The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-04
POLICE ACTIVITY IN 1882.
Methods of Sixty-Six Years Ago for Max
ing the Force Efficient and CoI,tented,

Methods of Sixty-Six Years Ago for Max
ing the Force Efficient and Contented.
From the New York Sun. s w..
AT the close Of the first half-century
of the existence of the republic, the New
York police was known as the watch
the duties of which included the MAIN
tenance of order during business hours
and the putting out Of fires. The pay of
policemen was regulated according to
the amount of work done, and mileage
entered into it largely. Each policeman
received 311a cents for each culprit he
arrested, and 6A cents additional for
conveying him to court. If the prisoner
was convicted or held in bail, 1914 cents
additional was paid the policeman for
taking him to prison, and for accom-
panying him to the residence of the
bondman so cents additional was charg-
ed. Where a policeman worked at
night he received STta cents, and it was
the custom of most policemen to work
during the day as we'll as serve at night,
a usage which was the most probable
origin of the diffused popular belief at
that period and since, that a policeman
was more often to be found asleep on
his post than awake.
For the accommodation of the police
men at that time wooden boxes were
provided, and it was the custom of dare
turn the boxes in such a way that the
87la-cent Waterman would fall face
foremost on the street, after which the
small boys would use the box as bench
or seat, In the year 1881 the New York
policemen, or watch, which then num-
bered $50, became Disconnected and de-
manded an increase of pay. They
marched in a body to the board of al
dermen, and their petition was referred
n 10 mi
watch and prison, which, after a hear
ing, reported that their duties not being
arduous they were not entitled to more
pay; but as q concession to the police
it was recommended that each member
Of the watch who appeared in court
should receive So for every case wherein
he was complainant, but a new duty
was added. that of supervising the ring
ing of church bells at the breaking out
of fire and the summoning of all WELL
disposed inha bitants to assist in putting
1t out by running up and down the
principal streets calling out, under PEN
atty of dismissal, the name of the street
in which the fire was occurring.
As these duties seemed to some of the
watchmen very severe, especially dur
ing the months of winter, when the
streets of New York were covered with
snow and ice, it was arranged that po-
lcemen for special service at any time
for quelling riots, defending property.
putting out fires, repairing sidewalks
lifting horses out of trenches and see
ing ships off, could be employed by the
hour at this schedule of charges: Tween
ty-nne cents an hour during the day
and 90 cents an hour at night police
man in those days could be hired some
what after the fashion of a district mes
senSer or hanson cab. For his days
labor he received % cents an hour or a
traction OF an hour more than one-half
At night he received SO cents, but con-
siderable trouble arose from the deter
mination when night began and when
it ended. Policemen usually asserted
that the night began at . in the evening
ana hniShed at the next morning
Others computed the night hours to he
gin at midnight; others at sundawn;
while few regarded as might" all the
period of time succeeding the afternoon
dinner of which crullers and doughnuts
were a part
AS a consequences of these conflicts
the charge of faVortism grew I'D in the
police department., and in response to
popular agitation the rate of payment
was changed in 1889 so that each cap
tain received Sl.S7 night and each ser
geant Sl.50, the ordinary Waterman or
patroman getting 81. So tremendously
did this reform work that 1t led to the
doing away with payment for incident
ais, and graded schedule was ADOPTED
and has been the rule of the department
ever since From the year 1882. general
ly, the organization" of the New York
police department is said to date.