The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-08

Commissioner v0oYhiA I, rs Chairman OF the COM
called s Ias that ae
Chief Clerk and bHperintendent had In view some
alterations which were OF imporsance: inese
was made by them winch was with reference 10
the morning returns. That disposed OF con-
20 INV aston.Snment found that the rules had
not yet been promulgated. Yesterday morning
msetinr OF the Rules ana Discipline Oommittee.
did SO, and the members came In with good many
amendments. and the idea seemed TO be that Q
session OF the Board should be held at once and
pass them. 1t has always been my custom TO Iur-
nish to each member lair copy OF whatever
proposed, and had the right to expect the same
treatment. wish further 30 state SO far as the
rules are concerned, that dsavow all RESPONSE
bility for them as consider them as they now stand
entirely wrong. came into the Board with the
assertion OF the Mayor, fresh in my mind that the
police force OF New York was In
HORRIBLY DBM0RALIZED CONDITION.
That this IS the fact presume no Commissioner
VIII deny. lt IS growing worse and worse every
Stnn anu so.ne1ainG u mpersey demandeu 70
suppose that getting these rules passed to-day
was absolutely necessary; they nave waited since
20 assume that there was some other cause lor
the great hurry; also assume taat the commits
that actuate myself the best interest OF the De-
partment The present superintendent was LOT
many years Inspector and famihar with the steady
Generalization OF the Torce, yet ne mas offered 10
the Board no suggestion Tor Improvement. The
President of the Board, who was superintendent
this direction, neither has the Board It
sell done anything l am sorry, Mr..
what nave to say. 1 say there is bona among
you to some extent, and cannot fathom IL. L
have oeen warned OF 1t in emphatic terms by Mr.
Disbecker, and am breaking no confidence with
him wnen mention u, as would say 1t 10 mis- lace
were he present. Mr. Disbecker came TO me the
other day, unsolicited, and offered his support on
certain conditions, and although ne did not ask
much, yet it was more than / could grant, / de-
sire TO say, Mr.. President with reference TO your
office
In tendent OF Police you were proprietor OF sheet
known as the Police Gazette. 1t was paper Or
SCHOOL FOR THIEVES,
and cannot imagine that any thing could be ex-
pected by captains and subordlnates IN the way
OF morals from such superintendent
President Matsell Qnterrupting)-You are
wrong, SIR. 1t was not such paper as you de-
scribe. | was enc OF the proprletors and editors,
and am proud 0fit
Commissioner Smith (continuing)-lt was the
best text book for villains that ever saw. now
call Tor the yeas and nays.
Throughout the entire remarks OF Commissioner
Smith Mr. Matsell maintained dtgnihed com
posture, interrupttng him but once. The Generals
speech was delivered with marked emphasis.
Commissioner WORMS, In reply, explained that
suggested solely 10 improve the morale OF the
force. NO slight was intended TO General Smith.
since he (Mr. VoorhiS) had been memDer OF the
Police Board ne mad devoted all his time to in
creaslng the eficlency OF the department and
that the force was growing demoralized and cor
rupt. Many improvements were apparent TO the
publc In the discipline and efficiency OF the force
within the past year. All the disclosures made TO
the Committee on Crime referred TO events that
transplred before he was member OF the Depart
ment. The Police Department was at present not
what 1t should be, but with the able assistance OF
General SMITH he (Mr. Voorhisl hoped the Board
would weed out all the evils. The Commissioner
then entered into a long explanation OF the
motives that urged him 80 vote Tor the rules.
With regard to General Smiths allegation that a
bond existed between himself and the other Conn.,
miSsloners he would say that the record OF his
votes, which were always independent would
show that such was not the case. He knew OF no
bond.
General Smith replied that evidence OF clique
or understanding among the Commissioners was
apparent in their proceedings OF Wednesday,
thought that with four inspectors OF police the
force should be brought 10 q better state.
10 be convinced OF It's utter corruption
1t was only necessary TO attend the
trials OF policemen. He would mucn
rather break an inspector than captain, and q
captain than patrolman because of the warning
1t conveyed. The General continued What
better proof OF Generalization was there
than the spectacle of this board refusing
20 send this captain TO certain
captain to another precinct because ne was In
with the river tnievesY l know the Board could
not have the direct evidence Of this, but never
theless 1t is absurdto say that tAe Generalization
Is not getting worse DAY by day.
After some iurtner remarks by Commissioner
Voorhis a vote was taken on the amendments re-
sulting In their adoption ~ vhrN, hatSeil arc
Voorhis voting aye" and Smith voting ''No' In
each instance. The Board then adjourned.