The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10
The Removal or the Police Commits
sioners Necessary 40 the ReOrganiEa-
tiOn OF the Department.

sioners Necessary 20 the ReOrganiza-
tion OF the Department.
Although a great work was accomplished
in the destruction of the Tweed Ring that
movement, important rs it was, has not yet
resulted in any practical measures of reform
Indeed, the public service, in almost every
department, has been growing worse instead
of better Most of tho late Mayor Have
meyers appointments were unfortunate, and
corruption and disorganzation are the COM
mon attributes of every part Of the munich
pality. There is no hope of purer admins
tration in the men who hold Office and there
is no apparent desire on the part of our po-
litical leaders to secure anything like real
reform. Selfshness is ut the bottom of every
political measure, and all the political
organizations in the city are managed
with a view to the spoils. There,
for instance, is the O'Creamer party,
which has no other purpose than to get
offices and patronage for the O'Creamers. In
accord with it in this respect, if opposed to
it in all others, is the O'AIorrissey party, and
both are in deadly hostility to the O'Wickhams
because the offices and the patronage are
denied to the O'Creamers and the ONlorris-
seys 1t is the purpose of all these political
leaders not to serve the public but to serve
themselves. They contribute money to a
campaign as they would invest it in faro
bank, and they expect it back. with nice
profit for themselves and their friends. A
year ago John Morrissey gave forty thousand
dollars for use in the elections, and now the
whole burden of his complaint is that he
cannot get it back. 1t matters nothing to
men like these if the taxes are increased
and every public interest suffers, so long as
they can have their own way and are able to
manage the city as sort of private inherit
ance. The community, however, sees the
subject in a different light, and groans under
the misgovernment which all of the political
organizations unite in imposing upon the
city. 1t is only in this misgovernment that
the politicians are agreed, and, though they
talk reform at all times and upon all occa-
sions, matters grow worse from day to day,
while the future is almost as dark as the past.
But gloomy and forbidding the prospect
is, we need not despair altogether. There is,
at least one bit of blue sky in the overloaded
armament. One public servant has been
found able and willing to do his duty. To
the fearless purposes of this official our col
umns have already borne ample testimony.
The interview with General William F.
Smith, which we printed yesterday, was an
excellent supplement to the Commissioners
remarkable speech in the Police Board on
Saturday In both cases General Smith
spoke boldly and to the point. Fitted by
education and experience for the Office he
now fills, he has still further qualified him
self for the duties of his position by practical
study of the police department and its
operations. Many of the things he has
learned are only what are apparent to all who
have eyes, and were known to his colleagues
as we'll as to the public. 1t is not for ascer-
tanning the truth that we give him the high
credit we are willing to accord him. That
he could hardly fail to learn if he walks the
streets of the metropolis and reads the news
papers. 1t is for his courage in speaking of
what he knows that we respect him, and the
community will honor him still more if he
pushes his bold and fearless policy to
some practical result. No man is more capa-
BILE of doing this than the new Commissioner.
In the war he was fighting soldier, and in
peace he is proving himself an energetic and
an honest public servant Attacking the
disease which is undermining and destroying
the police system he deduced the remedy
Al. Il
''There is a bond among you, to some extent,
he said to his colleagues in the Police Board,
''and / cannot fathom it." Referring to the
time President DIatsell was Superintendent
of Police, he declared that nothing could be
expected from captains and subordinates in
the way of morals with such a Superin-
tendent. His speech was terrible arraign-
ment of the Commissioners and the force,
and his language to the reporter of the
HERALD, with whom he subsequently con-
versed, was not less fearless and outspoken.
General Smith was especially severe upon
Mr.. Disbecker's notions of official morality,
and he was unreserved in declaring that not
one-half of the disorganization and want Of
discipline in the police force has yet been
told. 1t is a good sign when a Commissioner
speaks with so much bravery and frankness
of the public service and we believe we may
expect the best results from General Smiths
manliness and courage.
We cannot dismiss this subject without
making some suggestions in regard to the
duty of the Mayor and the Governor in this
vi II.
he asked General Smith to go into the Police
Board and try to introduce something like
displine and organization into the force he
must be especially anxious now to sustain the
Commissioner upon whom he devolved 50 high
and important duty. The Mayor cannot
overlook or disregard the charges and accu-
sations of the Commissioner They are
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