The age-herald., 1899-01-05
CITY SOLONS HAD
 A DRY SESSION The Police Matter Referred to Special
 Committee to CONFER WITH COMMISSION And Report at Special Meeting Of the
 Board. HUNNICUT TOLD HIS TROUBLES How He Was Robbed While in the City Prison-Words With Chief McDonald-Matter Referred
 to a Committee.
TOLD HIS TROUBLES

was the report of the finance committee
 on the matter of increas ng the salary of
 policemen.
 There was both a minority and majority
 report but neither was accepted. reso-
 lution by Alderman Altman, leaving it to
 committee of five to further consult with | the police commission was carried.
 The resolution suggests that the schedule
 of salaries be divided into three grades.
 Policemen having served less than one
 year to receive $6o per month; two years | s65 per month and three years SEQ per 1 month.
 Alderman Kerr read the report of the | finance committee as follows: The Committee's Report "We beg leave to-report that the sum of | $2600 per month be appropriated for the l police department for the year 1899. In do- | ing so we wish to say that on the first day
 of January the police commissioners were
 relieved of the expense of two CD wardens at $60 per month each, and of MT. A. A. Gambill at $60 per month, making a total
 savings to the department of $1S0 per
 month over the past year without any
 tual reduction of the force. The expense of the department has been $29, 262S2 or
 $2,43S.50 per month. The difference between
 this amount and that provided by the new law is $6150 per month, and together with
 the amount that has been assumed of the former pay roll by the mayor and alder
 men makes the aggregate $241 50 per month
 more for 1899 than 1S9S and with $100 per
 month in excess of the $2, 300 allowed by
 the present law will give the police commits
 sion $34150 per month or $4 OBS for the year in excess of the amount received during
 the year 1898, without any reduction in the effectiveness of the police force as stated. With the number of men the force for
 1898 less those whose salary for 1899 will be
 paid by the mayor and aldermen this will
 the salaries of the policemen as asked by
 the police commission if they see fit to ap- propriate the money in that way. "In addition to the foregoing expenses
 of the police department, the city pays a large amount for operating expenses of that
 department including maintenance of four horses, patrol wagon, telephone service, postage, etc..
 Alderman John l.. Parker said that he
 was not in favor of the report and as a
 
 would submit a report. When Birming-
 ham was poorer than it is now salaries in all departments were reduced. Since that
 time salaries had been restored in all de- partments, but the police department. He thought the salaries should at least be made what they were before being cut. His mi
 nority report recommended thatsthe appro-
 priation for the police department. be made
 sufficient to meet the request of the police
 commission.
 Alderman Kerr explained that the major | ity report would meet this request Alder
 man Parker disagreed with him. Police Commissioner Fox was present and in ex- panng the matter he said that the
 finance committee was in error. He read
 a comparative statement of salaries paid policemen by southern cities. Birmingham
 stood last.
 Alderman Altman said that he was op- posed to turning over $26, coo to the police commission because he did not know how it would be divided He then offered a
 resolution embodying his suggestion. Mayor Evans appointed the following committete in compliance with the resolu- tion: Aldermen Altman, Kerr, J. L. Par | ker, Pearce, Rainbow.
 l The committee will report at a special | meeting of the board.
 Robbed in Jail The liveliest feature of the meeting was | precipitated by young man by the name | of Hunnicut, who alleges that he was | robbed of $40 in the city prison Monday 1 night. He appeared before the council and \ made statement.
 | He said that he was placed in a cell after
 he had told Warden Gourley that he could I give bond. The warden did not search him
 fully, and left $40 in money in his hip pocket. He was taken in charge by a negro
 steveore and three other negroes. One ne-
 gro stood on the outside of the cell, while
 the other three went through him, even taking the buttons from his cuffs. | Chief McDonlad said that Hunnicut had l been drinking when arrested. He was al-
 lowed to sit down in the warden's office
 while an effort was made to get bond for
 him. He got sick and started 10 go on the | outside to vomit. The warden told him
 that he could not go on the outside, but he would turn him in jail. The chief stated I that he thought the warden searched him. | for he came back from the jail door with
 a watch. saying that was all the man had.
 Hunnicut offered several times to give his
 watch as security, but never said a word
 about having money.
 To Smooth IL Over l Hunnicut again spoke up, saying that the charge first entered against him was as-
 sault with weapon. It was then changed
 to disorderly conduct, he alleged, to smooth 1 over the other affair."
 l Don't make any insinuations against me-" interrupted Chief Mcdonald, arising l stifIly.
 l Things looked soually, but if Hunnicut | made any reply 1t was not audible