The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-26
THE NEW POLICE COMMISSION.

A Talk with Commissioner Gardnes-The
Abuses I'm the Force-Tne Proposed Ac-
tiOn OF the New C0mmi ssf0ncrs-Lega al
Defects in the Characterization or the
Gossip Mongers-A Bad Prospect for
Evil Doors.
Commissioner Hugh Gardner was at the Police
Headquarters throughout Saturday, taking an
active interest in the business OF the Board When
the HERALD reporter entered his sanctuary Satur-
day afternoon Mr.. Gardner was busy with the de.
tails Of his ONCE. After being duly presented the
reporter asked him II his advent to his responsible
position would be signalized by any reforms, spas
modic or substantial. He replied
81 shall execute the laws faithfully and energeti-
cally, and, when possible, every offender and GRIM
inal shall be punished. But do not intend to act
like bull in a china shop; neither is 1T very de-
sirable proceeding to act on the new broom prfn-
ciple."
81 suppose you mean to suppress the gaming
houses?'
"Where possible; shall simply execute the law.
My position is an executive, not legislative one.
Respecting gaming houses, the new charter leaves
us more p0werless than the old Commissioners
were. If you gamble in your house have no right
to enter It without the warrant OF law. We must
ever energy dety and honesty can se shown in
my position will be employed by me-"
s.And, as to houses OF ill-fame ~
GAIL Of those public evils will be controlled in so
far 1t Is possible so TO do. At present nothing
can be done, because we are not aware oil the
nature and extent OF the different abuses II Is
charged, for example, that the detective force Is
rotten and corrupt and the members OF 1t are
guilty OF receiving brides from criminals, thus COM
pounding felonies. We shall thoroughly investi
gate all these charges, and where true the guilty
Will be severely dealt with. 1t Is also reported that
several police captains receive money from the
keepers Of sbr0tSels. In such cases | think the
captain is more infamous and cupable than the
kAppp nj 10
''But the charter itself, you say, instead OF In
creasing, dimnlshes your powersr'
the new law permitting suspected persons to be
taken into custody, he Is sued out on writ OF
habeas corpus and naturally set at liberty"
~ suppose the Board Is hardly IN working order
yet"
Hardly. 1 intend to become thoroughly &C.
quanted with my duties as soon as possible, and OF
course will be more efficeut the longer am W
office. You may be certain, however that Will
act calmly and Justly in all cases and always en-
force the laws. II there is disagreeable law on
the statute book II must be repealed; otherwise IL
will be enforced"
Considerable conversation followed, which i'm
pressed the reporter with the conviction that Mr..
Gardner Is q sensible and practical administrator.
weeks must be und0ne, tnereupOn confesslng to
crime that the police have been ba1led. Mr.. Gard
ner Is apparently iorty-1ve years OF age, OF fine
presence, courteous manners, frank and out
spoken, and, as he says himself ~ have no secrets
and no revenges to gratify.n
The Commissioners WILL therefore, proceed quietly
TO investigate all the charges against the different
branches Of the service, and II is not Impossible
that several captains Will lose their POSITIONS
Around the Headquarters unusual quiet prevailed
The general gossip. summed up In q line, seemed
to be, "rhe people have won ana the politicians
have lost