The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-22
ABOUT FIVE POLICEMEN.
. THE cRANKS > WIND UP LAST
NIGHTS MEETING IN HOB0KEN.

NAVAA<S MEG440Q IN hVHOA ENe
Talking for two Hours about Five
Policemen, and then giving Twenty
Minutes Consideration OF Senate as,
The new Hoboken Citizens Association
held meeting last night at s o'clock, in
Busch's hotel, to discuss matters, vital to
the interest of their city, now pending be-
fore the Legislature. DR.. Chabert was ap-
pointed Chairman, and Mr.. Rust. Secre-
tary. Assemblyman John G. Besson was
asked to explain the present status of the
bill increasing the police force of the city.
Mr.. Besson stated the object of the bill.
He stated that his object was to learn the
will of the majority, and even that though
they did not coincide with personal views,
he would vote for it. He was willing to
listen to any suggestions coming from the
Association with good deal Of copsidera-
ton. Mr. Besson explained that under the
bill the force need not be increased unless
the city authorities should determine it
necessary, and it was that feature which
had enabled the bill to pass the House.
My own view is" said Mr.. Besson,
ssthat there is no economy in stinting
the police force, and | am perfectly
willing to pay my share of the increased
cost" Mr.. Besson then explained the OBJ
jeet of Senate %, saying that he had been
unable to obtain printed copy of
the bill, as it had caused such widespread
discussion that the printed bills were
all taken before he had been able to get
one He said 81 certainly shall not vote
IN favor of the bill unless / can learn more
about it than know at present" At this
point Mayor Timken rose and asked Mr..
Besson, referring Ito the police
bill, it he could pass it so as to
provide for five policemen to every 5000
inhabit Its. The bill that passed the
House lroyides for one officer to every 500
people. The Citizens Association desired
to have bill passed that would add FIVE
men to the force, but Mr.. Besson explained
that this would be special legislation, and
could not be done. He also told them that
the objection to q smaller number than
one to 500 was that in one city in the State
1t would cut down the police force.
6 would like Mr.. Besson to tell us what
city that is, demanded Mr.. Rust in tone
that indicated that he doubted Mr.. Bes-
sons word
Atlantic City, replied Mr.. Besson in a
quiet, dignifed manner.
Rust then commenced plying the as
semblyman with some more questions in
the same tone as before; until, becoming
exasperated, Mr.. Besson turned and quietly
sat on Mr.. Rust.
g What's the matter with you ?" he asked.
1t appears to me you're getting too smart,
and too cunning. You don't know ANYTHING
about it, MIR. Rust was annihilated. He
had not. ling more to say. Mr.. Boyer said
that the bill in its present shape under the
next census would give the city "a police
men which he declared were too many. sIf
the bill cannot pass amended SO as to give
us five policemen to each 5000 of our
population it better remain as it is. This
would give us force Of so men under the
last and about so snder the new census,
and that is enough"
Mr. Osten said that Hoboken was good
deal more independent than either New
York or Brooklyn. "We can elect
Democratic mayor one year and the next
year give Republican as large majority.
do not believe in mistrusting the Mayor
even to the appointment of ten or dozen
policemen" Mr.. Bayer was afraid if the
bill passed in its present shape every man
allowed under it would be appointed.
Mayor Timken moved to have the bill
amended in the Senate to provide for one
officer to each 3, 900 inhabitants.
Col. Hart was not in favor of an increase
of five to every 5000 inhabitants. 1t was
too many. He wanted the bill amended so
as to allow total increase of only five, or
the withdrawal Of the bill.
United States Assessor Reid didn't be-
ieve either in too many policemen. he
would rather have the matter stand as it
been at the trouble of collecting state
ments showing the proportion of
policemen to populations. Wash
ington has 247 policemen. or to
every 729 inhabitants; Chicago / to 637;
Brooklyn / to 977; Philadelphia to 708;
Pittsburg to 951; Boston to SCI; Cleve-
land to 1858; New Haven to 1926; st.
Louis / to 1922; New Orleans to 657; New
York / to SIT; Newark ! to 900, Jersey
City to 1896 and Hoboken with ! to
every 800 compared favorably with the
rest of the cities.
Mr.. Bayer aid he thought that the Mayor
and Board of Police Commissioners ought
to have trial.
81 wouldn't be Mayor" exclaimed Mr..
Osten, "if couldn't be trusted to appoint
five policemen"
He moved for the question on the
Mayors amendment.
Mr. Reid didn't see why the bill could
not be put through for five as well as any
other number of new policemen. 81 half
suspect" he added, s'that somebody is
throwing dust in our eyes,"
Mr.. Bremmerman was of the opinion
that 45 policemen are not enough for Ho-
boken.
"Tm astounded at the child's play ex-
hibited here tonight, shouted Mr.. Ketch-
am, who next sprang to the floor. 81
wonder whether this Society is to be any
good to this community or miserable
try, child's play spirit displayed
here this evening, I'm disposed to
heartily endorse the sentiment expressed
here before, that we adjourn sine die, and
admits we are babies and not men," Then
he urged it was nonsense to talk about the
possibility of fifteen new policemen, when
all they could get, on the present basis
of population, was five.
Mr.. Reid lectured Mr.. Ketchum for
lecturing the committee, and finally the
Mayors recommendation was adopted
The subject of redistricting the city was
next brought up, but further discussion in
the matter was postponed until it was de-
termined what the Legislature would do
with reference to the two bills in that
direction now pending.
Senate rs was then taken up, and DR..
Quimby and Mrs. DIR. DeHart were intro
duced as sstwo distinguished members of
the Jersey City Citizens Association. The
most distinguished of the two was selected
to spread himself on the dangers of the
measure. He did not say much that was new
however, except that if he was city authority
he might be tempted to make contract in
behalf Of railroad company if million
were showed under his nose. He said, and
justly too, that the Senate had scorned
their petitions on the ground that they
were cranks and kickers." He denounced