National Republican., 1888-03-26
rnE POLICE RANK AND FILE.
Where Increase of Pay Should First
be Mahc.


representative of the NATfoSAL RE
rugLIcAN recently stepped into onc of tho
precinct police station houses Just as the
squads were changing duty, and the men
going out were drawn up in front Of the
railing grCceiying their instructions from the
sergeant The scribe paused u moment to
inspect the brave guardians Of the peace in
their blue uniforms and brass buttons, aud
thought flashed through his mind that It was
not such disagrceable employment to he o
whirler Of the baton. But the thought
speedily vanished as he behcld another
member Of the force all covered with mud
enter the station dragginga a drunken colprcd
man after him. The officers face was bleed
ing, while the prisoners head was swollen
from the clubbing that the officer had been
Obliged TO resort to in order to stblue his
quarrcling propensities. To gnily walk
the streets, swinging q baton and flirting
with the girls on the beat, would he nice
enough, but the latter phase of the police
mans LOT destroyed the charm Of the calling
and removed all envy of the cop.
After seeing the squad start out on duty
the reporter entered the sitting room, where
| these that had just come off were resting
| Themselves. As be entered the door the
u
| force attracted his attention. lie seemed
much IN earnest, and the scribe inquired the
cause Of his agitation, saying, "What is the
| matter" "What Is the mattcr!n said he,
"Why, enough Is the matter! Look at that
articlc,n and he held up II newspaper which
! devoted nearly page to the history Of the
| force. "Do you call that Il history Of the
/ foiccg Not by a long shot. Do those fifteen
/ men whose pictures Hdorn that page COM
! prise the whole Metropolitan police force Of
| this city? Where are the privates, the men
| who do the work? See, they get their
names in the paper and that is al. Then,
/ again, To read that article one would think
| that those men were the only ones that suf-
! fer from being poorly paid, and the poor,
| dear creatures ought to have their wages
! raised. Oh, my! | wonder they don't re-
signn lie became short of breath at this
| time, and the reporter was given chance to
| yet word in.
Drawing q chair up beside the latter the
| veteran told his story, and the other mem
! hers of the force setting around the room
nodded their heads in approval of his com
| plants. II appears that each policeman had
| subscribed To take from three to ten copies
Of the paper, which was TO contain history
| of The force. When II came they found, tn
| their surpise, that it. contained nothing but
| complimentary notices of the officers and
gave their pictures, the prvates and ser
ecants' names only being given The arti-
! Gle urged that the officers pay should he
! increased, hut omitted the others. This was
! tCo much for the veterans, and they had
/ lust been having an Indignation meeting IN
! tho absence of the lieutenant Rain or shine,
hot or cold, day or night they are obliged to
attend to their duties, and some of them
have very large beats to cover, while the
/ lieutenant is furnished horse and buggy (ii
he has large precinct) to ride arOunfin,
and at night goes home to his bed, well
/ knowing that The scrgcants, who are taken
/ from the ranks and given the emuniifcert ad-
dition OF 80 per month to their salary, will
! conduct the duties us well as If he were
i present
The pay OF the sergeant is very inadequate
/ for the duty he performs. and the response
bilty placed npOn his shoulders when he il
! promoted to his position is worth more than
The sum given. Many Of them would bt
! glad to return to their old place in the ranks
were II moi that they hope some day to have
enough "pulf' to step into the coveted bertl
of a lieutenant, with the horse and Other
incideutals that go with the position. Next
to the sergeants come the 800 per montl
priyatCs, and then the $i5 per month ones
Although their pay is not enough for the
duties they have to perform still the ma
iOrity seem satisfied with their lot Mex
below them in rank come the station
keepers, and they are by all odds the poorest
paid class They are compelled To he 0i
duty twelve consecutive hours aud have ful
charge of the station house, prisoners, ant
property IN the absence of the sergeant ant
lieutenant. They also keep all the books u
tie precinct, and receive the muniilccnt sulI
Of SO per month for their laber.
If there is TO he any increase in compcnsa
tion the men believe that those who do tn
real work should he the first To have tn
lencfit Of the increase, or ut least have al
equal increase with the officers. They ar
all agreed that the two classes that shoul,
lie first increased are those of the station
keepers and scrgcants. Not Il word wa
heard from any of them detractlng from thei
superior officers ability, but they all scrnr,
to feel the slight cast upon them.