The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-01
SURPRISE FOR PATROLMEN
MAY NOT BE OBLIGED TO TAKE
 FOUR WEEKS VACATIONS.

During November and Possibly Last Week in October-Acoumulation of Monthly Vacation Days May be Abol- ished-An Interesting Discussion.
 It now seems probable that the pa trolmen of the police department will be pleasantly surprised in not being obliged to loaf one week month during the remainder of the year From present indications it appears very like ly that there will be no necessity for lay-offs during the month of November and perhaps the last week in October. At the meeting of the police commits sioners held last evening Commissioner Hubbard inquired of Superintendent Wrinn what amount of the funds of the department now remain unexpend- ed. The superintendent stated that the amount was about $37 ,6OO, sum which. under present circumstances, will be about enough to carry the department through the remainder of the year; that is, through September, October and Mo- vember. Superintendent Wrinn fur ther stated that the weekly expenses of the department at present amounted to about $2,S00.
 Under the old charter the fiscal year began on December 1, and the appro- priation for the police department this year was made to cover the expenses of the department from December 1, 1896, to December 1, 1897, and although the next fiscal year. under the new char ter, begins on January 1, 1898, the ex- penses of the police department for the month of December will be provided for from next years taxes.
 Commissioner Hubbard said last eve ming that he did not think it was nec- essary to lay thirty-two men off during the remainder of the year. He figured out that enough of a saving could be made to meet requirements if the lay-offs lasted eight weeks longer and the entire force put on duty dur ing the last five weeks of the fiscal year.
 MT. Hubbard then moved that the board reconsider the former vote taken to lay off every patrolman on the force four weeks, thirty-two men to lay off a week at a time.
 Commissioner Kinney seconded the motion. which was then discussed at length.
 President Ullman said that it would be well to wait until later when, if it is found that the funds on hand are sufficient to warrant 1t, the former vote may be reconsidered and the entire force may be put on for the month of November or for a longer time, if pos sible
 Commissioner Hubinger also thought it best to wait before taking definite action in the matter.
 The motion was finally withdraw VII. and no vote was taken on it.
 Superintendent Wrinn submitted his report for the month of August. He called attention to the fact that there had been a number of petty thefts and robberies during the month, but that most of the articles taken had been re- covered. The report also called atten- tion to the very efficient police and de- tective service during the month.
 When the vote was passed some time ago to lay off each patrolman four weeks it was also voted that none of the men should receive any more days of vacation this year, and that no more days should be allowed to accumulate during the remainder of the year, thus taking from the men the one day of vacation month usually allowed to the patrolmen and which, if they did not take at the time it was due them might go over and the vacation days thus accumulate to the number of ten. s-.L4 l. 1r~- ny9
 Superintendent Wrinn asked of the board last evening an interpretation of this vote. He stated that some men had allowed ten days to accumulate to their credit, while others had taken their days as they occurred and so had only one or two to their credit. He asked if the men who had not taken their days earlier in the year were to lose the benefit of them for the rest of the year, or if they would be allowed to take the days vacations already to their credit when the vote was passed
 The matter was discussed at length by the members of the board, and the superintendent was finally informed that none of the men would be allowed to take any vacations during the vest of the year, except the three or four weeks which it was expected each man would be obliged to take. No one will be allowed to have more days accumu- late this fall, but on January 1, 1SsS each man will have placed to his cred it the number of vacation days which were to his credit when the vote of the board forbidding any more vacation days to be taken this year went into effect.
 While discussing this matter the rule permitting the men to take one day off a month and receiving pay for it came in for considerable criticism from the commissioners.
 President Ullman thought that the efficiency committee should formulate new rules governing the matter.
 Commissioner Hubinger thought that there should be a rule to provide that if the the day of vacation is not taken in the month when it is due it cannot be taken at all.
 Commissioner Smith said that he did not believe that the ordinary patrolman needed a day off each month since he had no mental work, as do the cap- tains and sergeants.
 Superintendent Wrinn explained that the men were given one day off each