The New York herald., 1879-12-19
GENERALIZATION OF THE FORCE.

THE IssPEcToEsHIPs-rHE STEAMBOAT AND
BROADWAY sQUADs-How COMMISSIONER
vooRHIs' CHANGES ARE REGARDED.
There is considerable agitation among the MEM
bers Of the police force several propositions
presented by Commissioner John r. voorhis having
for their purpose complete reorganization OF the
department. Mr.. Voorhis. when he was in the
Board of Police before sought TO have what he con-
sdered several reforms introduced into the depart
ment but before all the changes could be made as
contemplated by him, his term of Office expired.
Now that he is again member of tho Board
it s said to be his purpose to have a
complete reorganization effected in the various
branches OF police service. The propositions laid
by him before his brother Commissioners at
cent meeting embrace. it is said only small por-
tion Of the changes that will be made in the force
providing Messrs. French, Wheeler and MacLean
support his efforts.
OF course none of those connected with the Police
Department will say anything at all about the pro-
posed changes to be effected. The inspectors. cap
tains. sergeants. roundsmen and patromen main
tain the strctest silence. All these men give
reason for not talking the subject the fear that
their doing SO might excite the wrath OF their
superiors. There IS not however. member OF the
forco who will not discuss the matter by tho hour
provided he is assured that his name will no. be
away"
GENERALIZATION THE pEpARTMxSr.
Ono OF the changes that the Commissioners will
soon consider the propriety of making will be the
proposition to abolish the inspection districts into
which the city is divided. There are four OF
these districts. each governed by an inspector. who
is held responsible for all that within his
bawick. He has control over the captaius in his
district. ana has direct dealings with the Central
uyh ada fro, IN III
various captains other officers in command of
precincts make daily reports to the Inspector who,
after examining transmits them to the Superin-
tendent. The captains not obliged to report at
Headquarters except special occasions. when
moned by the superintendent or by Commissioner.
If this change is made the captains will be obliged
to visit Headquarters aud take their orders
from whoever may be in command at the
time. This part of the proposed programme
is very unfavorably regarded by many in
telligent officers of the department. They say
that the new order of things. if the old system
should be abandoned. would have the effect Of
tralizing the Police Department. police captain
who has been on the force many years said last
night to u reporter that he did not think the propo-
sition to abolish the four inspection districts would
be adopted by the Board OF Commissioners. ~
think. continued he. "that it would be u very bad
innovation to do so. In the first place. it has come
to be recognized tact that in police business u
tralized authority is not the best system The ten
dency to change las always been from centralized
to u noncentralized uthority. Years ago, can re-
member everything came from Headquarters
Every order WAS issued there aud promulgated
through the other officers OF the department. All
changes in the force regards beats and other
matters were regulated by the superintendent by
one more OF the Commissioners"
THE OLD AND THE NEW
chow did that system work.
| ''Very poorly indeed The men in each precinct
who were appointed from Headquarters did not try
to please their captains other superiors, gem
eral denoralization the result. The policy had
| 8, stem would not work. One OF the Com missio
| ers proposed q change. and his suggestions were
tacitly adopted After that time the superintendent
was simply required to act general of
the departments the inspectors were to be held to
strict accountability for what transpired in their
several districts. The inspectors. of course turn
held the captains in check, and SO perfect system
Of official supervision was inaugurated."
'It Is claimed that the system in use has not
been quite successful wasat first anticipated.
| Is such the case?
..In measure it is but the force is not 80 utterly
| The difficulty lies. hrst. with the Commn nso ners
themselves. and second, with the inspectors. Some
of the latter body OF men jealous III
| dischArging their duty as they might be. The
discipline throughout the department is lax
only way to remedy this Is to tighten the reins aud
hold every man to strict accountability At pres
ent there is absolutely discipline Whatever far
as the captains and inspectors concerned. l do
not think, however. the plan of doing away with the
| inspection districts would be remedy. What
want is not centralization but the If .he
present rules and regulations were rigidly and hon.
estly carried out there would be no need Of having
| Q change in the department.
| WOULD THE PLAN DE A SAVING ONE?
One of the many arguments put forth iu favor of
| Commissioner Voorhis' plan of reorganization is
that 1t would be saving ohe; that. in fac it would
leave the city richer every year by S5OO0o. 1t
| is also urged that thu thoroughtares OF tho city
would be much more effectively patrolled because
OF the increased number OF that could be placed
! in each precinct by remanding to duty those con-
| nected with the Steamboat and Broaaway SQUADS.
| The doing away with the broadway Squad alone
would save About $4,000 annually to the city. The
Steamboat Squad. AS wen as the. Broadway squad.
other officers as afiording very Easy berth and #
man has strong enough political pull it is said he
tions OF the service Members of the Broadway Squad
do duty for ten hours in tho day-that is.
until six at night. On the part of the squad it is
urged that the duties or its members very labo
rious. The men have constantly to be on the look
out to prevent omnibus aud other vehicle drivers
from running down pedestrians. aud they claim that
even outside of this work they are kept busy in
many other ways They have also to march
cort to all PROFESSIONS of any consequence. Mr..
voorhs. however. and his friends think that all
patrolmen should be treated alike, and therefore,
In favor OF remanding those connected with
these special squads TO ordinary precinct patrol
duty, pointing the fact that at the present time
many of the captains are short of men.
THE STEAMBOAT SQUAD.
The proposition looking to the abolition of the
Steamboat Squad is received with even less favor
than that in reference to the other changes. The
of piers along the river fronts for the most
COMMITTEES Of twelve gentleinen called yesterday on
Commissioners Voorhs aud Frepch their in-
huence in having the Steamboat Squad retained.
The Cunard. Williams Guion and National lines OF
steamers were represented. With delegate also
from the Cartmcns Association. Mr.. Guon
acted spokesman. He represented that the
steamboat patrol was useful to the merchants
and business men along the water front. He depre.
Gated any measures looking to the abolishment OF
| the squad. Mr.. voorhi- replied that the contem-
platcdschange would not tend to impose hard
ships upon the business interests which Mr.. Guon
and his colleagues represented. ''supposing. gen.
| tlemen," said Mr.. Voorhis, that while remandng
enf ffieie q va and