The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-16

will be endangered from the readmission of
the now excluded States to both houses, with
out any further conditions of security in the
federal constitution. There is sufficient secu-
rity for the Southern blacks in the constitution
as it now stands.
The Police Commissfoners-Better Work
Instead Of Greater Power.
The recent report of the Metropolitan Police
Commissioners is very curious document.
In every paragraph it asks for more power,
and in most cases this increased power is re-
quested over departments not usually placed
under police control The Commissioners pro-
pose to build new station houses in various
precincts in this city and Brooklyn at
considerable expense They desire to be
authorized to license pawnbrokers, junk
dealers, auctioneers, carts and cartmen, hacks
and hackmen, omnbuses and omnibus drivers.
They wish to have charge of all sanitary mea-
surea They request that fund shall be pro-
vidcd to bride offenders whom they are unable
to arrest. They are in favor of the abolition
of all target companies and the establishment
of military brigade of policemen. They
want to superintend tenement houses and
cheap lodging houses. They urge the passage
of a law giving them power over the concert
saloons. They suggest that the police should
be intrusted with the excise licenses,
and that all places where liquor Is sold
should be placed under their super
vision. The Commissioners are like Oliver
Twist on grand scale. They have produced
report which, on the score of modesty, is GER
tainly unrivalled. They have no confidence in
the Mayor, no confidence in the police Justices,
no confidence in anybody but themselves. We
are sorry to say that the facts do not quite JUS
tify this selfconceit. Many Of the suggestions
which they make in their report are undoubt-
eddy excellent and we should be inclined
to endorse them II the Commissioners made Q
better use Of what power they have. But
under present circumstances we are rather dis
posed to hold them to more strict accounta-
bility for their sins of omission than to confer
upon them that almost exclusive jurisdiction Of
the city which they appear to desire.
In this city crimes of all kinds are alarmingly
upon the increase. In Williamsburg burglars
have rendered whole nelghborhoods almost un-
tenable. In Brooklyn man was recently muir
dered in q public park at eight o'clock in
the evening, within a stones throw of
station house, and the police knew
nothing about Il until his body was
accidentally discovered. The street in
which Deputy Carpenter and Superintendent
Kennedy and one of the Commissioners reside
is 80 infested with thieves that householders
are obliged to take the most extraordinary
precautions. Footpads patrol our parks and
public places. Pickpockets take undisputed
possession Of our city cars. We may trace the
causes Of this increase Of crime to the demo-
raliza.ion Of the age; but for the remedy we look
to the police. We regret TO add that we gene
rally look in vain. Our police force is great
Improvement upon the old regime, but il is
still capable of much better work. D'Argen-
son, the famous lieutenant general of the an
cient police of Paris, declared that he kept his
gendarmes for show, but depended upon his
detectives for the real efficiency of the public
service. We have fine array OF snowy gen.
darmes TO escort ladies across Broadway, but
we need more detectives and more esprit du
corps between the detectives and the patrol
men. The present detective force is very
capable, but II Is not large enough to do
what is required Of It. Every night you
may find the detectives distributed among
the various theatres, while the rest of
the city is left unprotected. We should
have detectives enough to prevent crime as
well as TO hunt down criminals The patrol
men, too, should be men Of more intelligence,
and promotion from the ranks should be made
the reward Of merit, instead Of being influenced
by the favoritim of politicians. When our
police turn out for parade nothing can be
more admirable than their display; but for
some reason or other they fail 10 prevent the
increase Of crime. The Commissioners should
attend to this; for upon them rests the respon-
sibillty. Instead Of asking for increased power
and for control over all sorts Of outside depart
ments they should apply their talents and their
energies 10 improving the efficiency Of tho
force. Let them perform their present duties
10 the complete satisfaction Of the public, and
all tho new duties which they are 90 eager to
assume viii perhaps DO devolved upon them
In course Of time. II the Mayor and the police
justoeS and the sanitary authorities and The
Excise Commissioners neglect their appropri-
90 work or do Il badly 10 shall csll then 70
soeosaA tbs tAsis nisooadaet; hut - loas -
~ Pslios Commissioners 10 not fsgul6ts thsir
own aspartneaA IN the ssy - psssble
naansr " ahan hesitsts 10 sup9ssde al other
oaAcisls 70 sivs ~ Compisaasasrs Asv dspast
nsnb V superinseud. -~sv
AHcum CHANCE ron OrmA Housns q m
wnn.-n appears tAas several changes In ths
internal revenue Gro being discussed In Con-