Year: 1875

POLITICS AND N-CoNTRIBUTIoNs OF


PATRoLMEN FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES DIS


CUssED.


The full Board of Police Commissioners met yester
day, President Matsell in the chair


A communication from Inspector Thorne commend
ing the bravery of Officers Morgan and Sprague of the
mounted squad in the performance of their duty, was
referred TO the Committee on Rules and Discipline.


Patrolman Carmack, of the Twentieth precinct, was
on notion permitted to receive from the authorities of
the New Jersey Penitentiary the of $3.50 re-
ward for the capture OF Herman LidendorI alias Dutch
Harmon.


The Resignation of Patrolman Allen W. Could of the
Fourteenth precinct presented by the chief clerk
This the officer who recently figured in unenviable
light before the Assembly Investigating Committee
and who proven to have been placed the force
when unqualified and incompetent Commissioner
Dsbecker whose appontee Gould was, moved that the
resignation be laid the table and charges be pre-.
ferred against the officer Could the Commissioner
stated had falsely to his not being married at
the time Of his appointment and, besides, his leaving
the State and throwing up his shield without notinca-
ton to the Board was offence of which the latter
should take co6nizance and punish. The motion was
carried,


An application from the Board of Police Justices for
the detalment of an officer the First District Police
Court to act interpreter in said court denied
on the ground that the appropriation for the Board
Police Justices provided for the employment OF clerks
and interpreters and that it would be illegal for the be-
parment oil Ponce 70 de'a ocers LOT other than police
duty.


POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS
Commissioner Smith, from the Committee on Rules
and Discipline offered resolution that rule No b91 of
the Police Manual be promulgated by general order to
the members of the department ON each Monday until
/ after the November elections


The following is the text of the rule:-


No member of the force shall be permitted to solicit
oonga % Se M @ nj OF onerwss on
any political purpose whatever.


Commissioner Disbecker here stated that he had re-
ceved Information from reliable sources that certain
precincts in the city to be called upon to make
contributions for political purposes during the pending
campaign. To the Commissioners knowledge
many members Of the department were levied upon at
the previous election for contributions This
practice he Rsaid, should be enectually
stopped. Patrofnen had, as rule, other
and more useful channels for the disposal of their
money. He (Dsbccker would therefore move that
rule sol be amended 70 omit the words be obliged
| tor This amendment would make the giving OF any
sum by patrolmen for political purposes a punishable
| offence He had consulted counsel as TO the change
and was acting with thorough knowledge as 10 its
| legality.


General Smith called tho attention Of Mr. Dsbccker
TO the fact that an amendment out of order until
the original resolution was adopted, whereupon the
| solution to promulgate the rule adopted, all the
| renewed his motion to amend the rule. Commissioner
Smith opposed 1t on the ground that its adoption would
be an infringement on the rights of the members OF the
department citizens They should not be prohibited
from making any disposition they pleased of what
their own. They earned their money and had right
TO spend II they chose The rulo il stood Just
and fair. Policemen should not be obliged to contrib
ute anything they did desire to and but at the
time they should not be debarred from dsposing
of their money as they saw 6t
COMMISSIONER vooRHIs WAS OPPOSED


10 tho amendment Wise heads had framed the rule as
1t stood. The proposed amendment he regarded as
illegal II II we're adopted policeman could not con-
tribute toward the support Of his church If he desired
to do so.


After some further discussion the question was put
and lost Commissioners Matsoll and Disbeckor voting
yea, and Commissioners Voorhis and Smith nay.


After the imposition Of several fines and the recep
ton Of some routine renoris the Board adjourned