The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-01
POLICE RIGHTS AND WRONGS

THE NEW BILLS BEFORE THE LEaIsLlruRE
AND THEIR INTENDED opERAT1oxs- HOW
THE POLICE ARE TO BE PREVENTED FROM
DOING THEIR DUTY.
A feeling Of Indignation prevails among the members
of the police force in view OF the measures recently
introduced in the Legislature rcorganixe the entire
department by the methods proposed II Is believed
that should tho exertions OF tho Commissioners al
Albany be successful, the result will work equally
against the parolmcn and tho public Among other
things the new bills il passed. would give power to
the Commissioners to remove any officer at will with
out trial They further provide FOR reduction tho
patrolmsn's pay but in the salaries Of the
Commissioners and superior officers of the department
representative OF the HERALD order to ascertain
the sentiments entertained tho subjccs by
those who most Interested, ana who
have rarely an opportunity to be heard,
questioned several we'll known and efficient members
OF tho force yesterday They claim that In the first
place, the provision authorizing the Commissioners
to remove officers without trial will tend toward
generalization, inasmuch officers will DO deferred
from doing thor duty through fear OF the Ill will OF
their supcrors For instance, II we'll dressed person
DO arrcsted-say for last driving. running and
killing anothcr--and tho offender Is indicted by
the Grand Jury his trial may never come of, as the
Omccr can mcanNnile removed ana may not, tucrc-
lore appear witness when the occasion A
cuiprt friendly intercourse with the Commissioners
need not therefore, have tho slightest Apr chension Of
being punished TO the vital question OF reducing
mems pay it Is alleged and with reason that the
emolument AT present received by them is not moro
than sufficient for their maintenance when patrol
man Is appointed he is Obliged furnish himself with
four different uniforms belt, clubs, gloves and a
pistol; q bed and bedding to be used az the
station house and kept IN order at his own
expense, all these reducing his actual pay
to little over 81, 900 year. Should ne, the execu-
ton OF his duty have his clothes solcd torn he is
compelled to replace them. Another hardship justly
complained OF Is the TACT that when a parolman -
taken sick by OF his arduous abors despite the
certificate OF the medical officer that he Is unfit Tor
duty he IS deprived Of halt OF his pay during the time
OF his illness. Should he become crippled whs per-
forming the various tasks allotted to him he Is liable
TO bc dismissed retired from the department on
miserable pittancc. the of Patroman Gcbcl,
OF tho Twentyscvcnth precinct, Who while examining
the doors on his post tell into cellar and was manned
for liIc The commissioners generously Accorded MIN
the muninccnt sum OF forty eight cents per dicm.
Again IL Is urged that the proposition 10 make
grades in the ranks oil the patrolmen would,
carried out confusion aud tend TO excite jealousy
In tho IL Is commended IN favor OF ths theory
that the same responsibility rests upon ell patromen
30 lar tho guarding Of property " concerned anu
10 we'll known that tue young members are more v'soS