The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-01
RALPH DAVIS'S BILL
TO INCREASE THE PAY OF THE Po-
= LICE AND FIREMEN.
The Discussion Before the Senate Com
mittee Vigorous opposi-
tion by Messrs. Hadden and Petit


Senate Chamber: The Hon. w. w. Nc
Dowell, chairman, and Messrs. Myers
and Pyatt, OF the committee. The mem
bers OF the committee absent were
Messrs. Moody and Burns, Mr.. Hale, who
is at the bedside OF sick son in New
York, and Mr.. Hodges, who has been too
i'll 10 be present in the Senate for two
weeks. II was the first meeting held by
this committee and then there was not
quorum present
The bill which the committee was called
10 consider was the House bill OF Mr..
Davis, OF Shelby, 10 increase the salaries
OF the policemen and iremen OF Memphis,
1t passed third reading in the llousc by n
vote Of about 20 to 4, and after passing
second reading in the Senate was referred
Ia &c Committee ON Corporations, OF
which Mr.. Mcdowell is chairman. Tho
bill proposes TO make the salaries Of the
Chiefs Of Police and Fire Department not
less than $3.50 per month, the Assistant
Chief Of Fire Department not less than
SIPS. the Captain OF Police not less than
Sl25; Police Sergcants aud Fire Captains
ut not less than SllO, the engineers, fire.
men, police clerk, detectives and day sta
tion-keepcr at not less than 500; the night
keeper aud turnkey mt not less than SO
each.
Mr.. Davis, the author of the bill, and
Mr.. Odlum, an earnest supporter OF tho
bill, were present at the meeting, ns were
also President -. T.. lladdcn and Maj.
Petit, two of the three Police Commls.
Hioners who are opposed TO the passage OF
the bill, and the ArrrAL correspondent.
An hour was spent In discussing the meas
urc, aud an adjournment was finally taken
until about the 18th Of February ut u
time 10 suit the convenience OF the parties
Interested.
Mr.. MADDEN was called on 10 address
tho committee on the bill, aud did 40,
setting forth his objection 10 IL. and urging
that Il be not passed lie said that lao
would not oppose the bill II the salaries Of
the police and ircmcn had not been uisoi
from $50 10 SD since ho came into Office.
OF all the legislation lac ever saw, this was
the first time he over saw the passage OF
n bn attempted To- place the minimum
amounts OF salaries. Tho passage Of tho
bill would increase the expenses OF the
Memphis Government $1,000 lie and
others had worked all night on the budget
hill, after being defeated in the efforts 10
obtain n levy OF - 90 and had set aside
$4,000 for the Police and So, coo Tor the
Fire Department II the bill To increase
the salaries passes he could not tell whore
he would gct the money TO pay the men.
lie would hate to have To call Ito men
up aud discharge onc-cighth Of them,
yet he would have that 10 do II
the bill passed. The matter resolved itself
a. "A.
present force present salaries or pay fewer
increasing the salaries u they could afford
II. hut M that WIS an impussihility, hc was
In favor Of continuing the salary list as u
h. lie had heard ol No dissatisfaction
among the police or iirrmen. Some IT the
men had told him that thcv knew nothing
of the hill that had been introduced aud
knew not who iaihCrcd H. There were
lots Of men who would take the places of
the present iotcc II They were dissatisfied.
last wear there WIS a deficit OF $4,000 in
the police department aud 5000 In lire
department The money could not be-
raised 10 increase the salaries now. lie
paid high tribute to both departments,
saying that they wcru the best In the
world. Ills salary had been Increased : 4,
uOO, " was true. but Il ought Ia have boon
increased $3.50 OF si,ulN. llRughlctl
la order Ia hill the force nt one point ia
Mr.. llaldcn's Argument Mr oiluu
asked him that, VI n we're true that th,
passage oi the ball would decrease the lurrc
would not the men be- here Clnmorng {,
defeat the hll7
Mr. MADDEN said that he supposed thcy
would.
Mai. Petit addressed the commiuc,
next IN opposition TO the bill. saying that
unly So much money WIS gwen them &
carry on the departments. With that de
felt Ut sl3,ul1 how could ihoy meet Oh,
payment ui the increase asked iuf' ~,
estimated the taxable property Of Mem
ribs at -. uun.uuO. Those iayufing th,
hiil at 80. Ou.OUl M. Davis was a 81 Gl
man. lie bad hIs eye on this gun ut that
time They had 10 limit thc expenses o
the city to the receipts u was the fault
ol the people that there was not enough
money ~ increase the salaries oi men D.
both departments Mai Petit said that
the Commissioners had ,ndpnyorcd To ~
curc tax levy OF sea, but had been a.
completely whipped ~ ever lac saw an!
one.
Mr.. Pyat, was excused nj this iurclur
on account OF a previous engagement. lcay
ing only Mcssu Myus aud Mcdowell %
the committee.
Mr.. udlum next addressed The commit
tee, saying that all the shelby Delegation
looked on NJ. MADDEN as their father, buI
ai the same time they differed on spmc uc
cnsiufA, and this was one of them. Mr.
llnddvn had made several statement
about What would happen ia tho future
he dealt IN possibilities, altogether IA,
tMr Odluml knew about as much ahuu
the future 10 did MI llaldgn. Mr Had
den would not 80 home AMI turn oil thD
men ~ be- said be would. should the Oh
pass. The people 81 MrmphIs would hav
something 10 say On that point, aud 90,
committee need have ualam. Tho afru
mcnt Ut Mr. MADDEN that mon could b,
obtained az The present price paid was nO
argument ui all against an increase 10
salaries. The men ou the iorcU W0uIH
tiny u thgy only got $40, ia ui
probability But thM was not thD
question. The men are the hps
ON any police Ia any city They are conn
PEELED 10 wear expensive clothes Ih,
iirvmcn only have twelve DAYS boz each yga
vacation, and then have 20 attend hrp
one occus. The point Of Mr. lladdri
that cheaper men could b. obtained dIO
not enter into tlc controversy. Hundred
oil nga Ia tennessee could be- elected VIII
would sit Ia tie House aud senate Withou
dollars compensation aud who WoulD
agree 20 80 Ia prison II they rode on lru
pass. Was that any reason why legislator
should receive lus pay2 Mr. Ollum bell
luut Mamuhla H. Ia ur.ttIufs atfV vUN ttt..I.