The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-05
GOSSIP OF ADAY
Policemen Still Divided in
Their Views.
On Establishment of Substi-
tute Police Force.
Interesting Statement Made by DR..
Palmer Some Years Ago.

That matter OF the establishment OF
q force OF substitute policemen appears
to be as yet in an en- mbryo,ic stage. Pos
sibly those who proposed IL sre TOO busy
jutt at present looking after their politi-
cal fences 10 give 1t further attention,
but there Is every reason TO believe that
II will be brought up again before many
months have passed. On previous oc-
casion the Gossiper gave what he found
10 be the sentiment OF the majority and
the minority OF the mem bers OF the de-
partment on this subject. Later in
quiries show that there has been no
change. The majority still holds to the
opinion that no substitute force is need
ed ana contends that all the extra duty
required can be performed by the force
% at present constituted.
Their claim IL that when a man does
extra duty he should be paid for it. Such
Is not the case at present. When man
is of duty for a day he loses that days
pay while the man who takes his
place, receives nothing additional for
the extra labor performed. III the men who
take the place of others while absent from
duty we're allowed pay for the extra SER
vice rendered, IL is urged there would be
no grum bling or discomfort among the
men. such as exists at present, while
II Ii pointed ont the city would at
all times have men of experience on duty
which would not be the case were sub
stitute force of pstrolmen employed.
The opinion held by the minority con-
tinues TO favor the substitute force
scheme and these who hold II say that a
patrolman who does his regular work
faithfully and conscientiously has about
al he can do efficiently and Is not in
condition TO undertake extra services save
on rare and important occasions whether
he is paid for that extra service or not.
III one were to hear the expressions OF dis
satisfaction that fall from the lips OF some
of the mem bers of the force when notified
OF their assignment to extra duty, he
would be justified In coming TO the con-
clusion that such an assignment was
something of hardship. The minority
cl.ims that the substitute force would
be boon to the men and a benefit TO the
city. Tho men would be enabled by it TO
have o days leisure more frequently than
ia now possible, while the city would
have In a short time IN the substitutes a
reserve force OF police that would prove
OF the greatest value In cases of emergency.
In this connection the Gossiper recalls q
statement made by Police Surgeon Palmer
some ears ago. Chief Gross was the first
to employ physician to examine police
men reported as too i'll for duty to seer
tain whether or not they were really sick
or only shammirg. This innovation
proved to be OF the highest value and
the number of days sickness of police
men had marked decrease under
II. The shirkers, of course, were the
ones most seriously affected, as 1t was in
tended 1t should be, but the espionage of
. police surgeon proved in no way irlx-
some to the patrolman welt and anxious
to do his full duty. 1t was wbiie talk
ing on this subject of sickness, real and
feigned, on the part OF policemen that
DR.. Palmer took occasion to speak favor
ably OF the establishment of a force sof
substitutes.
He h. d msde the statement that a good
deal OF sickness among policemen was