C. C.

S. C.

S. C.

C. C.

S. C.

S. C.

C. C. Moyamensing

C. C,

S.C.

S. C.

C. C.

C. C.

S. C.

C. C.

and

NAMES.

Lancaster

Germantown &

Total,

Philip Anthony and three Daughters, loss-All their personal property.

Elijah Horner, Cabinet maker, loss-All his personal
property and tools—also a small confectionary.
John Armstrong's Estate, loss-Three houses.
David Williamson, Stone cutter, loss-his tools and

1573 $1,300,142 31 some work finished.

Toll received in

5 years, viz: 1825, 26, 27,

28, and 29.

Expenses of re

pairs for 5 yrs
without sala-

ries.

Av❜ge recei't of
toll per mile,

Average cost of
repair pr.m
each year.

each year.

Neff & Stahl, Merchants-Large store and dwelling house, Barn and granary-also part of their merchan dize.

George Chorpenning-One large new brick house, intended for a tavern stand, and one frame house and ware house-also two offices and a large amount of personal property.

John L. Snyder, Merchant and Druggist-one large

148,740 74 51,912 69 479 81167 46 new brick house-also considerable merchandize and

From the Somerset Whig.
FIRE AT SOMERSET.

furniture.

Samuel C. Pile, Innkeeper-part of his personal proJohn Houpt, Saddler-Some personal property and stock.

C. W. Michaels, Merchant-$300 in cash. Michael Hugus' Estate-One large dwelling house, formerly occupied as a tavern stand-also one Saddler shop and office.

John Witt, Esq. Sheriff-One dwelling house and part of his furniture.

John Kurtz, Esq.-One dwelling house and Druggist including medicines.

After about half of our papers of last week were worked off, a most shocking calamity befel our town.perty. About half past 2 o'clock on Wednesday morning last, (16th instant,) the cry of fire was heard in our streets. It was discovered to be in a house owned by J. F. Cox, & James Armstrong; and occupied in part as a dwelling and in part by several mechanics as shops. Where the fire first originated cannot be correctly ascertained, further than it was either in a cabinet maker's or a hatter's shop. In a few moments we had presented before us an awful conflagration. The flames spread with inconceivable rapidity, east, north and west, and not. withstanding the most energetic exertions were made to subdue it, its progress was not arrested until twenty dwelling houses, fifteen shops and offices, three stores, two taverns in one of which was kept the Post Office, and a number of stables, smoke houses, and other back buildings were destroyed. From main cross street in the diamond of the town west to the cross-street at Judge Kurtz's, every building in front has been consumed, together with the greatest part of the back buildings.

Martin Shaffer, Hatter-All his personal property. Joshua F. Cox, & James Armstrong-One large dwelling house, hatter shop and stable. Cephas Gillet, Hatter-Considerable stock and hatsalso his account books.

Jacob Glessner, Cabinet maker-A large assortment of tools and a considerable quantity of valuable furni

ture.

William Philson-All his personal property-also notes, accounts, &c.

Danl. Bauchman, Shoemaker-One dwelling house and stable-also part of his stock and personal prop erty. John Neff-Considerable personal property. Gilbert & Snee, Shoemakers-All their stock and

tools.

Rev. John Tiedemans' Estate-One house and sta

ble.

The fire reached the diamond about day light, and for a time all hopes of saving that part of the town east of main cross-street seemed desperate: there was a strong current of air from the S. West, and if one building on the east side of the Diamond had taken fire all must inevitably have been consumed. But here, as with the same impulse, all the citizens made one united and powerful effort, nothing that could be done by unit. ed strength and concentrated action was left undone, and finally after a hard struggle the progress of the flames were arrested by the most vigorous and powerful exertions that were perhaps ever made under the same circumstances in a case of the kind. It was stopped in the west with less difficulty in consequence of the winders as far as said committee have derived information. not favoring its progress in that direction and on the north for want of buildings to consume.

REPORT OF THE

Committee of Distribution.

A list o the names of those who were sufferers by the late conflagration in Somerset, as far as the under

Henry Marteeny-One dwelling house.
Thomas Crocket, Chairmaker-All his tools.
Leonard Stahl, Chairmaker-A considerable quantity
of chairs

The above is a true statement of the number of suffer

Owing to the excitement, confusion, &c. incident to such an extraordinary catastrophe, it is impossible for the committee, at this period, to give a more particular, or specific detail.

