The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-22
NO ACTION ON
POLICE MATTER
Aldermen Discussed Raising Salary at
Great Length.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Argument Was Made That City COud
Not Afford It.
Mr.. FOX PLEADED FOR THE MEN
And the Position Was Taken by Some
Aldermen That Salaries in Other
Departments of City Govern
ment Had Been Raised.

posed raise in the policemen's salary from
$50 to a graded basis of $50, $50 and $40 per
month, according to length of service on
the force. The result of the discussion was
that the matter was referred to the finance
committee, to report back at the next meet
ing of the council.
There was a sharp fight made to put the
question to vote last night and make the
increase in salaries at once. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee, however, by vote
of yeas to nays.
Those who voted to refer the matter were
Mayor Evans and Aldermen RAINBOW, Kerr,
Moore, Graham, Hamilton. Pearce, Gray
and Hentschell.
Those who favored settling the question
last night were Aldermen Lynaugh, Wheel
err, Mcknight Meighan, Drennen, Williams.
Parker and Harrington.
The Commissions Recommendation
Police Commissioner J. D. Fox appeared
before the board in behalf of the policemen,
stating that at the last meeting of the COM
mission it had been resolved to ask the
board of aldermen for an increase in the
policemen's salary to the following basis:
Men serving one year, $50 month.
Men serving two years, s65 month.
Men serving over three years, $40 month.
Mr.. Fox stated that at the present time
the payroll of the police department
amounted to only about $500 monthly,
while under the law the commission was
entitled to spend $500. If the increase in
salaries according to the proposed schedule
was made, $275 above the $500 to which the
police are entitled, would be required. In
or lords ,o,,fh will J.a
ed.
The police commission further recon-
mended, Mr.. Fox said, that ten more po-
licemen be employed in addition to the
present force, all of these men to be en-
ployed between the hours of . p. m. and
a. m. in the residence portions of the city.
These additional ten men would cost $500
extra a month.
In short, If all of the recommendations
which the commission recommended were
carried into effect. the monthly payroll
would be increased to 1895.
Long Discussion
Alderman Cray moved that the report be
referred to the police and sanitation COM
mittee.
Alderman Wheeler offered a substitute
that the salaries of the policemen be in
creased according to the plan suggested by
the police commission without referring the
matter to a committee.
Alderman Pearce offered another substi-
tute that the finance committee have charge
of the report.
Alderman Moore offered another substi-
tute that it be referred to both the finance
and police committees
Alderman Parker said that tonight is
the time to settle the question and raise
their salaries"
Although the substitutes to the original
motive of Alderman Grays motion had long
since reached their parliamentary limit,
stpl more of them were offered.
Alderman Mcknight moved to divide Mr..
Foxs report, voting Immediately on the
increase of salary and referring the matter
of increasing the force ten men to COM
mittee.
Alderman Drennen said the salaries
recommended were the same as they were
before they were reduced four years ago,
and he thought the police should be put
back on the old bass.
"Of course we ought to make the raise if
we can" said Alderman Moore, but I
doubt seriously the bality of the city treas
ury to stand the increase. Let a committee
examine the matter more thoroughly"
Alderman Mcknight spoke again, saying
that the police had borne the brunt of the
hard times, yet ndQ uOue THEIR Outy We'll,
and that they should be rewarded at once.
City's Present Finances
Chairman Gray, of the finance committee. i
said that at the close of yesterdays bust
ness hours there were in round numbers
$4,000 in the city treasury, about $4,000 of
which was due the electric light company,
So 600 to the water works company and 3d.
600 to current bills. According to this
statement he said there would be 5000
deficit at the end of the year, besides $780,
600 If unpaid interest on bonds.
Several times during the discussion which
had preceded, reference was made to the
Increase in the salaries which had been
made in various departments of the city.
Mr.. Gray said he had opposed all of them
EXCEPT the raise in the fremens salary
from $50 to $50 per month. He said that the
increased salaries during the past year had
cost the city about 100000
Old Time Financiering
Mr.. Fox spoke again in behalf of the
policemen, saying they were required to
buy two uniforms year, that rents and.
the cost of living was higher than 1t was
two years ago, and that the men were
really entitled to the raise.
81 don't think Mr.. Gray need be so much
concerned over his $1,000 overdraft at the
close of this year." said he. IT remember
at the end of one of the years when was
an alderman we had 900 deficit, yet we
paid 1t eventually.
Eyes, that was when you had plenty of
bonds to SELL" chimed in Alderman Pearce.
"but It will be a long time before we'll
have any bonds to help US out"
s.The treasury hasn't been In such de-
pleted condition for years." continued MT.
Pearce, "and admitting that our revenues
win be greatly increased under the Bir-
mIngham amendment. we won't get any
of that money until next October, so in
the meantime we must issue scrip, l sup
pose. II we pay the running expenses we
already have untf that time we will be
doing we'll"