Telegram-herald., 1890-09-27
PAY or LONDON POLICEMEN

PAY OF LONDON POLICEMEN
Intsr~sti4x Faets Regarding TIE L0ndOn
'.feeisr'' 4nd the ss~ York Cop"
A noticeable feature Of the Free-traas
propasaadism now actively being con
ducted throughout tie United States Is
the reckless manner in which preposter-
eusly absurd statements are made b.
those whose sagerness 10 convince the
people that Protection Is a unmitigsted
evil overbalances the natural reluctance
which men usually have 70 being placed
on record a. authority for statements
which have no foundation IA fact. The
most frequently recurring absuTdity Is
perhaps the one which maintains that
is higher than in England. yes the real
wages Of labor Is not, owing 10 the
greater efficaency Of American workmen.
Again and again Protectionists have an
swered by pointing 10 the difference in
the rates for field work. where equal
amounts Of labor IN the two countries
receives widely Offering rewards.
The facts brought out by the late
strike OF the English police have given =
new glimpse At another phase Of the
question, viz, the Joy Of English police.
Their wretched condition. when com
pared with that Of American policemen,
affords an llustration Of the great diff
ference between the British and Ameri-
can standards of wages-i G., the pay
given for similar and equivalent services
in both countries Below are extracts
taken from The New York Times, pa
per always anxious TO hide or extenuate
the damning facts OF the deplorable con-
dition OF labor in Free-trade England,
for it appreciates their force as irrefuta-
ble arguments against its own Free
trade doctrines.
The Times correspondent in speaking
OF the London police says:
The policeman thero reos,nbles the
New York officer in little beyond hi, au-
thority and the wearing OF a uniform and
insignia In respect of discipline, esprit
de corps, chance Of promotion, pay and
public respect. the 'peeler' is the in
ferior Of the cop, and no parallel can
be established between them.
The London policemen were i'll paid,
and finding no other method Of renon-
STRANGE or coercion they struck ike SO
many trades unionists. The Justice of
their cause appears incontestable. There
are Ave grades of constsbles, and the
i g.
mean Of see month.
Few American visitors TO London have
failed to notice how alert is the bobby.
not only in the pursuit Of the 'nimble
sixpence, but the plebeian penny as well.
London officers will do many services
that New York policeman would scorn
to perform, such as holding horses and
parcels, running of errands and making
purchases.
The most common illustration Of how
the London policemen exc ont a living
is 10 be had at the popular street cross
ings. Il is odd to a New Yorker 10 see
women, and often -nen, on nearing one
hunt for a small coin. generally penny
and give il 70 the officer after he has
acted as pilot among the vehicles and
through the slush."
The same writer describes the lot OF
the New York policeman thus:
''Once in the third grade. at a salary OF
$1,000 per annum, the policeman knows
that the future has the following chances
and advantages for him:
"First-Second grade at 81 100 per an.
num-
"Second-First grade at 81 200 per an
num-
"Third-Promotion TO roundsman. ser
geant. captain, Inspector aud superin.
tendcnt.
The London policeman has no such
advantage. Every New York superin.
tsEdent exccot Messrs. Kennedy and
Martsell rose from the ranks TO a salary
Of $500 a month. The pensions OF tht
London police are sure, but ridiculously
small. The highest is for a oontinuou,
service Of twenty wears. and is two
thirds of the pay. This for first clas,
constable would amount 20 less thar
$50 week"
The above is recommended to the care
ful consideration Of Free-traders Of every
shade and stripe, for we submit that ir
this case st least no mo difying consider
atoms IS todiTerent degrees Of efficiency
can be sdduced 70 explain away the mis-
ersble remuneration Of labor which i,
customary in the only country wher,
Free-trsde has had an opportunity {.
work 70 its logical results