The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-17
Senatorial Police Committee.

Ine commlttee appointed ny the ast sessou 70 Ncst
gate into the workings of the Metropolitan Police law and
which has been session since September last met yes
terday at ten O'clock at the Florence Hotel, Broadway
Present. Hon f. b. spinola and Hon. 0. B, Wheeler.
Mr.. James Bowen, one OF the Commissioners, the
first witness examined by Mr.. Spnoa, and testaed as
follows
O. DO you occupy any official position in the Metropoli
tan Police organzation9 A. Yes, am treasurer.
O. Have you been treasurer the organization of
the commission A. Yes.
O. Have you any evidence with you by which You
state the of money coming into your hands
such treasurer A. No cannot here tell you in
round numbers let see; think thirteen fourteen
hundred thousand dollars but you ascertain correctly
by examination Of the books
Q. What books kept by you, Of the de
partmen2 A. Check book, Journal and ledger, and tn
the cash book; think these all
Q. Does the law provide any particular banks any
district to keep your accounts in? A. Yes the Comptro
Ter Of the State desgnaes the banks which the police
fund shall be kept.
@ What banks were SO designated by the Comptroller
in this city and Brooklyn for the funds Of the Brooklyn
the Shoe aud Leather Bank in this city and the Mechanics
Bank Of Brooklyn but in July August last think he
designated the Importers and Traders Bank of this city
and the Mechanics Bank Of Brooklyn.
@ Can you state, without an examination Of the books
what amount of moneys you have hand 10 the
credit Of the departmentg A. / think in Brooklyn two
thousand dollars and Importers and Traders Bank
four or i've thousand dollars.
Q. Are there any outstanding obligations existing
against the Department. A. There are obligations ac
crung all the time, from day to day.
Mr.. Spnola-That is for the working of the force.
outside the salaries of the attached the De-
partment and It's officers
Mr.. Bowen-I don't think that there any, except
some bills for the police whilst al Quarantine, which
have been directed by the Board pay and which de-
cned is small amount-some thrco or four hundred
dollars know Of none others.
@ Is there anything due any party any ou.s,and
ing bills against the department for the keeping OF horses
that were purchased for the mounted poce9 a, No sir
they were paid up TO the first of last month
O. Who receives the compensation for taking charge Of
these horsesY There horses that kept
by the old Municipal police and transferred to this depart
mnt which have been kept by Captain Porter the Board
of Supervisors authorized the purchase ef nine horses
this spring
Q. We're they purchased by an agent9 A. Yes, by Col
Nye; he Is brother Of General Nye the subject came
up the Board the compensation for keeping these
horses, and u was referred 70 committee consisting Of
the Mayor of New York, Mr. Stillman and General Nye
with power TO make contract for the keeping Of these
horses, and they contracted with this gentleman bro
her Of the General and he las kept them since paid this
bill for the keeping OF the nine horses the certificate Of
the Mayor and the other members Of the committee in the
first nstancc-that is when the bill lrst presented
had the signatures Of the three members Of the
mittec; since then the other members of the committee
constituting majority, have certified the bills.
2. How much month is paid for their keeping A.
Eighteen dollars per month each
q Is that branch OF the organization active servceg
the Tw slnh ward
~.
nine Of these horses? A. Colonel Nye keeps the nne pur
chased by him Porter keeps the three that belonged
don't know how long) TO the Polite Department.
O. Can you explain why IT is that there two div-
sions madey ~ The uine are used for patrol duty the
three kept by Captain Porter used convey prisoners
% the courts and he them, Iheeve carry his
men duty; his precinct extends from Kngsbrdge
Harlem, several miles he conveys the and drops
them down nj their posts.
