The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-27

war gave nv S. because / knew that
if i did not might be sorry, II was
returned to me when the journal took
up the fight for us, and invested the
money in a ton of coal. That will do me
more good than the money would the
politicians / have no objections to con-
tributing to my own party such as. ] think
ran afford but do not believe It IS
right to compel a man to give money to
a party which would take the first op-
portunity 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 It isn't the 'F'ree
Public Library this time They are non
est enough to tell us the money is TO pc
used for campaign purposes this time, put
I don't propose to hand up. III be damned
if i give any money, and they can pound
me as much as they choose.
$50 the Commissioners say there is no
compulsion about contributing, said an
other bluecoat well, maybe there
isr't. but we all are aware that If we
don't pony up we will stand an excellent
chance of being transferred and pounded.
Why. there are many cases where the
police refused to give up a portion Oh
their hard earned salary for the peneht
of politicians and they were sent from
one precinct to another. 1t is an outrage
to tax us once a year and we would
to tax us twice a year and we would
not mind that SO much, but every siA
months is rubbing it in
eve have had to hand up when ieW
Justices of the Peace and Aldermen We're
the only officials on the ticket. 1t seems
strange that it required so much money
to conduct that kind of campaign, put
then maybe somebody else got wnacK
at it. Years ago We were only taxeo
once \. wear and were allowed to con-
tribute what we thought we were apie
to. We were not stood up and certain
sum demanded Of us. We found ilst on
the Captains desk and we put our names
down for what he wanted Now It is dlf-
ferent. much different but we all have
the hope of the practice being abandoned
altogether. / have not contributed, and
what is more, / do not intend to- and
they can do what they please with me.
There are many other officers who take
the same stand as / have and Will not
pay any money"
A score or more officers VINO were IN
terviewed said with peculiar uniformity
of expression, Eyes, j have given back
my So. I concluded that it would be safer
to do so. | don't want trouble if $ can
keep me out of it,
1t will be noticed that in every case
both of those who have given and those
who have not, the one prevailing feeling
is that the giving is under eompulsion.
There is not a man in the department
who does not feel that his political
affiliations and his preferences for the
use of his money are not subordinated to
the will of his superiors. They are con-
scious that the money is Jumped and de-
posted point blank into the political or
ganization which happens to be in control
of the department, even though that or
ganization might be antagonistic TO the
best interests of the department and OPP
posed to the political complexion OF the
majority of the force
Their fear of trouble is inaicated in ways
more strongly than by their apprehension
lest their communications TO the Jour
mar should in some way be traced dowii
by their superiofs.