The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-03
The Police Commission Farce.

The New York public read with shame and
disgust the report published in yesterdays
HERALD Of the proceedings Of Saturday in the
Metropolitan Police Commission. The business
before that body related to two subjects-the
filing of the vacancy created by Mr.. Diapers
resignation, and the decision on the application
of the Mayor for body of special policemen to
serve in the City Hall. With regard 10 the
former, after half an hour spent in frivolous
fencing about the number Of votes necessary TO
an election, ballot was taken, and the three
republicans voted for republican, the two
May ors for democrat, the Know Nothing Chol-
well for the Know Nothing Ullman. Other bal
lots followed-in all one hundred and seventy
one--but none OF the six members changed their
vote, and the consequence was there was no
election. Did ever anybody bear Of one hundred
and seventy ballots being taken in this ridiculous
manner for the election of subordinate nsignif-
can't official entrusted with purely administra-
tive police department? More fuss could not
have been made If the Office TO be filed had been
the Presidency. And how bumilating a specta-
Gle the brazen obstinacy Of these Commissioners
in sacrificing their duty, their interest, and the
interests of the city and district to their blind
partissnship!
The second business on hand was the applica-
tion OF the Mayor for special police, which was
denied by the special committee in q report by
no means complimentary to Mayor Wood, who
rctortod in speech still less complimentary to
the Commissioners and 10 the squabbe went on
till the members stomacbs could endure no
longer, and they adjourned for late dinner.
If our former Police Commissions have been
at times inefficient and unworthy this one GER
tainly bears Off the palm for frivolousness, use.
lessness and shameless partisnship. The para.
mount, the cole idea OF the majority OF the men,
bers seems to I've TO paralyze insult and Illustrate
tie two Mayors, who are the only men in The
commission who have any practical ideas of the
duties Of police force II Messrs. Nye, Strana.
han ard Bowen think Of anything but this it is to
Gil the police force with unadulteated black re.
publicars; while Commissioner Cholwell evidently
conceives that his duties are restricted TO the
securing for bis party as much Of the lolves and
fishes as possible. None Of these four gentlemen
seem to realize that the safety Of life and pro-
petty within The Metropolitan district depends
largely On their exertons and their efficiency;
houses are being broken open, men murdered,
girls insulted. the laws set at dciiancc-mainly
because the police is inefficient; and these men
who are the caufe Of the ineficiency-n LET
their thoughts wander from the low. base, dirty
dees Of partisan greed and partisan spite with
which they took Office.
Happily, while the scandalous misbehavior of
these Commissioners is likely TO prove a serious
inconvenience 10 the city, il may turn out in the
end to be not devoid of benefit, for Il cannot fall
to teach every one in the State what was the real
purpose Of the trainers of the Metropolitan Po-
lice act, and what are its real merits. Mcssrs.
Stranaban, Nye and Bowen are faithfully carry
ing out the designs Of the Legislature and Co
vernon Of New York. The act was passed-aot
TO improve the police system-but to make IL the
tool Of the republican party: aud that is the end
which these Commissioners never for an instant
lose sight Of They are less bameable for the
despicable meanness and recklessness of their
conduct than the Legislature and the republican
leaders. Their contemplate squsbbles, their
wretched blundcrs 10 the city's interests, their
petty maGgnity, and their corrupt devotion to
their party are true and faithful illustration OF
what the Metropolitan PoHce act was intended
to be, and what we must expect while il remains
in force.
Col FonNEY's NEw PApEr.-we have re-
ceived the first number Of Col Forney's new pa