ISAAC ANKENY,
JOSEPH IMHOFF,
SAMUEL G. BAILEY,
HENRY BENFORD.

From the United States Gazette.

POLICE REPORT.

To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Phi ladelphia.

The undersigned, Commissioners appointed by resoluphia, "for the purpose of devising a new and more efficient System of Police for the protection of the City, in obedience to the Will of S'ephen Girard," respectfully

tion of the Select and Common Councils of Philadel

submit the result of their labours and deliberations. The executive Police of the city, as at present constituted, embraces the following officers:

1. Four High Constables, appointed annually by the Mayor, having by ordinance "all the powers and au thorities which a constable can exercise by the common law, or by any act of Assembly, or City Ordinance." | By a further section of the same ordinance, (March 29th, 1798) it is made the particular and especial duty of the High Constables to walk through the streets, lanes and alleys of the city daily, taking such rounds as that, in a reasonable time, they shall visit all parts of the city, and examine and arrest all vagrants, beggars and disorderly persons; to report all nuisances, obstructions and impediments in the streets, lanes and alleys; to give notice to the Mayor of all offences against the laws and ordinances, and of the names of the offenders and witnesses; to superintend generally the execution and enforce obedience to all ordinances and laws; and to do and perform all such other matters and things as the Mayor, Recorder, or any Alderman shall reasona bly require, touching the order, regulation and policy of the city.

3. A Captain and Lieutenant of the Nightly Watch, with 111 watchmen under their command, the city being divided into two districts, of which the eastern is under the charge of the captain, and the western of the lieutenant. These watchmen are mustered at the watch house of the proper district every evening at half past nine o'clock in winter, and half past ten o'clock in summer. The roll being called, absentees marked, (and substitutes provided for the absent) they are dismissed to their respective beats, on which their duty begins at ten or eleven o'clock, according to the season. For each beat there is a watch box, into which the watch man, after making his round, is permitted to retire. One round is made in each hour, and does not occupy more than thirty minutes. At dawn of day they again muster at the watchhouse, and are dismissed until the next evening, except such as have arrested prisoners during the night, who are required to attend at the Mayor's office.

The captain and lieutenant remain, for the most part, at their respective watchhouses during the night, to receive and examine prisoners, of whose names and the charges against them they make daily report to the Mayor. They have little opportunity to visit the separate posts during the night, or to inspect the conduct of individual watchmen.

281

129 persons employed and paid by the city for Police purposes, 121 are confined in their duties to the hours daylight in the morning; while during the remainder which intervene between ten and eleven at night and of the time eight persons only are habitually upon duty. Upon those eight persons devolves the whole business of executing process from the Mayor's Office, reporting breaches of City Ordinances, removing nuisances, arresting felons, recovering stolen property, and protecting the city and citizens during the day, and throughout the busy and active portions of the evening. justly made, of ordinances unexecuted, nuisances accuTo the complaints, therefore, which are frequently and of insults and violence towards helpless and unoffending mulating, disorders and riots in our public streets, and passengers, a reference to this fact would furnish at Practice, founded upon inevitable necessity, has given once an answer and apology. But we go still further. to the office of High Constable a character totally different from what was originally contemplated by the Ordinance of 1798. That ordinance contemplated that his services should be mainly directed to the preservation of general good order and the enforcement of municipal regulations. Since its enactment the condition of the city and of society have undergone great changes, and it has become necessary that in every large town there should be several intelligent and experienced men devoting their time and skill to the pursuit and arrest of the higher order of offenders--the robbers, housebreakers, pickpockets, counterfeiters, and other felons, whose daring and dexterous exploits contribute a column to every newspaper, and who, by an astonishing increase of the facilities of travel, are enabled rapidly to move from one end of the continent to the other. In the city of Philadelphia this duty has necessarily been assigned to the High Constables, there being no other officer on whom it could devolve. It is a duty having no natural affinity with those enumerated in the ordinance, and indeed by its influence upon the habits and tastes of the officer.almost incompatible with them. The same remarks apply to the four City Policemen on day duty, who are frequently engaged as assistants to the High Constables. It follows then that even the very limited force to which all the police business of the day and evening is at present entrusted, can be expected to give but a small portion of their time to those important general objects which embrace the preservation of social order and the enforcement of local regulations.

