The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-12
Our city Police-Increase or Salary.

The members of the police department presented
petition 10 the Common Council, asking for an increase
of pay which was duly accepted and referred to the a
propriste committee to report thereon.
When this petition first presented, we were dis
posed to believe that the policemen already recsiv
ing reasonable compensation for their services, butt on
investigating the matter taking into consideration the
increased price Of provisions and house rent to-
geher with the ardsous duty they have to PERFORM will
be but justice for the Common Council to take favorable
notice OF their application and award them some pecu-
mary relief. We have taken the pains to ascertain
the actual duty required to lie performed by policemen
during forty eight hours.
On patrol duty from sunrise to eight o'clock ";
duty reserve in the station house. from nine AN to
twelve o'clock patrol from O'Clock NJ to sunset;
from eight to twelve NJ, reserve in the station
house, from twelve O'Clock NJ to sunrise, patrol At
sunrise they relieved post and after returning to
the sationhouse and answering to their names at roll
CALL they permitted to to their respective homes
until sundown but this cessation from duty is generally
interrupted by Ares riots other sudden emergen
cy. In all such cases they are obliged to re-
port themselves at the station house. At sunset,
they 60 patrol duty until IL o'clock NJ, and remain
at the station house until sunrise, whom
they again 60 patrol, and thus pursue the above
named routine of duty from day to day. 1t is true they
have one night in three weeks allowed them to remain
home with their famies but that is subject TO the
contingencies above stated they liable to
be called 1T any hour the Mayor considering police
men to be always on duty.
Again: A policeman, an average during the night,
has under his charge three hundred stores and
dwellings, all Of which he is expected to watch and pro-
tec Now it is evident that for such responsible posi-
tioA the citizens want good reliable men-men not only
Of temperate habits but Of sound moral character
sessng the unlimited confidence Of the public and in
order to the services Of such men, the salary
must be made object to induce men Of responsibility
and character to accept the Office And how Insignificant
does increase Of few thousand dollars appear to this
great city, compared with that feeling Of safety naturally
to be felt by the community, all the members Of
police composed Of such men "a We have alluded to
And while willing to acknowledge that
there many good and efficient mon already
connected with tho department-msn Who are
In every way worthy Of the respect and esteem Of their
fellow citixens-there are some, we must Confess who
wholly unit for the duties devoved upon policeman
and who from variety Of circumstances have not the
respect confidence Of those whose interests are for
the time being entrusted to their But this evil
can and viii be hereafter rectaed the ordeal through
which all applicants have to pass, added to which,
the rigid enforcement Of discipline maintained in
the department. viii doubt in future meet the expec
tations Of the public.
put into Office unless they physically and
ally qualified to discharge the duties and then pay them
. salary whereby they support themselves and iam
lies in comfortable manner, holding them at all times
to rigid accountability for the faithful discharge Of
their duty applying always in every Of derelcon
Of duty, prompt punishment
One Of the assigned by the petitioners for AJAX
ing increase Of salary is the high prices of provisions
ard the e1orbitant amount they have to pay
e. ~lol
that it requires at least onethird more to sup
port family in this city at the present time than
it did six years ago, which circumstance
certainly reasonably under consideration Be
sides. the policeman exposed to al weather. and
quenty fequires greater quantity Of clothng they
also subject to have their clothing destroyed by
attending at fires and by attacks made them by ruff
fans and drunken rowdes.
The very nature Of polcenans duty exposes his life
and limb coming In contact with the midnight burglar
the prowng desperado Several Of the policemen have
already lost their lives in the discharge Of their duty
others again, disabled perhaps for life, from the
Taking into consideration the small number of police.
men (say $500 actual duty At time, during the
night each patroman having to guard eight ten
blocks it is wonder that great metropolis is pro.
tected well We find 1t to be.
is to be hoped that the committee to whom the petit
ton referred will look favoraby into the application
as BY doing justice to the policemen they will be aGordng
that protection to the community much needed.
The British Frigate Leander.
The officers and men Of the Leander were busly en-
gagged during yesterday in putting their vessel into
"shp shape" When this necessary duty is complete
many Of citizens win have opportunity Of seeing
her as che should be seen.
Lord Elesmere far recovered from his illness
to be able to come ashore yesterday when he visited the