The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-17

We pu01lkn To-Day voo text OF inc new p01lCo
law that has been tirkered up In Albany, aud
which is now given to the people Of this city and
OF Brooklyn as the perfection Of all that can be
desired in the way Of police system. A most
anomalous, confused and-we believe-unconsti-
tutor al law IL ia Nevertheless, If 1t had been
commenced to be carried out in consonauce with
the spirit which dictated the measure, we might
have been inclined to overlook some Of its anoma-
les aHd letthe thing have fair trial. But even in
the very rcipency Of Its execution the cloven foot
Of political pa, tizanship is protruded The chief
reason assigned for the revision of our present
police system was that the powers Of appoint
ment vested in the Mayor, Recorder and City
Judge were too often used for partizan aud poll
tcal purposes. Probably this charge WAS in some
degree true. If go it was wise to separate the
police system from politics. How is that
done: Why, the law says the Governor Of
the State shall, by and with the consent of
the Senate appoint five Police Commissioners,
Who In conjunction with the Mayors of New
York and Brooklyn, will form Board of Metro
politan Police. The idea Of the Legislature was
that the selections should be made from the
ableet and best OF our citizens. Well. how does
Gov King respond to that sentiment? By the
appointment of Eve mere politicians one or two
Of some note, the rest of utter insigni6cance-
but ali interruptions partizans. And so we set
out with our new police bill on worse footing
even than the old system was on at its disruption
The consequence Will be that before the lapse of
many months our police system will sink into
condition of utter decentralization.
So much for Gov. Kings share In giving vi
tality to the law. As to the law itself, taking
the opinion Of the State Attorney General Cush-
ing as being correct. It Is unconstitutional.
Some months since the Legislature, by resolution,
directed Mr.. Cuhipg to furnish his opinion as to
the power of the Governor and Senate, or of the
Legislature, to make appointments to city Offices.
In response he quoted the State constitution and
declared it as his opinion that under it, ''all city
officers must be appointed by the electors Of the
city or authorities (of the city,. The attempt
to evade this constitutional requirement by
blending in with the cities of New York and
Brooklyn large part Of Long Island and the
whole of Staten Island, 80 as to make up the
Metropolitan Police District, might seem a very
cute dodge to country lawyers, but it evidently
does rot affect at ali the question Of constitu-
tionality. If neither the Governor nor Legisla-
ture had the power Of appointing officers of the
city Of New York while the city stood alone,
they surely do not acquire that right when it is
aualgamated with Brooklyn and the rural dis
uicts, where the objection might not seem to ap-
ply so strongly.
A perusal of the bill will show some other in
cone1uitiee! 1t undertakes, for instance, to le-
gislate against Sunday liquor selling, although
there was q distinct measure on liquor traffic
pending before the came Legislature, and which
Is now Law. It's residence qualification for
policeman Is far more exacting than that
required for Senator or member Of Congress
For the latter twelvemonths' residence In the
State is all that is required but to qualify aper
con to act in the exalted capacity of . policeman
be must have been resident of the Metropolitan
Police District for Ave years Of course that
provision was not inserted for any political pur-
pose! How could It, when tho object of the
bill is to divorce the police from politics?
There are many other sbsurdities In the bill,
particularly in the clumsy efforts made to recon-
cile the city system with the rural system. Few
can read 1t carefully and not pronounce It legis-
lative failure.
We wanted no such Law for New York. The
law We had was ef6cscious enough had II been
but properly enforced. II the District Attorney
had but seconded the determined course pursued
by City Judge Russell, we would have had less
complaints Of gIotters and burglars and gam
blers going unpublished. Hundreds of indict.
ments were allowed to bluemould on the shelves
Of the District Attorney; but when occasionally
q criminal happened to be prosecuted and con-
or mitigation OF punishment to be expected 1t
was . secoDdiog Of such efforts that We wanted,
and not this clumsy Metropolitan Police bill.
RUPTURE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
New GRANADA.-Mr. Morse, the special CON-
missioner sent by the Pierce administration TO
Bogota, charged with the settlement Of the difh-
culties arising out of the Panama massacre Of
18th April. dsS6, and out of the new laws
Of that republic in reference 10 tonnage duties
and increased impost on mail matter passing
through the Istbmus, has been completely un.
successful In his mission. The New Granadian
Cabinet disclsims all responsibility for the loss
Of life and the pillage occasioDed by the Panama
riot, and distinctly AYERS that that unfortunate
event aroee out of the improper coaduct and vio-
lepce of Americans As 10 the other matters,
the Cabinet declined to discuss them, probably
on the ground that II could not interfere with the
legislation Of Congress. Mr.. Morse and our
resident Minister there, Mr.. Bowlin, then sub
mitted an ultimatum that the New Granular