St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-04
The Aldermanic Committee
on Police Postpone the
Police Ordinance.
Chief Garvin Stated That It's
Passage Would Necessi-
tate a Larger Force,
And Aid. Ingersoll Thought
the Burglars Are Having
an Easy Time.
The Board of Aldermen Will
Consider Many Matters
This Evening.

Inc committee on police from the
board Of aldermen held an interesting
session yesterday. The ordinance iu-
troduced by Aid. Copeland allowing
each member and employe of the police
department one day in seven as holt
day, was considered and discussed at
length. Aid. Ingersoll thought the Or
dinance all right, but doubted the prac-
ticability of the rule. His idea was that
two weeks vacation at one time would
be much better than day off each
week.
Aid. Copeland thought, unless it was
absolutely necessary, man should
have one day out of seven in which he
did not have to work. Chief Garvin
ald not think with the present
force the rule could be adopted
and work satisfactorily, as it would
necessitate twenty-five men being off
each day in the week. Aid. Copeland
said II there were not men enough on
the force to carry out this provision to
have more appointed. Both he and Aid
Jensen were in favor of the ordinance
passing.
Chief Garvin said it would be neces-
sary to have twenty-five or fifty addi-
dItlonal patrolmen to carry out the plan.
Aid. lngersoll was in doubt as to
whether the city could afford to increase
the force at the present time. He was
in favor of the plan of giving members
OF the force days off the same as in other
departments, but wanted to know the
practical effect of the ordinance be-
fore voting for it. There was Ger
talnly need of more patrolmen
in his ward and on st. Anthony hill, as
the burglars were making things very
lively in that district. Aid. Copeland
SAID more men we're needed in his dis
trict, and asked the chief how many
men were on duty in the district
bounded by certain streets in the First
ward.
The chief was evidently at disad-
vantage by not knowing where any of
the streets mentioned were, but he
looked wise and said more patrolmen
were needed in all districts. As to the
rule about days Off in other cities he
was not positive, but thought no such
rule was in operation. Aid. Cullen
thought the increase of twenty-five
men, involving an increased eX-
penditure of $4,000, would be
unwise at this time. The Bell
charter placed the maximum amount
of the expenditures of the police depart
ment at S105, 900, and, as he understood
IL, blo cHllfe amount WOULD De spent
this year.
Chief Garvin said this was correct
statement.
Aid. Cullen thought it better to tet
the department alone as far as HOLIDAYS
were concerned. He had heard no COM
plants from members of the department.
and was in favor of letting the men take
vacations for number of days, as was
now done, whenever the chief con-
sidered 1t expedient. The wages of the
patrolmen, he said, had been raised to
5000 year, and they did not have to
furnish helmets as III other cities. While
he had no objections to allowing the
men holiday if it could be allowed
them, he was opposed to any increase at
this time.
Aid. Hickman said the plan was a
good one, but as the present appropria-
ton would not more than pay the pres
ent expenses he didn't see how any in
crease in the force could be made. Aid.
lngerS0ll suggested that the legislature
at the next session would Increase the
police appropriation and the ordinance
could then be considered. The matter
was laid over until a future meeting.