From the foregoing remarks it will be perceived that a primary and radical objection to the present system of Police, in the estimation of the Commissioners, is its inadequate provision for the preservation of the public peace, the protection of the citizens, and the prevention of crime, during the hours of daylight and of the evening, and for the due execution of those ordinances upon which the health, comfort and good order of the community so much depend.

ficiencies in other branches of the Police. Among the serious objections to that institution the following deserve particular attention:

Looking next to the City Watch, and reasoning from the best 1ghts of observation and experience, we are 3. Twelve officers, called City Policemen, originally compelled to pronounce it inadequate even to the liminstituted about three years ago to supply the place of ited service at present expected, and consequently inthe silent watch, which was then abolished, and to per-capable by any extension of its duties of supplying deform other duties, under the direction of the Mayor. In practice, eight of these officers are assigned to night, and four of them to day duty. Those on night duty make the round of the city in pairs, at irregular intervals, to observe the conduct of the watchmen, and to note all delinquencies and neglect of duty, of which they render a daily report to the Mayor. By this arrangement it is obvious that each pair has under its supervision one-fourth of the whole city. The four as signed to day duty, attend habitually at the Mayor's Of fice to serve process, aid the high constables, and perform such other service as may be required.

A glance at this arrangement of our Police, must suggest one radical and fatal objection, namely: that of

VOL. XII.

36

1. That the watchmen derive their appointments from the City Commissioners, who have no connexion with the Police proper, and are, consequently, not the best judges of the qualifications of the applicant. All such appointments should proceed from the Mayor, as the head of Police.

2. A second objection is, that the watchmen, having no Police duty to perform during the day, are enabled to engage in other occupations, to which many hours of their time are devoted, The evils resulting from this cause are enormous and multiform-sufficient to

destroy the value of any system, however well organized and appointed in all other respects. When public and private occupation are thus intermingled, the mind and feelings will be enlisted for the one, while the mere physical powers are devoted to the other; and there will be a constant tendency on the part of the officer to do as much as possible for himself and as little as possible for the public. To the composition of a good Police officer, intelligence, sagacity, a habit of close observation and patient investigation upon the subjects entrusted to his care, are far more essential than mere personal strength. By the constant exercise of these faculties he becomes master of his business, and qualifies himself for the highest degree of usefulness, so that whatever tends to divert his thoughts into other channels should be carefully avoided.

3. A third objection to our watch system is its total want of judicious organization and necessary subordination and its independence of all effective control. Each individual from the time he enters on duty until its close is an independent officer, without any one to instruct, advise or direct him. He is subject to no inspection except that of the eight Police officers, who cannot visit his beat in general more than once in a night, and even then have no power but to report actual delinquency. Whether he does his duty faithfully or not is generally a secret within his own bosom. He is constantly tempted to neglect, by the hope that it may not be discovered, whilst the inducements to good conduct are lessened materially by the consciousness that it will probably be unknown to his superiors.

of a family, and the officer should be taught to depend on that alone.

7. The want of grades among the watchmen is a serious defect, preventing the operation of that most powerful of all stimulants, the hope of promotion.

By a combination of the causes thus briefly referred to with others which need not be enumerated, the morale of the city watch has been seriously affected, and public confidence in its vigour and efficiency justly diminished. Nor can the fact be concealed from any one who carefully examines the subject; that the large body of men included within that class, perform a very small amount of service, compared with what the public good requires and with the annual expenditure devo ted to the object. In expressing this opinion, the commissioners design to pass no harsh censure upon the watchmen as individuals. They regard them as men; governed by the ordinary motives of human action, and condemn a system which holds out numerous and strong temptations to the neglect of duty, with scarcely a check upon those who may yield to the temptation.

From the observations which the commissioners have thus briefly made upon the existing police of the city, it will readily be inferred, that the plan they design to propose iu obedience to the resolution of Council, will embrace a radical reorganization of the whole system; and the adoption of important principles not heretofore recognized.

With this object in view they recommend in the first place, that the natural distinction between the two 4. As a corrollary to the two last objer tions it fol- branches of police duty, which they endeavored to exlows, that under existing arrangements the head of Po-plain when speaking of the High Constables, be closely lice cannot be furnished with constant and regular in observed, and that those officers (with such assistance formation of the state of all parts of the city and of the as may be found necessary,) be allowed to pursue as subjects requiring his notice or the exercise of his au- their principal duty, the business of tracing and arrestthority. Without such intelligence regularly and ac-ing culprits, and executing the process of the Mayor's curately communicated, the chief magistrate cannot execute his office with satisfaction to himself or with signal advantage to the community. In proportion as he can bring the combined intelligence, observation and knowledge of all his officers to bear upon the criminal and disorderly, will his administration be effective. In proportion as this combined action is wanting, will his efforts be loose, desultory and ineffective.

