The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-17
NEV|N DEFENDS POLICE.
Says the Pensioners Are All
Deserving-~-G ymnasiums
Recommended.

The Police Commissioners met last
evening. A request from R~oundsman
Abner Welsh, to be retired on half pay,
was granted, Welsh has been on the
force since 1865. He is over seventy
years old.
Drs. Nevin, Rector and Everett were
appointed to examine Prison Keeper Al
| exander Watson of the Gregory street
| station as to his ability to perform police
duty. He has been on the sick list for
some time, and he applied for retire
mcat.
A petition for the reinstatement of Ben.
jamin Warren. who was a chanceman,
was referred to the Committee of the
Whole. Patrolman Charles Meade of the
Gregory street station was found guilty
of neglect of duty in %absenting himself
during an entire tour of duty. He was
fined two days pay.
Chanceman William Gray of the Sew
enth street station pleaded guilty to a
charge of reporting sick and not being
home when DR.. Nevin called. He was
fined five days pay.
The charge made by Michael Gonser,
coachman for Mr.. Lockwood, against
Patrolman Nicholas Clemenson, of the
Ocean avenue station, was dismissed.
Clemenson saw Gonsef walking along
Danforth avenue late at night with a
bundle. Clemenson stopped him and ask
ed what he had in the bundle. Gonser
refused to tell and Clemenson placed him
under arrest. 1t was shown at the ex-
animation yesterday that Clemenson only
did his duty.
Dai,1o .~~a TL-E RTN.tn ct,bpatttad
his annual report.
There were 1874 policemen sick during
the year. He examined thirty-six appli-
cants for appointment. Sixteen chance
men n fourteen patrolmen We're ap-
pointed. Nine policemen died.
The prominent causes of sickness
were:-Rheumatism, So; Indigestion, II; la
grippe. 10; tonsillitis ~(acute,) 10; inter
mittent fever, s; ceryza ~(acute,) Z; contu-
sion, 6; neuralgia, s; ulcer of leg, ankl
or foot, z; lumbago, 8; bronchitis. Z;
alcoholism, A.
In addition to the statistical report,
Surgeon Nevin said:-You will notice
from the character of the diseases men
teioned that in most cases the causitive
agents arise from the nature of the oc-
cupation of policemen.
'In justice to the Board and to myself
I desire to reply to the criticisms heard
recently concerning the so-called large
demands made upon the Sick and Pen
sion Fund 1t should be remembered that
as the department grows larger and this
men become older a corresponding in
crease must be made in the expense in
cidental to this fund.
when this act went into effect a num-
Der of men in the department were en-
titled under it's provisions to be retired
Some awaited themselves of it Immediately
and quite a number a been retired be-
cause of permanent disability. For the
latter class / am somewhat personally
responsible. Most of these cases, as the
records will show, ave died of the dis
ease for which 1 recommended their re-
tirement. OF those still living, some of
whom I nave a occasion to see recently.
/ am free to say that in no case would
the city be benefited by their return to
regular duty.
1T has become almost q habit with me
to recommend to each succeeding Board
the establishment of -gymnasiums and in
some cases compulsory exercise. AS the
suggestion has never been considered l
merely wish to refer to it at this time