The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-11

but still pinning his faith to religion. The
sermon is one likely to attract general atten-
ton on account of its rejection of the teach
ings of all the sects and the boldness with
which he replaces the religion of the Bible
by the religion of humanity-its abnegation
of dogma and the substitution of feeling and
efforts to do good.
Mayor Havemeyer's Last Freak-The
New Police commissioner.
The recent appointment of Mr.. Disbecker
as Police Commissioner is only one Of the
natural results of the fraudulent reform" by
which the citizens of New York have been vic
imized for the last two years It is of piece
with that disregard of common decency which
characterized the course of the republican
Legislature and lobbyists during the progress
OF the City Charter discussion in the Legisla-
ture of 1879, and the action Of the Custom
House leaders in the charter anne ndments con-
cocted within q few days of the close of the
last Legislative session. It follows naturally
the other remarkable appointments by which
| Mr. Havemeyer has signifed his defiance
of public opinion and his Indifference to
the interests of the city. It harmonizes
with the scandalous squabbles of the
reform leaders; with their denunciations
of each other as cheats and gamblers
on the one side and as abetters of
fraud and rascality on the other side.
The best that can be said by Mr. Havemeyers
friends on the subject is that he has deceived
and cheated the Custom House "gang." The
motive Of the appointment is sufficient to
brand it as an outrage. It was VIGOROUSLY
made with the object of influencing the action
Of committee appointed by the State Senate
to investigate the New York Police Depart
ment, especially with reference to the conduct
of the Street Cleaning Bureau. While the
Legislature was in session an investigation
was ordered by the Assembly, and, pending
the inquiry, two gentlemen were consecutively
nominated by the Mayor to the vacant Police
Commissionership, both of whom were known
to be friends of the Custom House repub-
licans, who controlled the legislative majority.
These nominations effected their object. The
report of the Assembly committee was as
evasive and moderate as it dared to
be in the face of the published evil
dence, and the Street Cleaning Bureau
bill based upon the report was defeated.
There is no more doubt that the nomination,
first of Mr. Andrews and next of Judge How
land, although of course without the conniv-
ance or knowledge of either of those gentle
men, caused the half whitewashing report Of
the Investigating Committee and the defeat of
the street cleaning bill, than there is that it
gave birth to the law which has empowered
the Mayor to nominate Mr.. Disbecker. When
the Legislature adjourned the Senate Com
mittee was left in existence to prosecute q new
inquiry into the Police Department The
Custom House republicans were then no
longer useful Their nominees were there
fore thrown overheard and o prot<gk of the
leading member of the Senate Investigating
Committee received the appointment of Police
Commissioner from the Mayor. To make the
job the more unmistakable the new Commits
sioner was made member Of the Street
Cleaning Committee at his first meeting with
the Police Board, an old member of the Board
being removed to make place for him.
We know nothing about Mr.. Disbecker OF
his capacity for the position he now holds.
We pay no heed to the personal assaults made
upon him by the political hucksters who de-
nounce him because he is not of their own
particular stripe, and whose characters do not
entitle them to assail the reputation of others.
But the fact that he is an untried and almost
an unknown man is enough to brand his Be-
lection by Mr.. Havemeyer as an outrage on
the citizens of New York. The Police De-
partment is the most important and RESPONSE
BILE of all the municipal departments. Bad
men in other departments may rob the treas
! ury and defraud the taxpayers. Bad police
commissioners hold the lives, the property,
the liberty and the morals of the whole
people at their mercy. For such a
position it is the duty of the Mayor to select
only a citizen of established position in society
and of tried capacity and integrity. There
are hundreds of such citizens in New York !;
men whose names would be accepted at once
as guarantee of their fitness for the Office
and whose services would be valuable to the
community In failing to select such man
for the vacant Police Commissonership Mr..
Havemeyer has rendered himself liable to
grave suspicion, and has shown that he IL un
deserving Of public confidence and respect
He may have successfully cheated the political
hucksters with whom he has recently beer
driving new trade; but he has Disguised al
respectable citizens and has increased thu
J public anxiety to rid the city of bis incapable
J and disGraceful administration.