New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-14

[
NEw-YoRK, Jan - lS5s)
his Eaceeney JOHS A. kline Governor 0f'he State OF Se"
SIR: The Board Of Police, in conformity with TIE
34,h section of the act entitled An Act 20 Establish
Metropolitan Police District and TO provide Tor the
government thereof, passed April ID, 1917, respect
fully
RFroRr:
The Commi--i ,ners held their first meeting on The
sd Of April last; and the Board was organized on that
day by the appointment Of simeon Draper pi New
YoIk as President, and James Bowen of Westche>ter
County as Treasurer. Due notice of the meeting was
served ON the Mayors If the cities of New-fork and
BROOKLYN who are members, otiico, of the Board
but neither attended that or any subsequent meeting
unit, the I'D of July.
The Commissioners proceeded in the discharge of
their duties To appoint General superintendent oil
Police. They rendered the office suGcessVeiy 20
George w Matsell James X. " hitting, Joseph keene
and Welcome X. Beebe, who declined the appoint
ment On the 18th Of May Frederick A. rallmidge
was elected to that Office by the unanimous vote OF the
Board By the provisions Of the act the chiefs oi the
LEGAL police Of the Cities of New-York and Brooklyn
were made Deputy Superintendent. On the IN OF
May, in pursuance Of requis,on OF tue heaNn YIN
Ger Deputy Superintendent Matseu was dlrected 10
detail five patromcn to guard the publl, hospitals at
Quarantine from the threatened attack OF ncendarie'
lie refused TO obey the order and was tried and re-
moved from office for INSTRUMENTATION, and Daniel Gar
peuter of New-lOrk, was appointed IN hls place.
TIE act provided that the municipal or local ponce
of the cities of New. York and Brooklyn should DE-
embodied in the Metropolitan force, anu that the oCA'
authorities should be Invested Of AL control over them
after the first meeting of the Board OF Commissioner
II had been confidently asserted by the opponents
of the act that the Court would declare 1t uncpn-tu-
tona that doubts infused into the minds OF me
New.York force as to the awulneS' oil oDeyhg the
orders of the Commissioners.
Under these circumstances, aud in view of the fact
that il was question of vital importance to the po
cemen the Board restrained from assuming tn, si,
,,I Of he force until the validity of the law WIS Ju
| dicially determined. Il, ,,o,,o &c ,bo Surname
u. MALT
on The o5tb of that month the Supreme Court NJ a
General Term declared it valid and binding in al Its
parts. ,. ,:; A., c,,; ion;
or, assumed the direct control of the police force
That portion duty in the City of Brooklyn, with
but few exceptions, obeyed the orders OF the Board
OF the New York force, fifteen of the captains, and
about 500 of the patroen, refused to recognize the
authority Of the Commissioners obey the orders of
the General Superintendent. Charges OF insubord-
nation were preferred against them, and they were
tried and dismissed from the service, IN conformity
with the provisions OF law.
The Commissioners proceeded TO I'll the vacancies
thus created. But they arrested in their acton
BY the resignation Of Simeon Draper which left the
Board equally divided i'll respect to appointments to
Office.
On the 9TH If November, Pelateh PERT of New
York was selected Commissioner in the place of MIR.
Draper Soon thereafter the Board was esoined from
making further appointments by Judge Dawes Of The
Supreme Court the allegation that the disinSslon
Of the old force was illegal The injunction was dis
the Judge who delivered the order of dismissal IN re-
spect to questions which had not been argued before
him. admonshed the Commissioners of the expediency
Of delaying to fill the vacancies in the force until the
rights and duties of the Board finally determined
by judicial decision.
been seriously disturbed by rioous asSonbages and
the necessity of n vgilant police extending over the
densely populated counties adjacent to and including
the City of Newlork, has been strikingly illustrated
during the past Summer. Immediately after the Com
Cd tka VIII
ded to them they required to protect the public
hospitals at Quarantine. Soon thereafter 1t became
necessary to detail purity OF armed policemen TO Ne
guine Point Staten Island, to guard the bulldngs
erected for hospital purposes BY the Commissioners OF
Quarantine.
During the month of,June the Street COMMISSIONS
of the City Of New-Iork died and the vacancy in
that Office was filled by the Governor Simultaneous
" the Mayor Of NewYork assumed the right to make
the appointment, and the conflict between the two
claimant. to the office resulted in serious not. The
force under the command of the Commissioners was
resisted in the discharge Of their duty by the munich
pal policemen under the direction Of the Mayor Tur-
bulent mObs assembled 10 prevent the execution
of the orders Of the courts aud the peace OF the city
was only restored and order secured, by resort on
the part If tue Commissioners to the aid OF the militia
under the command Of Maior-Gen. Sanford
On the 4h and 9TH of July the peace OF New; iork
was further disturbed by rotous assembages when it
was again necessary TO call in the aid OF several regi-
meuts of the militia to quel the disturbance.
During the mouth of November the apprehensons
u
reason Of the commercial reveTses led 10 the assembling
turbulent mobs who menaced the peace OF the city;
but they dispersed without resortlng to extreme
measures
The inestimable value OF a well-disciplned militia,
under the command Of intelligent officers, has been
coDcusvely shown during the last Summer, In the
CITY Vt New York. Too much praise cannot be be-
slowed on Gen. Sanford aud the officers and men un
der his command, for the aacrity with which they
met the requisition of the Commissioners and the res
dilute determination they eyinced 10 repfess disorder
and unlawful violence.
The difficulties and embanassments which have
otstruced the Commissioners from the date OF their
appointment until the present tune, have prevented
the full develop of the benefits contemplated by
the Legislature in the passage at the law The oppO-
nen, OF the act have resorted 10 every artce which
their ingenuity could devise TO hinder the Commls
soners the performance OF their duty. Suits at law,
to test the ccnsutonaty OF the act carried TO
the Court G; Appeals The members of the old force
were threatened with instant dismissal by the local
authorities. il they recognized the order of the Com
mi-sicners a rival police was established, called the
day and night watch, which patroled the streets ct
New-YoIk and assumed the duties which deyolved
exclusively the Metropolitan Police. Prisoners
taken By the latter, IN the very act OF committing
crime, were rescued from cu.tcdy and permitted 70
escaIe Justice BY the unlawful organized force 0t
the corporate authorities: the SGtionHOuses which
by law were transferred to the Commissioners, were
withheld writs issued by the Court were resisted,
and were served when the police were seconded by
men under and in order 10 destroy the efficiency
of the law the Corporation Of New-loEk attempted
TO reduce the patrol force to five men.
But notwithstanding these inpediInents, sufficient
mas been accomplished ~ indicate the wisdom of the
Legislature in the passage Of the act. Crime has
never before been arrested with much promptude:
nor has an offen-e Of ma lntude been committed in
New-York Brooklyn since the establishment Of the
Metropolitan Police the perpetrators of which have
not been take into Gu tody.
The provisions If the act in respect to closing liquor
shops tie days If election and Olhiddng the
ton of ticket-booths within 80 feet Of the polls have
lad saluary eject in preserving the peace of the