The New York herald., 1873-07-19
POLICE MATTERS.
Firearms for the Metropolitan Forcs-Mayof
Hsvemeyer's Letter to Governor Dix
The Police Commissioners Re-
quisition for Arms

commissioner Duryec yesterday forwarded to
Governor Dix the requisition for arms for the
police, signed by the Mayor and the other docu-
mcnts relating to the question. General Duryee,
together with Commissioner Russell, has worked
assiduously to accomplish this movement, and his
success has given much satisfaction to the Board.
Mayor Havemeyer has been very much interested
in the matter, and gave the Commissioners all the
assistance IN his power. The following are some of
the reasons which induced General Duryee to
undertake this task OF forming
POLICE BRIGADE
No city or municipality is secure against the
occurrence OF circumstances requiring q resort to
ings The law recognizes ana provides ior such
exigencies even in the rural districts OF the State.
In the metropolitan district there are likely to be
frequent occasions for resort to the military force
The process or notifying and mastering the
national guards is much too slow for such exigen-
cies, and is calculated to increase the excitement
and panic incident TO such occasions and to aggra
vate the danger OF collisions. Calling out the
military force is allied with great expense. 1t is
serious interruption to the business avocations ofrhe
members OF the corps. The citizen soldier ought
welfare, from the hard duty of using firearms upon
a ctizen mob. These and other considerations
combine in support OF the suggestion that brig
ade or the police force be organized in military
form and instructed in the manual OF arms and in
evout0ns adapted to service cities, this brigade
to be used as military lorce only under such
grave circumstances as now authorize the Board OF
Police to call out the military OF the district In aid
accustomed to act together, at all times ready for
duty, capable OF being called out with
out adding to the public excitement and
would, 1t is believed, be able to defeat arrest in
their inception violent attempts to disturb the
peace OF the city, 1t is only necessary to refer to
the records OF the draft riots of July. 1863 II q
police brigade had been organized at that time
organization, the city, no doubt would have been
saved some terrible scenes OF bloodshed and over
one million dollars worth of public and private prop
or 1rra naih mad mil iforv
bodies, accustomed to drill and acting under COM
mand OF desperate men, are perpetual nuisance
danger to society. They could not be controlled
by the police, unless they also were armed and
city, composed OF quiet and well disposed persons,
to which these suggestions do not apply but 1t is
scarcely compatible with public safety in a city
filled with powerful, dangerous class and subject
TO sudden excirement, to allow armed military or
ganizatons to meet, drill and attain the discipline
of regular troops, unless they were organized
under and by virtue OF law. and subject to proper
and responsible command.
Among the papers forwarded to Albany is the
FROM THE MAYOR TO THE GOVERNOR.
MAYORS OFFICE, NEW YORK july II, 1873
Where's the following resolution was G duly passed by
York. on the $d day Of June, 1873, 70 wit .,...
the use Of SO many rifles as he may deem neces
whereas certfdei copy of said resolution has this
day been served upon ne together wit. with de.
ssaared es
thereof and which requistion is hereto annexed now l.
William +. Havemeyer Mayor of the city OF New York,
under and in pursuance OF the act of the Legislature
entitled An Act TO Enforce the Laws and Preserve Or
der passed April Is ls5 do hereby make application
the Governor of the state of New York to be furnished
The snnsxsd as Sfih Z
Added to the above was the suboined
REQUISITION.
STATE NEW YORK.
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT,
HEADQUARTERS POLICE DRpARTxENr.
Requision for ordnance and ordnance stores tor the
use of the Police department, New York city,
500 Remington breechoading rifles, cal 60
$40 tompons,
40 holster revolvers and holsters.
Isl infantry swords aud knots
100 infantry belts
10 drums.
10 bugles
understood that Is stands Of to be
placed in each of the thirty Two precincts
certify that the above Is that the men for
whom this re0usition is made have been duly enrolled
and Inspected and that cles specified
sary the public service rendered by the following
circumstances
TO enable the Police Department TO protect more e1ec
lively the public and private property OF the ely
Commissioner of Police and Chairman Rules and Disci
General Duryee presented yesterday silver
medal to Oficer Nngent OF the Fourth precinct Tor
nartto the discharge hiS duties.