The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-29
The Government of New York Citv.

The Mayor of Nvw York is IL Democrat, am!
thcti,y is Drmo-ra'ic but The Republicans hay.
:. majority in the rnra. Districts; a:l rs New
York city by lis wealth and Influence confirms
the Government Of th: state, it was ia. GRAND
object of the Legislature at It's las, Session to
annihla'"tli power After long .l..Iil"r,,i"n,
the Republican leaders introduced their New
f"li"" lIi!, an! had ii Immediately pa .scl
The Bill provides for the establishment of u
Board Of police Commissioners, to whom WIS
given all authority over til: metropolitan p"-
lice; thus nrutra!izir- Mayor Woods power
and giving t" the Republican party almost
universal sway in the city,
Tie Bill h., AROUSED Il Storm Of excitement
in the city. au.l Mayor Wood has refused 10
rcco:.nis,: it provisions until h. has hal an o,,-
p"rtunity OF testing it+ c"n~litu,ionaltv before
the LEGAL tribunals. The action Of the Board
OF Commissioners, in attempting to exercise
jurisdiction over the police, has cli"itrL from
the Mayor the following d;cnit.l l.tt. r. in
which he lcprecatcs any present interference"
on their part, with the existing a'lmni.t ration
of the p"!ic" department:
M,r"E> OrrrI: NEw York. May 16, 1877
." -iIiiN SN''t''it"! III llI'' ItlrS
ii"n To tho "nustituiioilal;;v OF the Mc,rnI..
Titan Police bill on lis road t" speedy di>J
s;tion in the Court Of Appeals, | regret t. tilI
that the Hanrd of which YOU ar, Chairman
deemed it rrudrnt I" anticipate that decision
by ariivc movements against the present adj
nini>trnti"n OF the Police Department Of the
city.
As You aware. The case will he argue
next month in that Court and nnl decision
ON the whole matter in controversy may br
had hy Tie first Of July. Assuming That the
"rr:S:on viii hc in your favor, which ,l. not
Tor an IiI' nn"" c"nrrivr possible, would it, not
employ the Commissioners nui their irnmr !i..tc
sub"r,linai" as,oct.cs the whole of the inter
vcnng tim" in hcc":uinc acquainted with the
system. and iiS practical operation. without lis
tnrbing the force or IFS command! | an con.
ii'irut that much is {" he learned before
persons, unpractiscd in the complex machine
rv, can l,"rrm" sufficiently c"uvrrs:,nt with j,
to comprehend and administer it. cii:'irnilv
that N last two mon hs will be rco,iirc.l for
this purpose Will it M. he i,Git OF to 50 employ
t'IaL time, aud thus {" avoid any unpleasant
contest 81 jeopardy in the ru''lic interests
which may cnsuc from ri assumption of au-
thirty winch may not be arq,ic-c,,, in! sta
ted 10 YOU i'll conversation II day or ;w" since
that if this c"nrsc WAS pursued il would civ.
me pleasure to afford every facility Al INV com
mand to enable You T." procure this information.
now repeat the offer, with 4 hope that it may
lie accepted i'll the same c"ucilatory spirit in
which il j, rendered. Your Board can then
have the benefit of the experience may have
had, which will serve to some extent to qualify
them for tho ar.lu"us and responsible duties
wirh will cv"lve upon them il III case the uw
shall be declared valid.
can conceive of nothing more detrimental
to the public welfare than II conflict of author
itv between yourselves, assuming TO be the
head OF the policc.jn prospective, and myself.
aS Mayor of the City, anl head Of the police
i'll possession.
it is quite certain that acting in the former
capacity and under joint resolution Of the
Common Council restricting me, ! could not
consent {" yield VI. the station houses and other
police police property which belongs to the
Corporation of New York. and WHICH cannot
DE aenatcd without ia consent, under on act
of the LEGISLATURE which firmly bcliovc is not
law. Taking fl'is view Of MY duty, consider
thut much unpleasant controversy may DO
avoided by following thescourse thus indicntcd
by bc. Will it not be Well to do so, and for
Your Board to employ the coming two months
i'll procuring information and making them
selves personally aeqnaint with the numrr
Gus details essential 10 IL comprehension of the
duties before thcm-assliming the law valid
Very respectfully your, obcIicnt servant,
FERNANDDESOOD, Mayor.
hp