The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-30
POLICE MAKE MERRY!
The P~atrolmen's Benevolent
Association Has Dinner and
Goes to the Theatre.

me first annual convention of the
Pafrolmenss Benevolent Association con-
Guided In Woods Hall last evening with
a dinner ana an entertainment After
the parade, in which more than ave hun
dred members Of the Patrolmenss and
FIremen's Benevolent Associations took
part. the guests repaired to Woods Hail.
where a reception committee Of twenty
pafroimen was in waiting to receive them.
Inside and out the hall was profusely
decorated with flags ana bunting, and the
temporary platform which had been erect
ed was almost hidden from view in palms
and potted plants. The local members
Of the association were extremely gene
rous and courteous and attentive to the
visitors.
William Keefe. Of this city. who is pre-
sldenf OF the State Association, was here.
there and all over, and with a corps Of
able assistants he made everyone feel at
home.
The exercises in the afternoon opened
with a prayer by the Rev. Dr.. johnson.
an honorary member Of the New York
Firemen's Association. Mr.. johnson is a
wealthy gentleman who never allows an
opportunity to increase the comfort of the
firenen to pass. He paraded at the head
Of the line with his New York friends
yesterday.
Mayor Wanser was the first speaker in
troduced. He was escorted to the plat
form by Frank Bennett. while the band
played Hail to the Chief
After extending to the visitors the free
dom Of hi city he remarked good natur-
edly that 1t was probably useless to do
50 as no guest stood much chance of be-
ing arrested or interfered with, as nearly
every policeman i'll town was in the hall.
The Mayor said that ne favored the band
ing together of men when benevolence
was their object, and he expressed the
wish that the formation of the PATROL
mems Benevolent Association will be pro-
diletive of much good, both to the mem
bers of the order and to the public. He
complirnented the members of the Police
and Fire Departments and said it gave
him pleasure to say that from the point
Of efficiency neither department can be
surpassed by any city in the country.
Concluding, the Mayor advised the patrol
men that If any of their members became
too boisterous they would have to lock
one another up, as he was sure no out
side policeman would interfere. The
Mayor retired amid tremendous applause.
Speeches were also made by State Dele
gate Enoeh Perry, former President Cliff
ford, of the New York Firemen's Asso-
citation; Police Captain Cox, Colonel Rob-
inson, clerk Of the Police Board; Alexan-
der Young. John Lucas of Elizabeth,
State Treasurer Vaughn, Daniel s. Nc
Mahon, secretary of the Jersey City Fire
mems Benevolent Association; ohm Mar
nell of Hoboken, President Mills of the
Fire Board and Patroiman Frank Mono
han. The speeches were all i~audatory Of
the object of the association.
Chief of Police Murphy interested the
policemen and fremen with an account
ing the passage 2 the tenure of office law.
In speaking of the Patrelmen's Benefit
Association he said he favored it and fa-
vored its object. He said that ne hoped
the association would grow and become
as prosperous as the members could de-
siTs
by Thomas Toner, Sergeant Battersby,
Charles Solomon, Timothy Murphy and
President Keefe. John Keefe presided at
the piano.
Supper was served at five o'clock. and
at min O'clock Chairman Frank Bennett,
of the Committee of Arrangements, and
his first assistant. William Luyster, an
ounce that $50 men had eaten.
In the evening an excellent entertain
ment was furnished by the talent from
the Bon Ton Theatre, under the superyi-
sion of Fred Tiller.
In speaking of the session President
William Keefe said:-"This Is our first
public meeting. Our organization is q
young one, and while we have a member
ship of more than six hundred in the va
rious cities in the State we will soon have,
| hope, every patrolman on our member
snip roll We merely want to help and
protect ourselves and our interests the
best we can. In sickness we assist one
another, and in the case of the death of
to the family.
Our dues are small and are such that
any patrolman can well afford to be in
our ranks. On behalf of the association
wish to thank those merchants and citi-
zens who decorated their houses for our
benefit. 1t was q courtesy that pleased
all the local members of the order and
attracted the attention of our visiting
f~riends.''
The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association
IS conducted or exactly the same prin-
ciple as the Police Mutual Aid Society,
except that its members arc patrolmen
The fact that the order has a member
of more than six hundred active
members is due to the untiring efforts of
Keefe.