The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-05

viction Of the accused, il VIII be 70 how vide
extent this upon their orsdlblity renders this
OF justice poweIless for good at the moment and 10
the emergency when It must be most relied upon, We
nted Lot add h6w 70 the saety OF all citizens,
IN property in person ard in character 1t nus be to i'm
poae The and sometimes arbitrary powers OF police,
With which the men are clothed In the Of unscrupu
,ous un,ruthfu officials La spite the inpeoiments,
however TO full scrutiny the committee able after
piousced examinations and by calling large number OF
WITNESSES within aud without the force at facts
WHICH show that this Metz opolitan police organized
ess With regard 70 its public duties than TO its efficiency
as PORTUGAL machine and that 1t tainted by gross
corruption N is elemental organ zaon OF which the sale
OF ces the imposition OF political taxes the forced con-
tibutoDs OF subofonates TO their CHIEFS but par
telwhile was broken in its discipline from these and
otber CAUSES, aud included in lis arge proper
character and by their antecedens be tie accessories
of crime than 10 trace It out 70 It's hiding places and
Trtst and expose 1t.
JAMES QUINN SALE OF PLACES TO TIE
The testimony OF James Quinn goes directly to the point
He saysHe associated with Alderman Dooley Of the
Nineteenth ward; that he and Dooey undertook to get
certain restored in the poice these TO pay
Quinn $50 each in case they were appointed and TO give
$3.50 each 10 the republican committee for political pur
poses" We asked how much money he received from
tain persons who applying be appointed the
police. Ee replied, 'The money promised was in the
vicinity Of hundred and eighty doars; swears that he
toid General Nye that the would pay money for po
ca purposes and that thereupon Nye promised TO np
point Them. The evidence OF several members OF tho
Organization clearly establishes the tact that money was
force
Michael Berry, patrolman in the Fourteenth precinct,
getting him resated the police that he paid part Of
the money, and intended to pay the balance renal
unpaid, and that he owed his reinstatement to the
hueLce Of said Beebe.
OTHER BROKERS IN TIE BUSINESS
number OF other policemen presented to the commit
tee BILL Of which the following is specimen
NEW York, Sept 49, 1858.
Mr.. JOHN j. NIcnoII TO BEEBE, DEAN AND DoNAHUE DR..
TO fee getting renstated Metropolitan police, $50 90
Received payment.
Roger Judge one OF the men who gave money to Quinn
to procure his appointment, swore as follows
Nye told me- Ia the presence Of Quinn, that he would
when Quinn took us to see Gen. Nye; saw Quinn talk
ing TO Nye and presently out OF the inner 10
US; after talking awhile he said he was rather in hurry
or he would appoint US at once but we would wait day
two he would put Quinn standing by at the
time John Miller, member OF the force, swears that he
carried from Judge Beebe TO Commissioner Bowen,
who, upon reading it, told him he could be reapponted.
Miller reapponted, and subsequently Beebe told him
he should expect $50 for his services Miller paid Beebe
$50 took receipt for it, and said he intended to pay the
balance OF The $50; par0lman paid Quinn $500 for
curing his appointment which be didn't receive until
he had paid the whole 5000. The testimony this
point s ample and conclusive. II unnecessary to
60 further into the subject will the committee under
take to cay how far the Commissioners any of them
implicated these corrupt transactions The fact
that money has been constantly used to procure the a
pontmens Of men en- the police y undonabe, and there
would seem TO be TO doubt that this fact
draw their own conclusions as to the cornpy of those
gentlemen 1t was impossible to ascertain whether the
cXpeDue0
applied to the use Of the men who received it.
THE POLICE FORCE MERE PARTY MACinNE-GESERAL
POLITICAL HACK.
In the opinion OF your committee Of the most for
midabe obstacles to the salutary workings OF the
system the purely partisan character Of the persons
appointed in the commission. The law innovation
calculated from its nature to create drust and alarm in
the minds Of the people Of the district was there
FORE the more important that the commission should DO
so composed as to afford to them that no
sinister or unworthy objects had been contemplated
in its enactment. Gentlemen of high character, fami.
n aodU 70 ~ tbn Ottvr ovd
have been selected to carry the law into execution
State in organizing the commission, and what has been
done by the men whom he entrusted with responsibility
head of tho Commissioners Not q well known New
Yorker Of knowledge and experience In the affairs Of the
city, unconamnaed by debasng party associations in
would have rcfpsed implicit confidence; not New York
or at all but lawyer from the country, politician by
profession, needy partisan, whose thirst for office has
been proverbal for years-a man who had no sympathy
with the city of New York. and whose limited acquaint
ance With police affairs has NOT been Of character to fit
sioner.
Your committee desire do no injustice to Gen. Nye:
they concede to him all the merit that his candid en Ia
may claim for him. but his special and utter unness for
the head Of the metropolitan Police notorious and unde
niable Messrs Draper and Bowen are New Workers. to
be sure with many qualifications for the post to which
gushed above their fellows as bitter patsans and their
appointment together with that OF Mr. Stranaha of Brook
5 SSn1e rnco with that Of Mr. Nys stamped the
only with reference to the advantage of party then in
power The fact stands confessed and fair minded
man can entertain a doubt Oh the subject
THE CONSEQUENCE OF MAKING TuE POLICE a POLITICAL
ENGINE.
Ana what has been the effect Of organizing this vnst ma
chine as party instrumenaty Exactly what every man
or ordinary sagacty forsaw from the outset the proof
Oh winch mas been dragged out Of reluctant witnesses by
competent and unworthy buying places in the force
contributions levied upon members for political purposes
constant violation Of law and disregard of the rules OF
the Board by officers and men, officers unnecessarily in
creased without colorado preence of authority under
crime on the increase in the city willis detections are
more unfrequent; feones and misdemeanors committed
WIFI mpTny ey the force and general sense of nse
This hasy resume embraces out part Of the disastrous
consequences Of attempting TO make mere party machine
merae, but these sustained by adequate testimony
y would seem that he must be bold man who would
stand up and undertake to defend this system.
THE HOUSE AND GENERAL NYs.
Your committee End difficulty treating the sub
facts Of the case far they disclosed by the wit
nesses examined on the point were as foows-A con-
tho police for tho avowed Of Desenne
Nye with some substantial evidence OF the respect attach
ment or gratitude Of the men employed in tho Police De-
partment-some Of the witnesses spoke of il as Intending
10 compensate him for his professional services behalf
Of members Of the department. others supposed the de-
sign to be to proptate his good viii towards nd
yiduals who needed his official influence retain them in
the department. The motive Of the donors we win not
undertake to define but IL evident on its face that
the contribution was not a spontaneous disnterested
demonstration, many of the men subscribing with
reluctance only from the apprehension Of Injurious
others declined pay their money for any such purpose
After part Of the sum was secured and before the whole
amount subscribed the matter became the subject of
newspaper discussion and the scheme was abandoned for
the time; subsequently was revived and still larger
sum raised and at the time your committee commenced
its investigation the affair TO have been under good
headway but again arrested In this instance by the
s0gs Of nb committee as had Dre BY the hue and
second precinct was made tho treasurer tho money be-