g. Does Captain Porter receive the same compensation
per horseg A. Yes, eighteen dollars month
9. Have You any knowledge as TO who certses
Tho "a t.A fha for Nrfnra
hire fer the Of the forcef A. / have moi;
these bills don't pay; the comprollar Of the city
has Pad all the Incidental expenses Of the department
since last year, the In the old force everything
was in chaotic state with respect 20 the police when
first entered upon duties; went to the CJmptrol
Ter respecting these Incidental expenses, and he sad he
would not ray them told HIM that they should be paid,
or else the Police Department must stop ne replied that
there other way than 10 advance tho money; /
advanced two hundred dollars and the other Comms-
soncrs one hundred dollars each, and by the time tnat
was expended the constutionaly Of tue law had been
decided continued TO ray the incidental expenses OF
the department at the request Of the Comptroller until
the first of January then called upon him and told
that the law contemplated that the city should pay its
expenses and that he should do he consented and
since January last has done So now his fund Is exhausted
and he = drawing the police fund for incidental
pcnses; suppose after this time shall have 10 examine
these vouchers myself.
TO ist Janaarys A. Yes; think il $500.
O Was Il certified 10 ny any partyf A. ] was directed
20 pay Ivy the Beard; lid not ise 90 pay without the
direction II the Board, because il BIZ Of such mag
ntudc though was proper onr, because il was for
carriages employed during the riots OF
Jcne and July and the elections Of November and Dc
ccmbcr.
Q Ind tho bin to which you refer specify the days upon
which the carriages used and by whom they
ordcredl A. iorge,-cri don't know.
Mr.. spinca-Ihc bils, suppose, arc q, your ohncoS
Mr.. Bowen-Yes, the vouchers
q 10 yor know 20 whom that bill paid A. His
name was Wilson; do not know his ffst name.
O. Did YOU take bis receai A. Yes cannot ds,n-
guish which Wilson u of them is q pa,ronan,
and think his brother keeps the stable; can't say
whether !, war tito pairo!man IA our onico TO whom
pcd the t, but tha, can be asccraincd by referring
Q. whO, assistants have you tn your oasscs A. Que
clerk-Mr. Gcit
q wha, compensation does he receiver A. Eight hun.
drcd dollar: he is pa,rolman detailed duty.
Q Are there any other POLICEMEN detailed fer duty IN
O. Can We ascertain from The Comptroller the amount
which ~ has .ad for The expenses Of the Department.
A. Yes, no doubt
viii the receipts of the moneys raid for counsel fees
n cobtesng the oonstutonaiy of the be found IN bis
department yonrsY A. N Tor aI legal expenses
connected with the police organization, the whole amount
authorized by the Legislature was 81, 500
Mr. SpinolaIt authorized both sides 10 be pad last
winter: Understand ono party received $4,000
Mr.. Bp~en-I don't know how much the other eide
ceved, only PAID the bills "r counsel. That
was in this way The Board Of Supervisors authorized this
amount and the bills, with receipts, yrcccnted
the Comptroller and he then drew warrant for each
counsellor IN my favor then took duplicate receipts
and handed the warrant
o. The original receipts, then 70 he ound his of.
accs A. They arc 10 be found in both cffccs they
duplicate receipts.
q Il there any hing paid the police fund from West.
chester county, A. No.
q. Has the county OF Richmond paid anything9 A.
No.
O. Has the department ever called upon them for any
amount9 a. Yes notified them, but the county Of
Westchester passed resolution that would not pay, aud
believe the Supervisors OF Richmond protested against
q no you think Il advisable that these two counties
should be continued under the present jurisdctonS
think So II is only question cf time think these coun
tics with their dense population, must necessarily have
Io,5e system ike ,nat q london and consider that we
derive great benefit from now last week tho most
important TINT ever has been made made In
Brooklyn by the New York police
O. Would i not work az well ii New York and Brooklyn
under separate and each police 70 have
jurisdiction IN both paces2 A. / don't think then that
New Yori oicers would take any particular care IN the
matter.
Mr. spincla--If they good officers and ambitious
70 distinguish themselves they would " course.
q Are a the bills taid by you previously ordered 20
he paid by the Board2 A. There Is Finance Committee,
composed n Mr.. Stillman aud Mr. Stranahan, TO whom
every voucher ~ submitted The incidental expenses
naid nv The ncnntv dom nay tIinen