5. A fifth objection to the present system, arises from the arrangement by which one watchman only is assigned to each beat or round; so that he is called upon to protect that District during the whole night. It being obviously impossible for one individual to remain in the open air, so many hours continuously, at all seasons, and in all weathers-watch boxes have been established into which the watchman is permitted at intervals to retire, and where practically he spends at least half the night, and as much more as his sense of duty will permit. The consequence is, that during half the night the city is, for many important purposes without a guard. It may happen occasionally that the uproar of a riot, or the boisterous mirth of a party of revellers, will penetrate the seclusion of the watch box; but the silent operations of the housebreakers, or the thief produce no such effect. In connexion with this subject may be mentioned the absurd practice of calling the hour, a practice which originated when clocks and watches were rare curiosities, and which has ceased to be useful, except as a timely warning to the midnight plunderer to conceal himself, or decamp.

6. It is wrong in principle and injurious in practice, that the watchmen should receive fees or costs for the arrest of persons brought before the Mayor. Cases have probably occurred, in which the desire of a fee has induced the officer to overstep his duty and oppress the citizen. The very possibility of such a thing subjects even the conscientious officer to a constant suspicion of his motives, and injuriously depresses both him and his office in public estimation. A compensation should be fixed, adequate to the decent maintenance

office. It is not desirable to take from them the further powers conferred by the ordinance of 1798, but only to regard the duties arising therefrom as of incidental, not primary obligation.

One branch being thus disposed of, it is proposed to vest all the other duties, including the enforcement of municipal regulations and the general preservation of the public peace by day and night, in a well organized Preventive Police, sufficiently numerous for the purpose, and so regulated as to give to that number of men the utmost practicable efficiency. The body thus constituted will have under its especial and constant guardianship by day, as well as by night, the lives; property and persons of our citizens; will be responsi ble for the preservation of the public peace, the sup pression of nuisances moral and physical, the arrest and detention of all persons found actually offending, for the due execution of the City Ordinances, and in short, for all that action of wholesome laws upon the offending classes, by which crime may be prevented, and vice, immorality, and disorder, be suppressed and discouraged.

In the organization of such a body, the following should be regarded as cardinal points:

1. That there be a distinct and responsible head, from whom all subordinates shall derive their appoint ments, and upon whose approbation they shall be dependent for their offices.

2. That to this head of the Police, all information obtained by each subordinate and every thing he may observe or see or know, affecting directly or indirectly the public service shall flow as to a common centre. That from that centre all orders and instructions shall emanate.

3. That there be such a graduation of officers inferior to the chief, as to enable him to act simultaneously upon all parts of the city, and upon every department of the public service, by means of general directions, without the necessity of superintending in person the details of each operation.

4. That each individual of the Police, whether officer or private, shall have his distinct sphere of duty, and a well marked responsibility for the due performance of that duty.

5. That the exertions of each individual acting within his own sphere, be made to co-operate for a common object so that the head of Police may wield at once the combined mental and physical power of the whole body, and cause it habitually and uniformly to bear upon ali offenders.

6. That the Police force be so disposed as to admit of prompt and rapid concentration upon any point or in any emergency requiring more than ordinary exertion, so that every movement may be certain, successful and overpowering.

7. That all practicable means be used to elevate the moral tone of the Police, to inspire a just pride in their own character and that of the service, and to intro luce into the ranks respectable, intelligent, and able bodied men, willing to devote their time, talents and strength, to the public service.

Keeping in view these fundamental principles, the commissioners respectfully recommend to Councils to pass "an ordinance for the establishment of an efficient preventive Police in the City of Philadelphia," which ordinance shall embrace the following leading provisions. 1. That the Mayor of the city shall be the head of the Police and shall make all appointments and removals relating thereto.

2. That the city be divided into four principal divisions as nearly equal as may be, having due reference to territory and population. That for each of those divisions there shall be a superintendent one of whom shall be styled Captain and the others Lieutenants of the City Police.

