The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-15

tho part or policemen. 10 cones into n, eours
room on the day appointed ior ~ bearing
and tells his simple story. Mis manner 4 cnnxlncn~.
and the listeners aFe satisfied that justice - tls
particular instance will surely BE- administered rhsy
brother officers cluster around him ~ aeenniy
takes up the Bible and nprc.slvely ksres a. Kach n
tho truth the whole truth pothing aal tss tralh
after which they all deliberately ne The result :
matter Of mathematical DECENTRALIZATION hKht ma ean
at all times outsweAr one man, especially lhAA one
man Is not a policeman.
REMEDY
In view OF this universally acknowledge currgpt0a
the reorganization o. the force - inlperasissy 90
manded.
The city OF New York presents b. reason of - Coz
mopolitan character magnificent held Cor ieyes AID
cutthroats, and even with the most c1Cieut puilcs
force possible would SIN continue 10 b haven -
time better critics OF lho demOralEaii
OF the preservers q the peace than are tne
change in the police cement and rejoics whon
ruption exists unchecked. Where, but Ina New York
under its present police system could such dAFng rob
berries the committed on Mira Dancer. Or such
horrible murders those by which Mr. Noe met his
death, occurY Were the police honest and Capable
these would not have 10 DO chroniced IL h true that
murders and robberies will IN every community
but proper police system they will oCclr
only rarely and citizens entertain reasonable
pectaton that they will return 70 their homes alter
days absence and not find them plundered BY daring
burglars. Until new and efficient Board Of COMMITS.
soners installed this state OF things cannot be ex
pected to have an existence Tho example OF tho mas
ter Is always guide for the servant and so long a. the
will the subordinates be incapable of doing their duty
The advent OF General Smith into tho Board OF
Police was hailed by the public and the press WIN
much rejoicing and although but few months have
elapsed since his official duties began he has proved
himself able and well worthy of the trust committed "
his keeping Among the radical changes winch ~ ny
energy have been wrought may be mentioned the
division of the city into inspection districts ana the
consequent holding Of the inspectors to more rigid
accountability Tor the prevention of crime in their re-
spective commands; the raising Of the QUALIFICATIONS
necessary for appontees to the force 10 possess the
lfnn nf
plicants, thus taking from tho captains OF
precincts much power which has often
the forbdding OF intimacy between policemen and
thieves under any circumstances; the increasing OF
fines and punishments for certain offences Many o.nci
changes equal Importance have been effected by Com
missioner Smith.
Next to having honest and capable Commissioners i
is necessary that the captains should be above susp
cion. Judge sitting the Bench against whom Wen
authenticated charges Of corruption have been pre-
erred q spectacle less calculated 10 shake pubic
confidence than the spectacle of police captain COM
manding his quota of men while his name u
ringing through the newspapers as associated
with thieves and gamblers and the synonyme for cor
rupton and ineicency. Nearly two months have al
ready gone by since the notorious Captain Williams was
arragned three separate OF charges, but he still
holds command in the Fourth precinct Captains
McCuloch and Killiea in the same category.
TO weed out the hundreds OF rufiians who have,
through corruption secured footing patrolmen is
task Of stupendou5 nature and can only be accom-
pshed by action OF the Legislature Under the rules
at present governing the Board OF Commissioners those
officials can only remove members OF the force alter
charges subsantiated by trial
The result of this is that to-day men hagrantly cor
rupt and incompetent stand ready to defy an hon
est board and launtngy carry their vilanies well
knowing that their positions secure long as
direct proof OF the is wanting. The Commission
of this and TO each known scores OF
officers Of whose worthlessness they satisfied, but
whose removal for the stated they cannot brnS
about
Should an honest and trustworthy commission DO in
trusted by tho Legislature Tor limited period, say
three months TO remove from Office every patrolman
or superior officer who IN their judgment Is either cor
rupt or incompetent the much needed reform would
result