The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-26

chief constables, with salaries ranging from $600 to $500 seventy-four inspectors and 2,000 sergeants, whose salaries aver age about $5U0 a year.
 Under the Paris Prefect of Police there are twenty-five officers de patx, or com missioners, having command of the twen- ty-five companies of police into which the Paris force Is divided one in each of the twenty arrondissements of the city and five at the general headquarters They receive salaries ranging from $1 600 to $i,600 a year. Other officers of the Paris force are twenty-eight chief inspec- tors at $780 to $500 year; eighty brig s4so.
 The New York Commissioner and Chief of Police receives $7,50O a year and ap- points two deputy commissioners, each with a salary of 5000 year. The uni formed officers of the force are fourteen inspectors, fcur of whom receive $500 a year each, and ten receive $3, 150 each; seventy-eight captains, at $2, 75o; 371 ser geants. at $2,9O0; 3S7 roundsmen. at H,50O a year.
 Following is a comparison of the police systems in the three cities last year, the amounts for the Paris system being esti- mated. Total.
 Salaries. expense London .. ..............$ 6,469, ,760 5 S.176,359 Paris ..............- 5o00Uoo 6'V0'0V9 9C0 099 New York ............. 1U,0oV,OOU II, ,loz, 5zo
 Appointments to positions in the Lon don force are made through civil ser vice, and are entirely beyond the reach of political influence. The examinations are rigid and certificates of good charac- ter are required, in addition to the ahil- ity to pass the physical and mental tests. Once appointed, the constable Is not de- pendent upon political favor. He is Sure tirement if he does his duty. The dis cipline of the force is severe, and to take money from a liquor dealer in Lon don, even for legitimate service, would cause the instant dismissal of police man.
 In Paris the police are recruited mainly from veterans of the army. those who have served as non-commissioned officers being preferred. All candidates must pass examinations, must come up to required standards in physical requirements and must have fairly good common school education. Certificates of good conduct or of honorable discharge fHom the army are required. Political influences are not allowed to control the appointments or promotions in the force. Pensions of half pay are given to the Paris policemen af- ter service of twenty-five years.
 Although civil service requirements have been observed to some extent in appointments on the New York police force, it has been notorious that pohti- cal influence and the use Of money In procuring such influenc have been more potent than physical or mental excel fence of candidates for appointment Most New York policemen who receive the highest pay are men who coulu not have earned $400 year apiece as labor CTS. The rush to secure appointments on the force has been increasing steadi- ly in recent years. and for every man appointed there are hundreds of appl, cants. The system of police blackmail and protection of vice has extended to many patrolmen: Payments for promo tion are believed to be common. Form erly policemen in this city were able to retire on half pay after twenty years service, but now they are required to serve twenty-five years before retiring on half pay.
 The police in London and Paris are re- auired to perform eght hours of patrol duty a day. The high pay of the New York police was regarded by many per- sons as justified by, tue fact that they had long hours of duty although about half their time of duty was spent In the police stations in reserve, Recently the three~platoon system by which New York policemen are required to perform only eight hours of duty day was put into operation by Commissioner Murphy. A new administration may decide that the protection of the oity at night re- quires a change of system and return to longer hours for the police.