THE MURPHY POLICE AND FIRe departMENTS APPOINTMENT BILL.

CHAPTER 496, LAWS OF 1887.

Senate bill No. 381. Introduced by Mr. Murphy.

This bill amends sections 268 and 435 of the consolidation act by substituting the word "felony" for the word "crime." The sections amended prohibited the appointment, as policeman or fireman in New York City, of any one who had been convicted of a "crime." The word "crime" is one of general import, and includes both felonies and misdemeanors. Under the laws of this state a felony is a crime punishable with death or imprisonment in state prison, and a misdemeanor is any other crime. The result of the amendment is to allow the appointment of men who have been convicted of a misdemeanor. This bill was the result of a decision by the police commissioners that a man who had been convicted of drunkenness (a misdemeanor) was not eligible to a position on the force. While it is undoubtedly hard that a single $10 fine, for intoxication in an otherwise respectable life, should debar a man from an appointment to the police or the fire department, yet there are plenty of men whose lives have not even that blot on them from whom the ranks can be recruited. Further, the term "misdemeanor" includes many other offenses against the law, which are of much greater gravity. For instance, a man who steals property worth less than $25 is guilty of petit larceny, a misdemeanor, while a theft of more than that amount in value, is grand larceny, a felony. Yet the moral wrong is quite as great in the former as in the latter. It can hardly be, that New York is prepared to entrust the protection of life and property within its limits to recruits from the minor criminals;

and yet it is precisely this to which this bill has opened the way. Considering what the duties of the police and the firemen are, we can scarcely demand too high a moral character from men desirous of joining their ranks. It is not right that a man who has spent six months in the penitentiary for beating his wife in a fit of drunken fury, should find no obstacle in the laws to prevent his obtaining a position as guardian of the peace. The bill was undoubtedly not intended to have any such effect; but it does have just that result, and our Albany representatives should have known it.

Mr. Murphy introduced the bill on 14th March, and it was then read twice and referred to the committee on cities. It was reported favorably from that committee on 24th March. On 28th March, on motion of Mr. Murphy, it was ordered to its third reading. It came up for its final passage on 30th March, and passed with 24 affirmative votes. New York City men voted aye: CULLEN, DALY, DUNHAM, MURPHY, PLUNKITT, and TRAPHAGEN,-6. A bad vote. Mr. Reilly did not vote.

The bill went to the assembly and on 31st March was referred to the committee on cities. It was reported favorably from this committee, and was referred to the committee of the whole.

On 10th May, on motion of Mr. Cantor of New York, it was ordered to its third reading.

On Wednesday, 18th May, on motion of Mr. Finn of New York, the time of the third reading of this bill was fixed as Friday, 20th May. It was not reached until the following Wednesday, 25th May, when it was passed by a vote of 73 to 9. New York City members voted as follows:

Aye.-BRENNAN, CANTOR, DALTON, FINN, GIEGERICH, HAGAN, HAMILTON, HORNIDGE, KENNY, KUNZENMAN,

LANGBEIN, MCADAM, MCKENNA, MULRY, Power, SHEA, SMITH, and SULLIVAN,-18. A bad vote.

No.-Crosby. A good vote.

Not voting.-Hayes, Henry, Ives, Martin, and McIntyre, -5.

The bill was sent to the governor in the usual manner, and by his signature became a law.

DANIEL E. FINN. IST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.

[Ist assembly district bounded by Canal St., Broadway, Park Row, Spruce St., Gold St., Ferry St. and Peck Slip, and East and Hudson Rivers. Includes also Governor's, Bedlow's and Ellis Islands.]

COUNTY DEMOCRAT. POLITICIAN, AND INTERESTED IN LIQUOR BUSINESS AT I Park Row AND 219 Hudson St.

House, 48 Beach St.

Mr. Finn was born at Limerick, Ireland, 11th July, 1845, and came to this country when about two years old. He attended the New York public schools. Gives his occupation in the Assembly Directory as a clerk, but in reality he manages for his brother, Patrick J. Finn, the two liquor saloons in this city, No. 1 Park Row and No. 219 Hudson street. The former of these places bears rather a hard reputation. Served in the assembly in '85 and '86. Although shrewd enough to keep his doings out of the light of day, is known to be a dangerous man. He is the one who supports in the assembly all the jobs that his senator, Mr. Murphy, fathers in the senate; and he has a record of voting for every bill that had money in it.

Finn's record last winter was bad, though better than some others. He was prominent in the attempt to repeal the civil service laws in relation to state and municipal offices. His powers for evil, and perhaps his inclinations in that direction, seemed to be somewhat restrained by a circular which appeared early in the session, signed by one James Sheridan, which charged Mr. Finn with receiving stolen goods, and with taking money for his vote on the gas

bills of 1886. Mr. Finn denied the charges, and all knowledge of Sheridan, speaking to a question of privilege in the assembly. Before the publication of this circular, early in February, he had introduced ten bills; after that time he introduced two. Mr. Finn was always treated by the speaker with distinguished consideration, probably because he had an unpleasant faculty for pointing out with some force the defects in those bills in which he was not interested. On the whole he is a totally unfit man to represent New York. Was supported by the labor party.

Received when elected, as candidate of united democracy, 3,638 votes; John H. Grimes, republican and Irving Hall candidate, 1,824. Total number of votes cast, 5,525. Member of standing committees (1) on ways and means, and (2) on banks.

He introduced 12 bills. Among them were :

No. 1,246. Limiting the rate of interest which pawnbrokers may charge to one per cent. a month.

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No. 953. Providing that "if any two or more persons, "companies, corporations, individuals or societies shall agree, directly or indirectly, to withhold from the public "markets or ordinary channels of trade of this state for any period of time any staple article of merchandise, “food, fuel, or any of the necessities of life, or shall agree "to place upon the market only a limited or specific quan"tity of any natural or staple product, manufactured or "unmanufactured, within a certain period of time, they, "and each of them, shall be guilty of conspiracy within the 66 meaning of the laws of this state."

No. 139. Repealing the law forbidding the taking of lobsters less than ten and a half inches long. An outrageous bill, the result of which will be to destroy one of the natural food supplies of the state. Became a law. Chapter 259, laws of 1887.