The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-12
MAYOR Wiokham's Letter Demand
ing Their designations.
THE CORRESPONDENCE IN FULL
Commissioners Smith and VOOrhiS Say They
Are Ready to "Step Down and Out"

Tux MAYORS COMMUNICATION
MAYORS OFFICE,
NEW YORK October Z, 1875.
Messrs. GEORGE w. MATsgLL, ABRAHAM DIsnEcKER,
JOHN r. VooRHls and WILLIAM + SMITH, Police Com
mlssioners Of the city Of New York
GEETLEMEs-rhe condition of the Police Department
seems be such as 70 call for official my part
II has become the subject Of expressions Of public
opinion through the press and otherwise, which, with
increasing frequency, have continually gained IN
emphasis, until on Friday last they eliminated IN the
specific and formal presenment OF your body IN the
following terms by the grand inquest OF this county
TO rRE @ 1S m "a T y CRY 4se
during this September p 1872 term Of the Court OF
would respectfully ca your attention ali other auhor,
ties having Jurisdiction @ the following statement Of facts
with full confidence that prompt action will be taken 20
force existing laws these insufficient 70 thu
q others in order remedy the evils Of which
FSr-The alarming increase of crime in this community
especially q murder robbery and burglary has engaged our
earnest consideration Under oaths we have been
first degree and citizens have cause 70 feel that in
Guenee O. she q the police force as at present
life property. Cool and deliberate murders commit
JosEPn 7. FARRISGroN Clerk
The police force is everywhere charged and con
coded to be inexcusably inefficient, and It TO
have fastened the public mind the conviction
that it has become demorazed beyond hope of re-
covery by those now at its head. So far AS know
there is no one TO gansay the urgent necessity Tor
its reorganization Notwithstanding the steady growth
OF public Indignation in the premises, | have sought
TO act with great elaboration, but since the action
or the Grand Jury | feel that / longer de-
attention considerations which make
y proper for me 70 defer TO the public Judgment which
has overtaken you-certanly SO far as to call on
you FOR an account Of your stewardship in
your office The police force, more directly than the
representatives Of any other department Of govern
ment, into daily and nightly contact with the
entire population of our city and therefore, affords to
the public ample means of knowing the result of your
administration This encounters the close scrutiny and
sharp criticism Of justly sensitive people, for they
know that upon upright and efficient administra-
ton OF your department depends that which is the end
OF all government the security of life and property
Your usefulness in the position held by you depends
largely upon the degree in which you inspire
public confidence. For 1t is the Office Of
your department to the apprehension of
offenders after their crime has been wrought than to
anticipate and prevent the commission OF crime. But
the most eectua preventive of crime is the dread Of
uetection fostered IN the criminal classes by the
knowledge that the police force is intelligent well dis
ciplined efficient and ncorruptble Indeed the first
object of such discipline force shall secure the
prompt detection of crime and the apprehension
OF criminals, Is TO assure the community against law
lessness From the moment that the intelligence
discipline and integrity of the police force, the
efficiency OF the administration at its head become
generally distrusted in the community, from that
moment the pubic has lost the most efficient nstru
mentality which government supply for the pre-
vention OF crime. In so far you have lost the conf
dence Of the community, TO that extent therefore, have
you lost your means OF usefulness. You will observe
that these considerations entirely independent of
the question whether either of you has been guilty
o. any specnc act constituting maeasance IN office or
OF any Intentional neglect of duty My spring
from the plain propositions that is an important quail
hcation OF Police Commissioner that be should possess
the general confidence OF the community that, 10
one who has been long in Office and who is therefore
well known the public this qualification Is indspen-
sable and that the lack of such general confidence
duces insecurity Of life and property among those for
whom your department should serve watch and ward
against danger. That confidence seems never to have
been given 70 you in any great degree and APP
pears 70 be entirely withdrawn from you. The commu-
nifty may justly demand that 1t be restored the
partment even though this be accomplished only
oya transfer TO other hands OF the control held by
you
If recognizing the force Of these considerations and
desiring 10 serve the public efficiently you tender
me your resignations shall be glad TO escape the
cessy Tor further official action upon the various
plants against you which have from time TO time,
been presented to me- OF course in such event. your
designations would be received by me without re-
spect the truth lslty Of any OF these complaints
u, however, this line of action shall not seem
open TO YOU cannot remain inactive. The public
demand for a reinvigoration OF your department,
though temperate, is, as have before stated general
and hrm, and, If you do not clearly your best
course with reference 10 it. my duty TO the community
. perfectly clear As the Chief Executive or the city
IS incumbent on TO exercise tho power which only
Inc Mayor possesses TO definitely submit some Of the
charges against you 70 which the public attach
much importance and TO ask your immediate attention
70 them provided that you shall have concluded
resign your Office after accepting ny considerations
hereinbefore set forth
You will recoect that several weeks since referred
Q you charges and specifications submitted to me by
hr. John u. Townsend which based statements
of specified acts, failures act which were ndi-
Gated by him, every fact to which had been
by one or more Witnesses Since that time additional
testimony has been published taken. the other
before the Committee OF the Assembly OF which Hon
Thomas Cooper Campbell is Chairman, at ITS recent
sessions in the civ Hall In this CITY Trnon
all the testimony adduced to that committee
and heretofore published there Ia framed for
your consideration the general charge against Won as
Board or ncompetepcy ana unftnese FL vonr p,rI "a
COW organized 10 perform the duties NJ hich VIM are
assigned am told YOU have copy of mar testimony
Il you have not will II desired furnish Won Win one
1monrst other tbin9s il ests t1r,b tb T., ~ w oie
Of facts.-That In the Eighth ana FlSteentb Warts ~
this city there have existed for the ls opr - a or
unusually large number OF unusually notorious
and Offensive houses or nros,itnt,en disertarIr,
houses ana ttpaueI honsesn fso-r sied, ~
ice census taken early In sra shown ia, 49,
aero IN tins nrecnct eighty three borsne ~ 49, 49,
harboring al6 nrostftutes. thar in ina ,no,,t N ts,
ruary ana March in the year 1874 alone en robberes
morn thon ona \ ,vaotA ~ ma mol bia,as ~
ranortad and known III the nolce IL harn hac, r.,
oted II those houses. that for tho nrotactar ~ ch
Iran ete,dng nnblic scbanfs ~. neaar,ne, ~ tti
,netruct,on Srss ob0ed ~ resort n sn ofat yraac
on AZ nnnanal vtgor III clear theso bonsos frr5 oo =
ringle block ard mai anallv the renntahl ftizcns
,bat pracInc, we're forced Nj organize thesees ,nta