The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-06
Patrolmen's State Associa-
ton at Trenton Discusses
Matters of Interest
to the Men.
WILL TRY AGAIN FOR PENSIONS
A Reception and Banquet, at Which
Prominent Men Speak, Hap
PLY Closes the Meeting.
Especial 10 "The Jersey city News."]

men as ever came to Trenton were the
delegates. They came from fifteen cities
of the State, and numbered forty-two
men.
AS told in yesterdays Jersey City
News the convention was opened with
the annual address of President William
f. keefe of Jersey City, who spoke OF
the rapid growth of the association during
the past year. One year ago there were
800 representatives in the organization,
while now there are LOCO. The report
of Secretary John H. Sanderson, of New
ark, was also presented, u none of its
contents was made public.
The most important business was the
consideration of a policemen's pension
bill, which it is again proposed to pre-
sent to the Legislature this year. Since
their bill was vetoed by the Governor,
the policemen nave been quietly work.
ing for the Introduction of a second bill.
which it is expected will be drawn on
lines similar to that of the Firemen's
Pension bill, which received the sanction
of the Governor.
Preparations were also made looking
to the organization of smaller cities.
The following officers were elected
i 1ICSiiciil, JdlItSS e.. GNcEl O1 IdlClSOly
First Vice President, David Walter of
Hoboken; Second Vice President, John
Dale of Camden Secretary, John H.
Sanderson of Newark; Financial Secre-
tary, Thomas p. Nolan of Elizabeth;
Treasurer. John Vaughn of Newark;
Sergeant-at-Arms, M. A. Mclaughlin of
Hoboken.
The delegates and a large number of
invited guests were rendered a reception
and banquet last night, in Turner Hall,
by the local association, the Turner's very
kindly donating the use of their splendid
hall. Stout & Shepherd were the caterers.
and they made a good impression by their
menu and service.
The guests sat down to the table at
nine O'Clock. Mayor Sickel had the post
of honor. At his right was Patrolman
James Smith, president of the local asso-
citation, and Patrolman Richard Pilger,
secretary. The president introduced the
Mayor and Secretary Pilger in a few
happy remarks, when the secretary adj
dressed the gathering as follows:-
II greet you with words of hearty well
come, in the name of the Patrolmen's
Benevolent Association of the city of
Trenton. This banquet, gentlemen, marks
no special event in the history of our as
ISOLATION. but is held, rather, in honor of
the attendance upon a convention of dele
gates of policemen from the various cities
throughout the State. 1t is held to pro-
mote sociabiiity and friendship amongst
our members, while at the same time in
| willingly receive the friendship of all
others whom we honestly can; as you well
know hat we are always pleased to be
on good terms with good people. Singular
as it may seem to you, whilst we are
sworn and paid to protect others, we have
| resolved ourselves into an association to
protect ourselves; not, however, as some
| might infer, to overthrow or defeat the
rules or orders or established discipline
now prevailing in the department; but, on
the contrary, one of our main features is
to inspire in our members a proper OBJ
servance of the rules, that by SO doing
| they may succeed in securing for them
selves a worthy place on the records, in
the minds of their superiors, in the esti-
nation of the people with whom they
come in contact, besides aiding materially
in adding to the good name OF those with
whom they are associated. We are at
tracted to this association, gentlemen,
by reasons not unlike those which at
tract to other organizations. We have
provided for ourselves a death benefit.
~ &AAAR - VAN SAeo HAA0-@
shall designate will receive a certain
stipulated sum. We have provided. also,
in the case of a dismissal of an officer,
which is liable to occur to the best of us,
a sum sufficient to sustain hin at least
until such time as he may be able to pro-
cure other employment, SO that he will
not be relegated to the streets, advanced
in years, broken down in health, without
a dollar in his pocket, dependent upon the
cold charity of this world.
II do not mention these facts in order
to gain your sympathy, but lest some
designing person should take it upon him
self to insinuate that our objects and
sent. | do not propose to weary your
patience by any extended remarks,
recognizing that there are men here.
more capable of entertaining you than
conclusion, and that is | hope that there
is not one here who will allow anything
to hinder or deter him from making this
and this is the wish, also, of our a%ssocia-
ton"
Mr.. Pilger next announced Patrolman
Charles Smith as master of ceremonies.
After the collation. Mayor Siekel was
called upon. Ee Sald.-
II am highly gratitied at having the
pleasure of extending to you the freedom
Of the city. 1t is something out of the
usual course to be able to extend the
freedom of the city to the patrolmans. as
he is usually of a disposition taat makes
him very much at home wherever he
happen to find himself. AsH
IT congratulate you on having organ
lied a Patrolmen's Association, that you
may protect the rights of yourselves and
your families, and | hope that the result
of your deliberations today will be a
benefit to you ALL
There are a great many jokes thrown
ont. in a light way, at the patrolnien of
our cities, but when it comes down to a
serious thought, the policeman's life is
not a happy one; weathering all kinds of
storms, coming in contact with all kinds
Of people, and taking innumerable risks
in capturing lawbreakers,, he earns all he
gets.
aYou should feel gratified and conapli-.
mented in having so many prominent pe0-N
pie present with you onigh and ii is
the best evidence of what they think of
the police departments of the cities of
portant departments in municipal gov
ernnaent, and it is one where the most
rigorous discipline and ~exacti1lg rules are
maintained.
4 assure you, gentlemen that you have
my best wishes; I assure you that + have
trust that may in some way be able to
demonstrate this in Il substantial way"
County Clerk Barker Gummere was
next called upon. and said he sympa-
thized with the trials of policemen, but he
didn't think their life was all trial. He
had seen policemen helping ladies across
the street or putting them in cars, and in
such moments had thought he'd rather
be a policeman than County Clerk, all
though he was now trying to be re-eleet-
ed. The police had the sympathy and
support of the people in their endeavor
to better their condition. 4
Captain p. e Stahi followed in his
usual happy vein, after which Patrolfnan
David Fl. Walsh, of Hoboken, made a
very accentahle address.