The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-19
Municipal Government in England and the
Unlled States.


United States.
Editor Of The Times.
Sir,-Haying instituted comparison be-
tween the management Of the two bust
ness undertakings OF the Richmond City
Council, the gas and water works and the
management OF similar undertakings by
the corporation Of Huddorsheld, ana DEM
Onstrated. 1 think conclusivcly the fail
ure Of the city authorities here 20 con-
duct the same proftably and with bust
ncsslike management, 1 propose now 20
compare the cost and management OF the
strictly municipal work OF the two c0rpo-
rauons; that Is 20 say. the cost OF pre-
serving order and executing the laws.
the prevention officers, the cost and man.
agement Of the financial affairs OF the TWO
cities. and the cost and management OF
the city hall wherein this business ia
transacted. in this article / propose 10
deal only with the cost OF preserving
order.
In Huddcrsheld. a town covering an
area OF u .2jS acres. with population OF
10000 people. the number OF police OF
all ranks is 1l2 men, including the fire
brigade Of tWcnty-three men. VINO 90
duty both as policemen and as nrcmen.
The total grus5 cost of maintaining this
and an expenses Tor the dincrcnt police
stations in the various sections OF the
town, was for tho year ending 5lst or
III -ch, lo35 l09l2N pounds, or 1851.
Sundry small receipts for services render
ed and for rent of property belonging 10
the police department reduced this cost
10 ,53.2iS. OF this total the town pays
$a3.0l3 and the national government pays
$2O.l5. Boo En-nnd the national govern
mcnt recognizes that it is one of the
first duties OF government 90 preserve
order and enforce respect for the law
and it therefore pays a proportion of the
cost Of an the police forces maintained
by local authorities throughout the coun-
try. The excess of the cost of any police
force beyond the amount paid by the
national government may Doe taken 20
represent the cost Of the necessary force
required 20 enforce obedience 10 the
ordinances or bylaws Of the local au-
thoritics and The regulation OF traffic on
the streets and other local services AS
no such assistance is here given by tho
State or nation the comparison az cost
OF policing the two cities must be made
with the net cost Of the force i'm Huddcrs-
field without the national allowance.
Taken iu this way the annual cost 0t the
Huddershcld force is SJ32lS or Si1j per
capita. Every man who enters the force
becomes entitled TO "a pension when dis
ahled by age or accident. or after n GER
tain number Of years service UNI ass for
feitcd by bad conduct. The fund 10 pro-
vide these pensions is accumulated by
one per cent. reduction from each mans
pay ana ~ the appropriation 10 tnat
purpose OF an fees and fines earned by
the police and by an annual grant from
the national government OF about SO
per capita OF the force. The capital Of this
pension fund az Huddersheld now
amounts to $50 705. which is invested I'm
interest-bearing bonds. The pensions now
payable 10 disabled or old policemen
amount 10 81 90 uer year and the sur
plus income is every year added 10 the
capital I'm the year under consideration
50 $40 was thus added This pension FUND
is great inducement 90 men % enter
the service. The police force of NJ men
is fully adequate TO the needs of the
town and 20 the requirements of TIE
fire department. and the best of order is
maintained and law-breakcrs are certain
OF immediate detection and punishment.
The policemen are enlisted from eligible
candidates from any part OF the country
without any regard 90 their political views
and after they join the force the men are
not permitted TO vote or take part IN
any political movements The CHIEF or
police has for many years not been pro-
NOTED from the local force. but has been
selected from the most eligible candidates
who have replied % an Advertisement
He is paid a salary OF 5000 per year
Let us now compare the police establish
mcnt OF the city of Richmond with this
showing
I'm Richmond. a city covering am area
of j23 acres and with a population ESTE
mated az about 10000 people. we have
a police force of 100 men. The cost OF
this force TO the city I'm the year ending
3lst OF January. 1896. was 500 3sl.g3. or
$i5113 in excess OF the cost OF the force
FOO Huddcrshcld. The average cost OF each
policeman was thus }93 per year. or
more than twice the cost Of u policeman ion
the town OF Huddershcld. No better class
OF men IS obtained here than serve On
Huddersheld nor is better order MAIN
tanned The area OF ground pltr0lled here
is not onc-third of that covered by the
Huddcrsheld police The natural inference
from this is that we have here either a
police force much in excess of the needs
of the city or that We have here "a much
more lawless people. We resent the latter
imputatlon and. | think. with Justice and
the former enc must therefore stand. We
have am excessively larGo police force
and IL is I'm my opinion much oycrpald
when comparison is made with the pre-
vaillug rate of wages paid TO white men
of like ability DOB the private employment
Of the citizens 70 pay au ordinary patrol
man salary MS large as is paid 10 "a man
filling a responsible position in q situation
requiring that .ho holder shall have had
a liberal education and bc capable OF con-
Quoting business undertakings OF mlgui-
tude and requiring the exercise or ludG-
meut and critical ability is I'm my opinion
am injustice. Whilst always willing tnat
Drawn shall receive n fair Iemuncrd-
tiOu based upon The average rate or
wages current in the locality for labor;
brains being a much less common COM
modify than Drawn ought 10 receive
much higher reward. From what J know
OF the rate OF wages paid 10 those VINO
have TO depend upon their brains for their
living I'm this city ] venture 90 say mat
the labor OF the police patrolman here Is
largely ovcr-paid and that If the pay
master was "a private citizen instead OF
the city treasury police force in every
way as efficient as She one We now nave
could be enlisted here at very much
nearer the rate paid in Huddershold. L
am certain that this could be done az
rate not exceeding one-half more than
the Huddersdeld rate, and il this were
done and the numbers Of the force re-
duced so as 20 bear closer relation 10
the area patrolled a great saving could be
made 10 should be borne bon mind that
service in the police force is a permanent
F.H d