of
the Board Of Commissioners should be taken away and
leave all to the Mayor, the owing passage
,or as so 90s h.
ned her By habits q life or train q reflection make
Police Board fully concur in these opinions.
The whole theory Of my views ofexecuve government
OF every character far as this city concerned Is
head am satisfied good government exist in
city Like this containing so many thousands Of the tur
buent, the vicious, and the INDECENT, without chief
officer with necessary power the faithful
ton OF the laws for the protection OF he liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness No inconsderable portion Of
population think that ublicansm consists in the
absence OF Law and government.
The bill now before Sense proposes create three
commissioners, who with the Mayor cicio, are 70
form board who are to Posses al as powers nov held
elected BY the people for the exclusive purpose Of max
ing and unmaking policemen: Now though opposed to
dividing the power Of the Mayor the Police, with
any other officers still IL the rncple is 20 be tolerated
better that high judicial officers Who elected as
1.<...
70 their duties upon the bench should be associates
than who viii be chosen for the parpose under the
ference betwesn Police Commissioners taken from high
judicial positions and Police Commissioners made by ths
tools Of party reekins the s~s OF sin ane nquity
which 81 press have 80 much nauencs over party
chinery How far the lives and property end the order
81 unssp board s%ansns % from s source pr s.
character there be difficulty IN dvinng.
sen.s' have 70, ny .,.r
My cannot be construed into any other posson
never used any other language Instead OF giving 70
the Mayor that strength which fan exercise OF the
duties chief magistrate Of ths city should possess and
without which thers cannot be the vgor and
Independence IL is proposed by this bill to take away
power TO eecentraze H. instead Of con vibrating It
him, by placing three active politicians alongside of him
to annoy and worry him into compliance With their
party behests. It is much add that the de-
partment would soon be filed with men chosen for par
tisan services and not personal 6ns and the power
that placed them In Office would protest them against
the Mayor afterwards Not osy Is The election Of Police
Commissioners as such exclusively for this dnty ooec-
tonabs but the mode OF the election under this bill Is
yet more 70.
provides that after the expiration Of the 0,
those named In the there 10 be shosen Two at
every election by taking the candidates Who receive
the highest number OF votes n the as the
Governors Of the Aims House selected The alleged
ground for this mode H. 10 bslsnce OF partisan
interest IN the Board because il Is said each party
win be sure TO elect add hence parties viii be
divided Now, even admitting that sgcn would be
its ehtct-whch viii not, a. .here are al least four
political parties In this city and OF course to do this
Il would be necessary TO elect four Com nissioaers
yet the theory OF the mode is iDasunch u
secures the election OF a Commtssioner who has
been rejected By the people. Tee second high
est would be really and in fast discarded.
unit re entrusted with the xrortsnt aud delicate
dutes cevolvng upon the ONCE i pro tosea {, take
this repudsated candidate and give him seat al Board
With ful powers As the Mayor himself and in fact.