The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-27

The police contributions to the fund for
political purposes which is a new name
for the Free Library Fund" are being
collected with so much difficulty that the
extortion promises to be short lived.
If every member of the Police Depart
ment who has declared his intention to
refuse to contribute to the fund with a
new name, keeps his word, less than one
half the amount expected will be real
ized. If this result Is obtained, the sys-
tenn will at once develop such character
of blackmail that it will kill itself.
There are 221 patrolmen In the depart
ment, and the Chief, Inspector, Captains,
Sergeants and roundsmen bring the total
up to about 260. If each man were to
hand up s. to be used for political pur-
poses, the result would be s., ,250. This
total would be increased by larger con-
tributions from the men who rank above
patrolmen. 1t Is estimated that about
one-half the patrolmen, or about 100,
will refuse to contribute.
This number does not include the fifty
odd men who serve under Captain Far
rier in the First precinct whose money
is secure in his hands for the use of the
politicians. as Captain Farrier refused to
obey orders and give each man back his
Is after the scandalous Free Library
Fund" fraud was exposed by the Jour
nal"
In order to ascertain what steps have
been taken by those who have charge
of the Police Department to collect money
from the rank and file. journal report
ers have interviewed numbers of patrol
men and it is disclosed that for the past
few days, as the men were lined up in
the several station houses, excepting the
First of course, they were Informed that
they were expected to contribute 'for
campaign purposes
The order was supplemented by the in
formation that the men should" hand
over their contributions to the sergeant
at the desk.
The police officials have declared that
in no case has any member of the depart
ment who declined to contribute to the
Free Library Fund" been transferred,
hounded or molested in any way, but the
stories told by numerous policemen do
not agree with the statements of the men
who govern the department.
One case the journal investigated
leaves no doubt that q man was har-
rassed because he refused ito yield to the
He was driver of patrol wagon at
the time he was asked to contribute He
{
taken from the wagon. but was trans
ferred to another precinct.
The next year he contributed and was
sent back to his old precinct.
1t would not be to the interests of this
man for the journal to disclose his
name while there remained disposition
on the part of the Police Commissioners
itself 1t occurred within short time,
and Ut proves that the men have good rea-
son to fear punis shment II they objected to
yruf n
was in operation with the full knowledge
Of the Police Board.
One of these officers said: II will not
give up. | know will be made a mark
er, but | don't care where they send me.
] am tired of and do not think the
Commissioners have any. right to compel
have better use for
Another officer sadd: 1T will be cold
day when l hand up for politics this
year 1 gave my IS because / knew that
If l did not might be sorry. It was re-
turned to me when the Journal took up
the fight for us, and invested the money
good than the money would the politic-
ians. have no objections to contributing
to my own party such as think can aft
ford, but do not believe i Is right to
compel man to give money to party
which would take the first opportunity
to deprive him of his position
Yes" said an officer attached to the
Fourth precinct, 1--WE have been request ed
to hand up again. 1t isn't the Free Pub
lie Library this time They are honest
for alp1 calnpaign 4 p Ign purposes this time, but
dom propose to hand up. I'll be damned
If give any money. and they can pound
me as much as they choose"
$50 the Commissioners say there is no
compuision about contributing said an
other bluecoat;, .'Weii. maybe there
ao sn pomy p We up w We M ssand az mat sxsesns
dhance OF being transferred and pounded.