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 Enhcient and Contented.

ing the Force Enicient and Contented.
From the New York Sun.
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 10
the amount of work done, and mileage
entered into 1t largely. Each policeman
received 37h cents for each culprit he
arrested, and 81 cents additional for
conveying him to court. III the prisoner
was convicted or held in bail. 121s cents
additional was paid the policeman Tor
aking him to prison, n for accom-
panying him to the residence or the
bondman so cents additional was chars-
ed. Where a policeman worked at
night he received S7h cents, and 1t 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 II was the custom of dare
devil and reckless ma boys to over
turn the boxes in such a way that the
| S7h-cent Waterman would fan FACE
foremost on the street, after which the
small BOYS would use the box as a bench
or seat. In the year 1881 the New YORK
policemen, or watch" which then num-
bered go. became discontented and de-
handed an increase of pay. They
marched in a body to the board OF al
J dermen, and their petition was referred
to 1.-THE committee on finance. police,
watch and prison." which, after a hear
ing, reported that their duties not being
NlAxr ~AR NM entitled To mora
pay; but as a concession to the police
il was recommended that each member
Of IN watch who appeared in court
should receive 81 for every case wherein
he was a complainant, but a new duty
was added. that of supervising the ring
ing of church bells at the breaking out
of a fire and the summoning OF all WELL
disposed inhabitants TO assist in putting
IL 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 he
streets Of New York were covered with
snow and ice. IL was arranged that po-
licemen for special service at n time
for uuelling riots. defending property,
putting out fires. repairing Sidewalks,
lifting horses out of trenches and See
ing ships OF, could De employer ny tue
hour at this schedule of charges: Twen-
ty-nine cents an hour during the day
and so cents an hour at night. A police
man I'm those days could be hired some
what after the fashion of a district mes
senger or a hanson cab. For his lays
labor he received % cents an hour or a
fraction 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 wher
IL ended. Policemen usually asserted
that the night began at 3 in the evening
and finished at 6 the mex morning
|, Others computed the night hours TO be
. gin at midnight; others at sundown
while a few regarded as might all tn
. period OF time succeeding the Afternoon
: dinner. OF which c~rullers and doughnlt
were a part.
As a -sequ OF these conflict
the charge of favoritism grew up In tn
police department. and in response Z
popular agitation the rate Of paymen
. was changed I'm 1899 so that each cap
|, ain received N.S7 a night and each ser
A geant $50. the ordinary Waterman O
q patrolman getting 81. So harmonious
did this reform work that II led to tn
doing away rith payment for incident
ais. and a graded schedule was adop.e
and has been the rule of the departmel
ever since. From the year ls32. genera
ly. the organization" of the New for
police department Is said to date.