New-York tribune., 1883-03-11
POLICEMEN FEIGNING SICKNESS.
TIE RoUNDsIEN AND SURGEONS SAID To WINK Al
THEIR NEGLECT OF DUTY.

The recent decision Of the Court of Appeals IN the
case Of Policeman John Ryan. granting MN iull
pay while sick, has had the effect already oi IN
creaslng the tire lost by patrOlmen on Sfcount OF
alleged Illness About seventy policemen NeFe on the
sick list at any given time before tue decision Was
given but in the last month the names on the list
have numbered from l3O 10 100 eachday. fears are
entertained BY the Commissioners that a serious de-
moral cation of the force Will result from the sue
cessful feignng of sickness by patrolmen
As announced in THE TRIBUNE YESTERDAY the
roundsmen IN the department have ceased to make
as many complaints they formerly dll against
the officers whom they are SEQ To watch ne CoHl-
missoners intend 10 select more active mon
to take the place of the delinquent rounds
men. Orders were gwen 10 tue fouhusincn
three weeks ago TO investigate all reports OF
illness made 'by patIolmen and 10 make
formal complaints against such men rs appeared 10
he fei.,nirq sickness IL was resolved by the Com
missIoners to punish by heavy fines any men VINO
were caught in the attempt to cheat the depart
Within q few davs the Commissioners have been
disturbed by rumOrs which have reached them
concerning the police surgeons III ~ inc auly
of the surgeons TO examine all paTo!neh
as soon az the report sick, aud 10 SEND written
statements regarding their condition 70 me captals'
IF a surgeon reports o patrOlman as able to perform
duty aud the man fails 10 go on post, ms captain
must make a complaint that the man IS Az
lent without leave. The police surgeons
| receive extra pay for attending SICK mem
hers of policemen's families. and il is said that
the private practice of many Of the surgeons de-
| pcnds mainly on the good Will OF the policemen,
concerning whom they are called upon frequently
TO make reports. PresI sItent French OF the Board OF
! Police, recently instructed the surgeons to take
great care not to permit well policemen to remain
on the sick list, but judging, by the
records of the last month his order
| has not been obeyed. The Commissioners have
been told that some OF the surgeons have a private
| understanding with policemen, by which they be-
| come the regular family physicians OF the men
| whom they permit to remain Oh The SICK list. An
investigation 10 determine how far the practice pre-
walls in the department will be begun soOh.
THE LAW AGAINST ADULTERATED TEA.
The law to prevent the importation OF aduter-
ated teas which was recently passed by Congress.
while now in force, does not apply TO any teas at
present in bond and regulations have yet been
made for inspection under It's PROVISIONS. A prom-
nenC importer said yesterday: " This law Is Of
great Importance. Out OF the So, ,0O0O00 pounds OF
tea that are sold in this country annually, probably
10 OOD. 900 pounds are adulterated with weeds aud
other foreign matter 1 show you tea OF such a
character that If let it fall six feet to the floor
gradually there would be a great dust cloud formed
of the impure cOlorlng matter used In its prepara
ton These adulterated teas have sold at auction
us low as 4 and cents n pound then they are
taken into the country. where the consumer has TO
paw 80 and 40 cents pound. People fvoishly inn
agne that because they have paid fair prices for tea
they have been getting good article. bigger
swIndle never perpetrated ON the people"