The evening world., 1893-12-02

InID tne CITY lTehSuIys Dut Tim NNh
version was illegal. The Board OF Esti-
mate and Apportionment had no power
TO SO order Il, Corporation Couns
Clark to the contrary Notwithstanding.
In all this juggling. Corporation Coun-
sci Clark. as well as his predecessor,
Mr.. Beekman, seemed to have played a
conspicuous part, of which more Will
be told later. But a little inside history
OF the disposition of that particular $780,
900 at this time may be interesting.
1t IL true that n big lawsuit threatens
the city in connection with this same
signal system. One electrical company
claims to have been given the contract
five years ago, and a resolution passed
by the Police Commissioners proves this
contention. That company's claim is
against the city, and to a certain extent
a lien upon the 100000.
The la In reference to unexpended
balances or sums held by departments
for any purpose is clear. 1t says thai
whatever is left of such sums after
paying all debts shall be converted back
into the city treasury, provided there
are no claims against 1t.
When the question of putting back that
100000 in.the city treasury was brought
up at the meeting of the Board OF Esti-
mate and Appointment. Comptroller
Myers said II could not be done.
such a course would not be legal"
he said. "There liz a claim against It,"
What ." cried Corporation Counsel
Clark. "Oh. you mean that claim of
the Herzog Company. Why there is no
claim in that"
With all due Difference to the Cor
poration Counsel" replied the Comptrol-
Ter. sit IL a claim and a big one. That
is the only name by which 1t could be
called; to wait until a lawsuit had been
brought would be to onver the claim
into a judgment"
Nevertheless, the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment converted back the
money into the city treasury. That ac-
ton, however, does not lesser the fact
that It is still there and available.
But that is only one item-itself
enough to set the ball rolling in this
needed reform. There are other ways
and means by which money can be OBJ
tanned. VIII the Police Commissioners
ask the Comptroller to suggest the
source?
Commissioner McClave. at a meeting
OF the Police Board. held yesterday,
unconsciously stated many things, en-
phasizing the necessity of a radical
change in the police signal system and
patrol ago service. He was stirred
up over a report of Inspector Byrnes to
the effect. that although the law made 1t
mandatory upon policemen to make ar
rests for violation OF the city ordi-
nanoes, the police justices did not sus-
tain the officers.
''Ip reading the annual report of the
Police Department not long ago. the
COMMISSIONS said, II remember that
the statistics showed there had been
over $1,000 arrests during the year.
Nineteen thousand persons were arrested
for disorderly conduct. over 800 arrests
were made for excise violation. and $40
disorderly houses and gambling saloons
were raided. Since Mr.. Byrnes has been
Superintendent over 1900 disorderly
places have been raided, and over 1900
prisoners taken in connection Herewith,
and yet the police get no credit for
their work"
The fact that IS, 900 arrests were made
In one year shows that at least that
number of times officers were forced
to. leave their posts uncovered for an
hour or more. while they took their
prisoners to court or to the station
house. During such absence murders
might be committed, riots take place. or
houses be broken open. A proper pa
troll wagon service and complete signal
system would avert much OF such dan
gers.
The Commissioner is wrong when he
says the police get no credit for their
work. Every day praise is bestowe''
upon them. as seaders of 'The Ever ing
World can testify. when the m"I de-
serve 1t. md no one has yet challenged
their claims to the title OF Finest"
Every one. without exception, however,
condemns the juggling which compels
men to leave their posts uncovered when
arrests could be made without doing so,
How the Police Commissioners and the
other persons responsible for the present
order OF things can rest easy in their
minds, with fresh evidence or their
carelesness cropping out every day,
every hour in fact, surpasses comprehen,
sion. Let them ask Ward Detectives
Deyery and Cohen, of the Church street
station. for instance, to relate their eX.
perience. Both of them are now on tht
sick-list and the surprise IL that they
were not killed by a gang on Thursday
night.
\ crowd had gathered in Greenwich
street. near Park place, to see the parad,
OF the Carolina Rangers" The detec,
tives. who were on the lookout. SAW q
thief known az Red the Blokc taks
b watch. from the pocket Of a man II