3. That each principal division be subdivided, as equally as circumstances will admit, into four sections or subdivisions, for each of which there shall be appointed an Inspector of Police, who shall have the control of all the inferior Police-men within his section, subject to the general direction and supervision of the proper superintendent.

4. That each section or subdivision be again divided into a convenient number of beats, and that a number of private Police-men be appointed equal to twice the whole number of beats.

5. That the night watch at all seasons of the year shall commence at twilight in the evening and end with broad day-light in the morning. That during this period at least one watchman shall be constantly engaged in patrolling each beat, no one being permitted to leave his round, or retire for shelter until regularly relieved. By this arrangement at least one half the watch will be on active duty during every minute of the night and regular reliels at proper intervals will of course supercede the necessity of watch boxes.

5. That a sufficient number of the police force be employed during all hours of the day, in the respective sections, to preserve order, maintain the peace, enforce the city ordinances, and render such assistance as the citizens may require. A much smaller number will be required on active duty during the day than in the night, so that by an equitable division of the hours among the men of each section, all may obtain sufficient time for rest and refreshment.

lice not on duty in the respective beats. This arrangement will secure that no part of the city be left unguarded under any circumstances likely to rise.

9. That all superintendents, and inspectors be required to exercise a constant supervision over the conduct of their respective subordinates, promptly and impartially to report delinquents, and also to report every instance of remarkable good conduct.

10. That every superindendent,inspector, and private policeman be required to devote his whole time, except what may be necessary for rest and refreshment, to the public service, and shall be at the disposal of his proper superior at all hours of the day and night, That they be prohibited from engaging in any private business calculated to interfere with the spirit of this provision. That a compensation be allowed to each proportioned to his rank, and adequate to the decent maintenance of himself and family. That the receipt of fees or costs on arrests, or of gratuities from private individuals be expressly prohibited. That the fees they would other wise be entitled to receive, constitute a fund, for the benefit of the private policemen, most distinguished for their good conduct and intelligence. This fund to be distributed at proper intervals, and in limited amounts.

11. That the admission of temporary substitutes for absent policemen be expressly prohibited; but that in case of such absence, the proper inspector shall supply the vacancy by a special arrangement of the reliefs,

12. That the Mayor be instructed, so far as may be practicable and consistent with the public good, to supply all vacancies in the offices of inspector and superintendent by promoting those who have distinguished themselves in an inferior grade.

13. That the twelve officers now called city police be dispensed with.

14. That a clerk of police be appointed by the May. or, at a competent salary, who shall assist in carrying into effect the foregoing provisions, and perform such other duties as the Mayor may direct.

15. Some proper provision should be made for the preparation of a code of rules for the government of the police in the details of their duties, for designating their badges, insignia, &c. and for carrying into effect the foregoing suggestions in reference to watch houses and section stations.

Under the foregoing heads are included those general outlines of the preventive police recommended by the commissioners, which require the action of councils, through the formality of an ordinance. A vast amount of detail must necessarily be provid d for in the code of regulations, and be subject to alteration and improvement, as experience may suggest.

It is impossible for the commissioners fully to explain the contemplated action of the system without extending this report beyond the limits of convenience. One or two partial observations nevertheless may serve to throw light upon the subject. We have set it down as essential, that the head of police be kept accurately informed of every thing that occurs in the city having a tendency to injure the public. With a view to such information, suppose each policeman on retiring from his tour of duty, be required to report verbally to the proper inspector the occurrences that have taken place, or the observations he has made within his beat, and that the inspector immediately make a minute of such report in a suitable book. Suppose these minutes to be submitted daily to the proper superintendent, and he required from the materials this supplied, and his own observation to make frequent reports on the state of the district, to the mayor. By noting opposite each 7. That at a convenient point in each section, there item of intelligence the source from which it is derived; shall be a suitable room or station for the Inspector at the mayor will be enabled to judge of the capacity and which all the Policemen of the section not actually on vigilance of each officer. Suppose further, that it be duty, shall habitually remain throughout the night, and required of each superintendent, inspector and policeat such hours of the day as the regulations may require. man to make himself acquainted as far as possible with 8. That all extra service during the night watch shall all places, persons and things within his district, which be performed by the relief, or that portion of the Polare the subjects of legal cognizance, or Iskely to be

6. That for each principal division there shall be a suitable watch house under the care of the proper superintendent, at which prisoners may be received and detained, and where the police of the division may at proper times, be mustered an inspected.