The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1893-12-08
One Of the Ways Of Keeping
New York Behind =
the Age.
cEKsURED BY A GRAND Jury.
IN q Presentment the Need OF a
Police Signal System Was
Set Forth.

me Grand jury OF inns county IeN Cdheo
upon to take action upon the deplorable
condition of the city in regard to
yolice signal system and patrol-wason
service. or rather a lack Of II. The
Grand Jurors had spent much time in
vestigatir.g the subject. They had also
inquired into the condition of the streets
ana the ambulance service. The pre-
sentiment which they handed up attracted
attention everywhere.
II was a scathing rcbuke to city-of-
ficlals for vilful neglect of duties. The
ambulance service was said to be of the
very worst kind. and not half adequate
for the needs OF a great city. 1t
spoke OF the hundreds Of accidents which
took place every month. and of the
delay in taking victims to hospitals for
treatment The delay in nearly every
cese lay. the Grand Jury said. in the
fact that there was TO police signal
system. and no patrol wagons. Here IL
an exit act rom that presentment:
In view of the needs In this great
city, In which II is far below smaller
cities. we deem 1t our duty to urge
upon the Board OF Police Commissioners
all possible speed in selecting the most
perfect system by which the entire pa
troll force OF that Department may be
at all times In complete and rapid COM
munication with their station houses.
both for police purposes and the relief
Of the ambulance service. ---- .--...- o..
when this selection shall have been
made. after exhaustive competitive tests
by the Police Department. we urge upon
the Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
ment prompt action in making the ap-
preparation necessary to bring into ex-
istence this greatly needed addition to
the useful functions OF our city
That presentment aroused the Police
Board to action. and plans OF all kinds
were suggested to properly equip the
city. No longer would the officials be
rebuked. They would do something and
do 1t quickly.
II must not be forgotten that the Po-
lice Commissioners had then been tin
kerfng with the same subject for four
years However, they did get down to
business. and In their departmental es-
sum OF money to initiate the reform -
The Board Of Estimate and Apportion-
ment OF that time took kindly 10 the sug-
ge.iio1; , and as ga Jesuit Jesuit sum Of $500
with. That was simply the getting In
Of the wedge. as 1t were. It being dis
tfnctly understood that all the money
necessary would be appropriated at the
proper time.
Great things were looked for from the
Police Commissioners. and great things
presentmcnt was still! fresh in the public
mind. But when the memory Of that
docnment died away, ms 4 did, the
snd Years have " rolled awa eek since G then
But where are the patrol wagons?
Police Commissions McClave. when he
explained his side of the case and denied
that there had been any juggling. said
that he was heartily in faNor Of the
scheme. He wanted to see New York
CITY away ahead OF every other munich
Villages. as II Is. He did not mention to
the reporter that any money had ever
been Appropriated for police wagons.
had the money not been used FOR Tor that tha,
purpose. but that instead 1t had been
diverted TO another purpose altogether
,,r Is no. ,s statement made on hear,
has been published in the city Record
ssd the request from the Police Com.
nse II Fs 10 no dr s II to fnSther
niissfoners' office. Here 1t is:
NJ - Honorable. III. Bosrd of E,,ims,. 1870
Gentlemen; - a meeting Of IL. Board OF POLL.
CyrvnissionerS II Vas
Es.sly:a That u: nos1d q E.,in.,. and Ap.
ojsred to transfer IN. sum OF ;l2 500 from th.
aesropnation nsae to the PoIics Department for
the scar 1892. entitled For patrol wagons horses
harness. Subsistence and repairs" which IL In
s-e-ss of 'h. amount received for the purpose aud
sans Department for the year Iss9 entitled "For
RE purehss. Of site for ID. location Of sta.
insufficient to -nsbis the Mayor. Aldermen and
,sSonshy Of he d,y o. New York to parchas.
psIrpess a. herein .sprsssed. '''e'' Wv
The owner, of the premises designated hav,
-
First Deputy Clerk
IL will be seen that the request wal
msds on Aug. Q last, and that the Boarc
Of Estimate and Apportionment prompt
" considered st. The request wal
granted. and 1880 given to start a pc
Bce patrol wagon service was eaten VI
niissionsrs say that the 1880 was in en
CESS Of the amount required. In othe,
words, the Police Commissioners pu
@ The on az ss serHc. shey
Yet Police Commissioner McClave say
they % wsni IL He admits that the cit!
respective Of party. are clamoring for 1t
Comptroller Myers has been blamed
apa called the stumbling block, yet 1t 4
q fact that Re was about the only on
who OBJECTED 10 that transfer. Ill
Pointed out that. II Was given for a spe
ci3e purpost. that the patrol wagon
wfFf. mccarthy. and Yielded only be
e&afe his holding out could accomplish
That. however. is not all. In view o
Commissioner Mcclaye's remarks, tn
nn.nitlated might be led to imagine tina
police signalling and patrol wagon ser
vice had been put back a century. II
told the reporter that absolutely moth
ingv could be accomplished until mex
year. when the Board OF Estimate woull
consider the estimates for the year 1896
or unless the Legislature could be In
duced TO take action.
Now. although ss.boO. appropriated 70
the year 1897 was diverted to anothe
purpose by the Police Commissioners, tn
fact remains that a sIn!lar sum wa
~ Ascertained It has not yet been ex
PENDED. Here IL further fact:
There Ii at present In the proylsiona
y eGfimates for next year a sum OF N2,5 SOC
nppropriated for patrol wagons. horses
EWrnRaa aubaiatence and repaira. Tha