The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-22
POLICEMEN'S PAY REDUCED.

WAGES OF PATRoLMEN AND DooRMEN CUT
DOWN TWENTY PER CENT BY THE COMMITS
sIosERs-rHE MATTER TO BE CARRIED TO
THE coURTs-THE POLLING PLACE QUESTION.
The meeting of the Police Commissioners yester-
day was generally understood by the members of the
force to be full of import it sirewdly guessed
that the reduction of pay would form the chief
subject for consideration. According to the laws
of 1866 the salaries of the force were to be
reduced twenty per cent the
rency would attain par value in gold AZ the BE-
ginning of the present year the resumption brought
the subject up for immediate consideration, CON-
pliance with the law must receive early enforcement
To adjust the matter legally the opinion of the
Counsel of the Corporation was asked. Mr.. Whitney
somewhat startled officials by his view of the case.
According to him discrimination was made in
the law between salary and pay. Salaries applied
Commissioners and their clerical assistants; pay, to
the members of the force. But. according to the let
ter Of the law it the salaries which to be
duced twenty per cent. This opinion was not in ac
corc With that of other legal authorities so 1t was
determined to submit test to the courts to be
judicially passed upon. At the meeting Yesterday
the Commissioners considered what course they
should adopt and the result OF several hours DELHI
eratons was embodied i'll the following resolutions
DOWN.
10 the the Q. e G @ os or Inc ne
requested take early by with the
decision Of the Court Of Appeals at the carries. possible
force Is legally subject deduction of twenty per
& s II Il !; 'ssa
shall DO made with tho deduction Of twenty per from
Laws 81 and that the Treasurer cause the rolls to
established ny said statute
viii the T be asd to s at a
the protest of each member Of the force that the right
Oyo S PaY na, be Of decision of the o0" in ms
Resoved That from and after January 1879 fines i'm,
pay Of members ut the same ratio allowed TO them ON the
According to this decision the pay of patrolmen
will be reduced from 81 200 to $780, and that door,
men from $500 to S72O AS the law of 1866 deter
mines that the pay OF captains and sereeants shall not
be reduced to less than 800 and 400 respectively
these figures have been fixed their pay.
The boards action anxiously awaited by the
members OF the force. and there was considerable
interest manifested in the result OF the meeting \
determination is expressed all sides to test the
validity of the law in the courts and if possible.
avert the reduction.
A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.
After some routine business transacted Com
missioner Smith submitted report the rules and
regulations touching the choice of polling places.
he took exception to the opinion of the Counsel to
the Board. who held that police officer could be
called to account for violating the instructions Of the
Chief of the Bureau Of Elections, because he had
been allowed to issue such for number OF years
without having his authority questioned. 1t
held by the counsel that. although specific
/ oruers We're Issued Dy the Police Board
touching elections, those of the Chief of
the Election Bureau should have equal weight and
their breach should be punishable q violation Of
the customs OF service. This ruling, founded on
military law. would seem TO imply that there
need for further regulations coming directly from
the Board themselves. General Smith held that
under the rules Of the Department the chief of the
Bureau OF Elections has no right to issue orders to
the captains OF police All orders to the force have
TO be transmitted from the Board to the superin-
tendent and general order is necessary to define the
dutieNof the police in the matter of choosing polling