New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-28
CoMMIssJONERS OF POLICE.

The Board met yesterday afternoon at Police Head
quarters, President SrILLnAs in the chair and all the
members present.
Presentation of Memorial Respecting he Sunday
Li9uor Traffic.
double delegation Of citizens Of American and
German birth waited the Commissioners to present
memorials on the Sunday liquor traffic. Messrs. Pele-
tiah PERT, james Brown, Z. q. Halsted, Norman
White, Roswell Sprague, A: Ii. Nelson, james w.
Beekman, and other wellkn0wn gentlemen, with
Nessrs Meler Rlechers and other Germans, composed
the delegation.
Mr. PERT in preventing the memorial briefly stated
It's objects and expressed the hope that far they
came within the scope Of the department, they would
be carried out.
Mr. BOWS thought the responsibility for the exist
ing state of things largely with the magisrdcy and
the prosecuting officers. Numerous complaints had
already been made, which had not been prosecuted.
lie not certain as To the power OF the Police To ar
rest offenders against the Sunday Liquor law.
Mr. WHITE said the evils OF the traffic under consid
GRAFTON were so obvious, and affected so deeply the
moral condition Of the city that the Press ana the pub
Gc would demand, as they had night to demand the
execution of the laws. Surely the magistrates would
not Obstruct their enforcement, with overwhelming
proofs that while they were left in neglect all law was
comparatively pOweress He directed the attention
of the Commissioners to the city ordinance of 1862
which makes eve Sunday sale OF liquor a INSIDE
meanor; to the Excise law of 1857, which provides
a penalty Of $50 for each offense, either of
selling ON any day without license, or of
selling on Sunday, if licensed, and makes
it the duty of every policeman to arrest offenders; to
fhe Metropolitan Police act, which aiiXes Il fine of
$50 to every Sunday sale, and requires the Police
Board TO execute the laws protecting the Sabbath;
and to the statute prohibiting all traffic on the Sab
bath ana penalty of contscation OF the goods eX-
posed for sale, whether liquors or dry goods. w hen
distinguished strangers visit our city, we are proud to
exhibit our humane and regeneratve institutions, aud
point to the ample proportions of our Aims House and
kindred establishments proof of benevolent fore
thought. Woud it not be prouder movement could
we by abating che causes of pauperlsm and the temp
tations to crime, show that Alms-House accommoda-
lions and City Prisons were comparatively needless
The memorialists are the more encouraged To seek
protection and relief from the evils of the Sunday
iquor traffic on account of the readiness heretofore
manifested by this department TO comply with all rea.
sonabe requests of citizens to suppress crime anu
abate public nusances.
The memorial was referred to the appropriate Com
mittee. .
The matter as to the old police force was under dis
cussion and was finally referred to the Committee on
Rules and Regulations, consisting of Judge Ulhoefier
and Messrs Boweu and Stranahan.
Patrolmen Harrington and Sweeny OF the First Ward
were dismissed the force.
Policeman John ID. Davis of Brooklyn, against
whom charges had been preferred sent in letter OF
resignation, which he concluded by wishing the Com
missioners every happiness.
The Board adjourned until Friday.
1t is rumored that the Board have consented to re-
instaie such worthy members of the old force will
relnQuish all claims to back pay, and we learn from
reliable source that eight men have already accepted
such proposition, and been placed on duty.