The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01
sfesr nat on witch the charter was passed, regu.
lating tho police force OF the city.
'~.-0 luR

afeer nat on which the charter was passed, regu.
iat'ns the ponce THS Ul cat ~ ses or 1851,
Only four YEAR, had elapsed alter the passage Of
the q but vss q wS es
taken over It's enactment did not succeed In pre-
venting the continuance or some OF the abuses ir
was expected TO stop; consequently in four years
more the Legislature was again called upon to re-
model the city government. and passed the amended
election was changed from that OF the State election
to the LIST Tuesday IN December, the term OF once
Ssr dermen Tas as resnoea seven
teen elected for TWO years from as many Alder
manic districts. and half retiring each year; the
number OF c0uncilmen was reduced from sixty TO
twenty four six elected annually from each Sena-
torial district. The Mayor was to be elected as
for three and tine Comptroller for Jour years. ana
all three subject to removal by the Governor for
cause, while the other heads OF departments were
to be appointed for two years eacn by the Mayor
with the advice and consent or the Aldermen. The
reduced. those Of Repairs and Supplies and Of Streets
and Lamps being abolished and the duties thereof
transferred TO other departments me app0lnt-
ment or the Receiver OF Taxes was transferred from
the Mayor to the Comptroller, city officials were
prohibited from holding or retaining any other
the United States, and the TWO Boards OF the Com
mon Council were permitted to regulate their own
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.
But the most important innovation was the trans
fer OF the Police Department from the city 10 the
State. BY the Metropolitan Police act OF April 10
Police district was creaed, comprising the counties
of New York, Westminster. Kings aud Richmond;
and Board OF Fire Commissioners was Instituted,
TO be appointed for i've years by the Governor and
Senate, and TO be invested with the sole CONTROL
management and appointment OF the police ioace,
duties OF the department were To secure peace
and protection, insure quiet at elections ana look
after the public health. The first members OF
the Board were Simeon Draper, General James W.
Nye and jacob Chadwell, OF new YORK; James s. T.
WESTMINSTER county. the Mayors OF New York and
Brooklyn being members er oNco. Most OF our
citing contest that was waaed by old municipal
police and the new force organized III ACCORDANCE
with the provisions Of this act.
Among other changes in city management which
took place at this Time was that OF removing the
yisors and making the latter to consist Of twelve
members, half Of whom by the method adopted In
their election, were intended to be OF each political
party.
In ADDITION TO the Police Commissioners. another
board, also appointed by the State government was
placed IN charge OF the superiniendenco OF the Gen.
trail Park. These two Boards formed the beginning
OF the system by when a considerable portion or
the administrator OF the municipality was given to
separate boards controlled by the State government
The excise was next placed ~ The hands Of commits
spector was abolished, and the duties he mad per-
formed placed IN charge OF Board OF Health Fol-
lowing this came the paid Fire Department
Commission. while schemes were proposed for a
Dock Commission and for Metropolitan Board OF
Commissioners OF Education, which, like the rest
should be only responsible TO The State government;
but these two were not carried into eject
during this PERIOD, the CnarLcr OF 1901 having
proved 10 be any thing but satisfactory an attempt
was made to remodel IT In 1860. aud renewed in
1851 when commission was appointed to frame q
new charter; but IL failed to accomplish anything
However, In 1868, the Board OF Aldermen was
changedso as to constitute one alderman from each
Assembly district with the entire body TO be elected
every two years. commencing with the charter eec-
ton of 1859; while the Board OF C0uncilmen was
abolished and the Board Of Assistant Aldermen re-.
established. one member to be elected from each
Assembly district and 70 hold Office Tor two years,
commencing with the charter election OF 1858 Tor
one year. and afterwards for TWO years; thus restor
ing TWO boards OF equal numbers and terms and
representing the same districts, which, In 1853 had
been ,So tl 2eeetonaoe aad was conse'
'I-.'~r-s THE CHARTER OF 1870
Ut the charter OF 1870 and Its amendments OF that
and the following year 1t Is scarcely necessary that
we should speak. 1t 10 that under which the affairs
Of the city are ut present administered and every
reader Is pretty well versed IN It's provisions IN IT'S
advantages and in Its shortcomings. 1t Will be
remembered that when the state Executive and
both houses OF the Legislature were in unison 1t
became evident that the government OF New York
the citizens thereof and tnat state interference In
municipal matters would be abolished. The
1ght Of the young democracy and OF the
OF the latter events but OF yesterday. The iegs-
laton was, unfortunately, too precipitate, 80 that
due consideration WAS not given to the enactment
OF the new rer and the saiutary restraints
and powers OF removal for cause except by the
slow process OF impeachment which ought 10 have
been introduced into II, ere omitted; consequently
the heads OF departments who were appointed for
long terms became perfectly independent and
irresponsible. The result have seen, and II to
be hoped that the lessons we have been Taught IN
the school OF experience viii enable US to guard In
the future against any repetition OF the serious
difficulties That nave beset us In the past.