The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-15
Municipal Reform or Municipal Revolution!
"A New Charter and New Police Law.

called upon to act The first is the draft of a
new charter and is scheme to reform our
municipal government. The second Is copy Of
q proposed police law, and is a distinct attempt
at revolution of the system of police elections
and the administration Of criminal jnstice.
The new cha ter has received the sanction of
the Common Council and is before the Legisla-
tune; committee OF the Common Council has
been appointed TO take care of the bill at Albany
This charter, like that proposed by Joseph
Blunt, which we have published places
the appointment of the heads Of depart
ments in the hands of the Mayor, but
The Aldermen's charter differs in the impor
tant point that it does not displace the
officers elected until the close of their terms.
All the heads of departments, however, are made
responsible 10 the Mayor Immediately after the
passage Of the law. The Board of Councimen
is reduced to thirty members. the charter does
not dispace the officers recently elected because
il is the opinion Of some Of the best authorities
that when the officer is elected and sworn in for
a certain term, he has contract with the people
for that term, and can sue for and recover his
salary TO, the whole term. This instrument
simply provides for the administration Of the
executive and legislative branches OF the city
government. 1t does not touch the police, or
The administration of criminal law 1t mas pretty
stroIg hackers and can run alone for the present.
Document number two is Of a more sweeping
character. 1t is a sort Of coup d'ttdt by the Dis
uct Attorney, and leads one to fear the most
terrible consequences, from the extraordinary
energy of that remarkable young man.
We should not be at all surprised 10 hear
some fue morning that the corpulent Chief Of
Police had been locked up in the Tombs, that the
handsome Captains no longer illuminated the dol
lar side Of Broadway and that Mr.. Oakley Hall
had placed himself at the head Of the municipal
army, dating his first decree from Parlor Number
Fourteen, Astor House-the celebrated head
quarters of the Republican Junta.
Seriously speaking, however, this document is
osiensibly a new police law, and really plan to
place the city government in the hands of three
persons TO be appointed by the Governor aud to
hold almost despotic power for five years. 1t
completely revolutionizes the police and the sys-
TEN OF administering criminal justice in the lower
courts. 1t provides for the appointment by the
Governor, OF three Commissioners OF Police, who
shall hold Office five years and have supreme
power over that department. The officer cores
pondDg TO the Chief shall be called the Superin.
tendent; Captains shall be called Inspectors;
Teutensnts Sergeants; the law Of promotion
is based upon seniority in the service; pro-
vision is made for pension list; salaries
Of Commissioners fixed at tour Thousand dollars
each they go into Office Immediately after pas
sage Of the law, superseding the Commissioners,
the Chief. Captains and policemen now actin 2,
and making new appointments throughout; TIE
Recorder. the District Attorney aud the Superb
tondtnt of Police stall act with the new CO.n-
mission, which shall appoint the City Inspector,
Health Wardens, Police Clerks and Dock Mas
tiers The Commission shall divide the city into
election districts, appoint inspectors and poll
clerks the Court Of Sessions and the Office VI
City Judge are to be abolished; Police Justices
arc TO hold special sessions when the Commits
sioners shall direct.
That is the new police law in a nutshell.
IL is remarkable document, feariully aod won
deriully made 1t places the government Of the
of q Council of Three. something like the
Roman Consuls. but more after IL
fashion Of the Venetian Council Of Ter
This Commission is to be appointed by the Co
vernon, and there is nothing to prevent the selec-
ton Of three men from the wilds of Northern
New'Y FORK. who know nothing of the city and
who would. therefore, make the most egregious
blunders IL supersedes, illegally. all the officers
now on duty. without cause 1t gives the party
in power the right to Gerrymander the city, or to
so carve up the districts as TO keep the majority
# votes always on one side. Ii places the whole
machinery of the polls In the hands of three
men who are altogether irresponsible TO. and re-
moved FROM the people. Il abolishes an impor
tapt judicial Office, and places in the hands OF
Police Justices powers which they have no time
20 perform. and for which they are incompetent
under any circumstances. II makes the Common
'ouncil simply a vehicle TO pay the bills
q the Commissioners; and if the Coun-
Gil will not pay, the bills become
county charge and must be paid by authority
Of the Legislature II places patronage to the
amount of million and half per annum in the
hands Of the Commission, without the slightes.
security or guard against corruption 1t gives,
in effect, TO this Commission power over the city of
New York as despodc as that of the Emperor of
the French over the city Of Paris; il is little
worse than the Napoleonic rule, because one au-
tocrst is always preferable to three. If such
law il 10 be enacted, Why not 90 a step further.
and place the appointment Of the Mayor, Alder
men, Couneimen and heads of departments in
the hands of the Commissioners Of Police, or
why have any Mayor, Aldermen, Councilmen or
heads of departments at all Why not enact
law giving the Governor OF the State power TO
appoint one man-say the District Attorney-to
rule as supreme dictator over the city?
We are at loss TO perceive why the Sessions