The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-11
PREVENTION OF CRIME.

MEETING OF THE ASSEMBLY coa8uTTEE-TEs-
TDIoNY OF PRESIDENT MATsELL.
The committee appointed by the resolution OF
the Assembly to sit during the recess oil the Legis
lature for the purpose OF investigating the cause
OF the increase OF crime In New YORK city met yes
terday. at TWO O'CLOCK. in the old chamber OF the
Board OF Aldermen. Mr.. John d. Townsend acted
as their counsel.
The full committee was present, Including
Messrs. Campbell Dessar, MCGOWAN, Hess and
Hustled. Mr.. Townsend said the committee would
examine the Board OF Police. the Commissioner
OF Charities and Correction, the Police Court
Judges the various Judges Of the criminal courts
the District Attorney, &c. The three great causes
OF crime IN New York were Iatemperance, prosti.
tuition and gambling. Almost all the crime we
had could finally he traced 10 our gr0egerles
houses OF lll-lame and gambling dens. rus pur.
poses OF TINS investigation are 70 estaohsh where
ali tns crime comes from, 10 detect dishonest 0f-
Gals and enable the Legislature to pass laws
wnicn VIII 80 toward the suppression Of vice.
President Matsell, OF the Board OF Ponce Cons
missloners, was called, ana, being examlued BY
MI townsend, said: - am President OF the Police
Board Have 0een 80 about one JenT. PRIOR 70 thar
time was superintendent OF Police IoT about
year and hall. Was chief OF Police in 1913. Have
been an observer OF police matters also Tor the
past thirty years and an editor. The duties Of the
Com mlssioners are the direction and govern
ment Of the police force. The duties OF the super
lntcndcnr are 10 execute the rules laid down'bJ
the commissioners All orders originate with the
Commissioners. me books containing rules and
TENuAdLlou1 are NOT pElutels Out ME IN lnt
Cnicl Clerks office. General orders arc sent
through the captains on duty. A portion OF the
duties 81 the Commissioners IS to hold trials and
among the special duties ~ the management
~ tue street Cleaning Bureau. Regarding the
having thus under tae Police Board | should saw
tnat The least outside membranes the Commits
gloncrs bad tie better Have meetings " com-
mttees every day excepting Saturdays. Three
uays a week were gwen to meetings Vi the COM
mittec on street cleaning. All reports Of the
superintendent came 70 the commissioners, hut
all complaints do not. The superintendent has
al mar IN M "A
acts oil the superintendent come 10 the knowf
edge Of the Board. The duties oil the Superinten'
dent 10 not 10 beyond the Police Departments
lie executes rules made by the Commissioners
General aud specific duties OF inspectors we're "a
inspect divisions. The object Of the force was the
protection 81 lite, llmu ard property. Inere were
$500 men on the force. There are no SPECIAL men.
There are tnlrty-nyc precincts. There are not
enough patrolmen. our city Il increasing every
year. aud the force should be increased proper
tionatcly. we want 100 men. We have
power to appolns 100 men more ever!
Of Apportonment will not pay them, 50
VIC cannot employ them. Inc treasurer o. the
OF riot. The President mas power 70 draw money
TO pay extra men, but there y no money IN the
treasury 20 draw. We nave enough men to nuut
MP crime; what we want IS more men on POST
duty 10 protect citizens ana prevent crime while
the people sleep. Patrolmen do all they can 70
hunt up crime, bur are not detectives These
mems duty Il 70 hunt M CRIMINALS. We have not
time enough to give proper instruction 10 these
men. IA there are 50 lew that they can only be
allowed month eaeh Tor learning, and fne re-
mandcrIs taught them while they 10 DUTY. W.
appoint men rom personal Application or ~
recommendation. We prefer 10 appoint those
VINO apply, not nose recommended ~ the law
OF 1854 we are ordered to'destroY all gamblers
tools rs soon as captured; out OY resolution 81
the Board, passed before was In it, we surrender
the tools as soon as the men are acquitted. IN,
Board Will take into consideration what su0
geslons they can make 70 this committee for tna
better prevention OF crime.
Mr.. Matsell was then allowed to 90, and the
commlltee adjourned until Wednesday next ~
three o'clock.