The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-29
THE ALDERMEN.
Opposition to the Reduction in the Pay
of Policemen and Firemen.
GIVE TIE LABORER HIS DUE.
A Reduction in the Salaries Of Not Over
worked Officials Advocated

1879 was held yesterday afternoon. The Board was
rallied to precisely two O'Clock by the Presi-
dent, Mr. JORDAN L. MoTT, and when the roll was
rallied by Clerk Patterson all the members, except
Messrs Shells and Slevin, answered to their names.
The services of several policemen were required to
keep in the large crowd of persons who occu-
pied seats in the lobby. The fact that Mayor
Cooper would not send in any for
the positions in the Police Board served to keep
AWAY the meeting the politicians and friends OF
the many candidates for the Police Commissonership
1t had been whispered about during the early part
of the day that effort would be made to have set
of resolutions passed protesting against the passage
by the State Legislature of bill now before the As
semby providing for the reduction of the salaries Of
policemen iremen and school teachers and when
Alderman Robert Hall introduced the following all
the members OF the Board listened very atten-
lively
WHOLESALE REDUCTION ADVOCATED
Whereas this Common Council, being fully Of the
rcrenciment IN the expenses Of our local
il the administration Of the affairs Of its sewers. depart
tomplished without reduction being made in the salaries
present paid 70 the members OF the Fire aud Police do
hereinafter specified and therefore opposed TO the
the this % excepting by the
Resolved the salaries of all employees and officials
OF the city and county of New York in all the public de-
teachers excepted with the salaries
salaries paid to members Of the Board Of q the
and less than that annum be reduced ten per cent?
han per
her cent and IL is hereby further ~
Resolved That wages all employed by
New York ANY Of the ssi Ss IS p or a f o nS
days wora days work to consist OF nine hours and be
Resolved That Council, representing peo
pie this city their local hereby earnestly
q this State which viii any reduction made
nI p h"o n ees as set tho forth the
above resolution; and be il further
by this Common Council its clerk be hereby directed
90 be s the the
Senate and the Speaker Of the assembly Of this state for
of the municipal authorities Of the city of
thai body contemplating reduction Of all salaries
paid the city employees ana ocias named in the foregoing
DEBATE RESOLUTIONS.
When the reading of the resolutions finished
there burst of applause from the laborers and
others present, and it was some time before order
could be restored After quiet had been established
the author Of the measure and moved its adop
tion but before the motion put Alderman BURNS
moved the reference of the whole matter to the Com
mittee Railroads.
Alderman SAUEn said he could not see the
siy such resolutions. his colleague. Mr. Robert
Hall. sincere. why didn't he request the Legisla-
ture to law increasing the wages of laborers
employed by the departments He should be aware
IF the fact that the Common Council had no power
whatever to increase the wages. In fact concluded
Mr. Sauer, II consider the whole matter merely piece
of buncombe."
Alderman ROBERT HALL his feet in
instant and with great emotion said that he hoped
the gentleman (Aldcrman Saucr would withdraw tho
word .'buncombe." which he had used in the course
Of his remarks He could assure them that the reso
utions from his heart and not in any
q party measure They were not buncombe ut all
So far he could see everything had been done to
grind the poor man. and it solely because of this
fact that he was led to offer the resolutions He sim
cerely hoped that tile expression used by his col
league would be taken back Mr.. Hall then resumed
his seat and looked at Alderman Sauer il expect
ing him to withdraw the obnoxious EXPRESSION but
the latter gentleman remained silent.
President MoTT here called Alderman Morris to the
chair. ana, after stepping down the floor of the
chamber, he said IL opposed to the resolution
and hope 1t will not be adopted by the Board. There
are portions of it that approve Of but in the main
] am opposed to the measure. am in favor OF
ducing salaries. but am also in favor Of taking
OF the rich and poor alike don't want to cater to any
influence possessed by any class OF men. All have
rights and should be protected"
Alderman BURss-l would like to ask the gentle
man whether a can fll his stomach on So day
President MOTT think they can; have num-
Der of men in my employ who can do IL.
REMARKS OF ALDERMAN ROBERTS
Alderman RoBERTs attempted to speak on the
lutions. but he interrupted by Alderman strack.
y
was not debatabe. Mr.. Roberts said he hoped fur
thor debate would not be choked off, but Mr.. strack
still persisted. Finally the move- of the motion to
refer withdrew It, and Alderman Roberts 81
I'm in favor of reducing all the higher salaries paid to
persons employed under the city government. but
am not in favor of reducing the hardearned pay of
policemen and hrcmen. 1t has become fashionable
to talk about retrenchment. but let the
who talk about the subject, reduce tho salaries OF
persons receiving exorbitant amounts for little no
work. 1t is wrong to think about lowering the pay
OF such noble aud self sacrificing public
policemen
the lace or the earth body of men who do more TO
their wages than the patrolmen.. They receive
is not too much for their services for out of
ths amount they have got to pay for clothes;
TO all these the taken of their
salaries by fines. which amount III differ
ent from ten to thirty days pay. People
may say that it is not necessary for Thorn TO subject
themselves to these fines; but can say that in the
II is almost impossible for policeman to escape vio-
iating OF them and thereby subjoctng himself to
not only fines, but dismissal. II member of the
force is sick hreequarters his pay is taken from
him. and he gets only a fourth of what hc would
rssn md o ne u h ws lives arc pe eo
tinually willing to do so no money can adequately
compensate them for the sacrifice As an instance Of
the dangers encountered by the policemen look ut
the that occurred only the other day, where
officer obliged TO take pistol from the hands of
m insane But the whole history Il the force
IL full OF even striking examples heroism and
daring displayed by patromcn. Who suppressed the
great riots that have from time to time this
city? IL was the police force that did no, not
with pistols in their hands and bullets In muskcs,
but with their clubs. Then look at the poor fire.
men. They stand beneath the flames aud risk their
lives. regardless OF their wives and little ones ut
home. Not that they not thinking of them. but
they that In order to support their families IL
is necessary for thc to 20 into danger and yet per-
talk about reducing the salaries OF these men,
who protect not only the property but even tho lives
Of the citizens OF the great city of New York. IL this
city paupcr city that 1t cannot afford TO pay decent
Salaries. especially the hardearncd wages of the fire.
men. who at best receive 81 200 for their
THE LADonIn wohrny OF HIS HIRE.
Alderman BURNS (intcrruptng)--Does not the
Board of Fire Commissioners give its employees when
Arst appointed only $500 yeary
Alderman KoBEnTs-I don't know. but II they do
am in favor OF giving them 300 year. am not In
favor of paupcrizng tn. poor man. because IL you
pauperiD the inasscs--the workingnen-you pau
pcrizc the nation. pauper cannot be free man,
and yet IL is such persons that have the right TO
and say who shall occupy Office in the city state aud
withhold from "A ma ueuue Of