The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10
POLICE DISCRIMINATION.
Commissioners VOOrhiS and MatSGA In
Reply 10 Smith.
lMPRAcTIcABLE IDEAS OF REFORM
Matsell's Discovery of Pla-
giariSm.

vestgaton charges against Captain Burden yester
day, HERALD reporter called both, taking Commits
voorhis first and reservng the venerable
Matsel for subsequent nterlocution. Mr. voorhis
man Of small, tidy frame, bright mobile eyes, mus
tache mouth beneath it that smiles with pleasant
content voice address of lmpid and agreeable
TOW. He exhibited more animus against Commits
sioner Smith than If he erring child whose
offence resulted from a sudden and pardonable impulse
"Are you willing TO admit asked the reporter 'that
the charges Of Generalization made by General smith
against the police force have any foundation in iactP
~ willing admit and regret the fact, as state
that the force is thorough state Of efficiency
would desire myself; but it is greatly improved,
and say it without egotsn, since came on the
Board, and presently will show some of the reforms
accomplished differ from General Smith materially
In the statements he made Saturday that the police
force has been growing daily and worse My ex
perience justiAes nothing of the kind and since have
been q member of the Board have given
CONSCIENTIOUS ATTENTION
TO the duties demanded of one my position, and per
haps Us competent offer opinion on the present
state Of the force General Smith, from the fact that
have been connected with the Board thirteen months
while his has been only for the brief period
of three months Thus, you see, four times
long studying the subject General Smith had
amendment passed to rule SO and promulgated in order
120 doing away with the previous requirement that
police captain or sergeant should report TO the
Board before he could act in the matter of
closing up gambling house recognized the detective
force and succeeded having half of the detectives in
whom l had faith transferred patrol duty, and
holding the Superintendent responsible for the integrity
and efficiency Of the rest; another reform accom-
plished during my connection with the Board
peng patrolmen, sergeants, &C. seeking promotion to
apply for the themselves thus doing away with the
influence and presence of politicians in this building
which before that constantly crowded with them.
The mistake with General Smith is that he supposes
whatever is wrong with the department originated with
the present Board During six years previous to my
entry here practices of demoralizing tendency had
been gradually creeping into the organization of the
force 1t is impossible these could all be got rid Of in
day and If General Smith thinks by Illuminating against
the who work beside him in this Board that he
make matters straight in day he is greatly mis-
taken Now, to show how little he knows
about the Police Department or how it
should be governed here proposition of his which
he says rejected If we had good reason to do
So He wanted TO divide the department and create
FIVE DIFFERENT HEADQUARTERS.
There were to be four inspectors each having district
and headquarters of his own Captains and sergeants
of precincts were report in duplicate to these in.
Specors and then the inspectors send these
ports, with remarks OF their TO the central head
quarters This arrangement would make a DELAY of
three four hours before the reports would reach
here, and If citizen in the meantime
70 INQUIRE about anythng-a lost child missing friend
any other objective should be compelled wait
until the inspectors sent in the precinct returns along
with their own remarks. Not only that, but there
proposition he made If any organization requires a
single distinct and responsible head is this There
must be one man at the head in place OF five. The
amendments which he complains rejected were
submitted 10 the Board in June. Prior 10 that Mr..
Matsell had framed set Of amendments nearly
similar Both discussed together the main differ
being this question OF inspectors and of
dividing the department and erecting expense
10 the city suitable offices for the purpose After the
amendments discussed altered in points and
finally agreed upon they were printed in the regular
reports OF meetings in the newspapers. Ia this
way they given circulation among the
members Of the force not much at first that
they should be guided by them, but expermentally,
that they might be tested 10 If their practical work
ing tended to impair improve the efficiency OF the
force Several inspectors TO 10 point out where
there wording OF rule that could be
strictly adhered ~ without detriment
REPoRTER-General Smith refers TO the case OF Calf
ney who, after being dismissed for false swearing
treated To picnic at which several members of the
force attended How about thatS
Commissioner VooRHIs-An entire mistake Gadney
Was dismissed for false swearing The case was
lhis-There were charges against Captain Kilalea of
taking money from Koch the proprietor Of the Central
Park Garden, and from Casefang, Of the National
Garden, Tenth avenue and Sixty street. That
each gave money To the police clearly established
and koch's money WAS given to Galney. When Captain
Kilaleas came up Ganney declined appear and
resigned There being no charges known against him
then his resignation accepted. Then people
up in that district rendered Gatney a picniR and
several officers were present. but the superintendent
after diligently nqurnr the affair found one Of the
men had been regularly detailed there duty. In the
y Mooney q
twenty minutes he belonged to the Sanitary Squad,
and had left this building at his usual hour six In the
evening" and was then oil duty Now, General Smiths
idea Of treating deinquents is purely mlitary-the
drumhead court martial Istyle We must proceed in
the regular and authorized way
POLICEMEN
we'll other citizens and If they do wrong let the
charges be presented in the usual to the Board and
the Board decide upon them General Smith would
allow them no such privilege but a simple complaint
purely parte dismiss transfer patronan his
pleasure You cannot turn municipal force like
a
REPoRrKR-How do you get along with Commissioner
Smith,
Commissioner vooRHIs-I have no i'll feeling toward
him The fact is the has been 80 long the army
and accustomed to command that he finds it awkward TO
yoke himself with three associates who all equal TO
himself II he has not been in supreme command in
he army he had at least command all to himself and in
that command he was boss, monarch Of all lac
surveyed" His great ambition is be President Of
this Board, but Masell President when he
it. and one with the little experience he has Of New
lork au 40 rBht 10 expect 10 be put over the head or
oae who knows much more Of the department
REPoRTER-COmmlssOuer smith complains that YOU
put him aside and rendered him only the office Of Treas
rrer How do YOU explain that
Commissioner NooRHIs-We offered him the position
OF Treasurer because u was the only one left and
in Importance TO that Of President HIS predeces-
sor, General Duryee filled the Office, and
only natural should ask him to take the position
previously filed by the man whom he succeeded. He
gave to an excuse for not taking II that nc
incapable OF taking Of his own money; that he
hand at figures and all that sort Of thing As
for being put aside, If he refers 10 his being
first assigned room in the north wing Of the building
why he could not possibly wish place more comfort
able Now. however he well complain, for nc
has as good a anybody else We waited three
weeks Tor General smith TO take The Office Of Treasurer
and, as he failed to indicate his intention of doing So
took myself, for the policemen had 70 be paid, and the
ot1ce could not well remain any longer.
RRPoRTER-You are charged with misleading Mr.
Matsell taking him 70 lunch and trying 70 make cats
paw Of him. What do you say TO that2
TAKING
Commissioner FoORms-l only laugh at that.
Matsel IL old enough 20 be my father any who
tries 10 make catspaw Matse will have 10 be a year
or two older than Matsel himself As for the lunch
business, il was Che here for four Of
the Commissioners TO take lunch in the
building furnished by the ianitor's wife. and
Of paid for First General Duryee
broke away from our mess prncrrng Tor economy and
comforts sake to get his lunch at home Then Dis
becker detected because he said he boarded at the
Metropolitan Hotel and paid for all the going he
did not the fun OF paying lunch with
Finally Matsel and myself left alone and il
as to be presumed some day General Smith