New-York tribune., 1901-03-31
FIGHTING POLICE INCREASE.
OFFICIALS SAY 1T WOULD MAKE THE FORCE LESS Eff
GENT THAN NOW.


a fund of 100000 The money was placed IN
charge of trusted agents. with the understand
ing that IL was 10 be divided among the pro-
moters Of legislation for shorter hours OF ponce
DUTY At the same time the police agents have
received the assurance that If the legislation Is
secured and the policemen get the shorter hours
they have been demanding there will be another
assessment of $50 a man to raise an acdltionai
fund of 100000 for division among the pro-
moters Some Republican politicians not In the
legislature and some State Senators and AS
semblymen are mentioned as the men VINO ars
to get the pIunder IL the coveted legislation Is
obtained.
FIREMEN WANT SHORTER HOURS, TOO.
The frenen of the city have bill before the
legislature to shorten their hours of duty 1t
nrovides substantially for two platoon system
such as now regulates the hours Of police duty
If the police three platoon amendment IS passeu
by the legislature. there is no doubt that tns
fremen's bill will have TO pass. too. In addition
TO the enormous increase in the police salary ac%
count there will then be needed another great
increase in the appropriation for hremens sai-
aries. The legislature will thus force upon the
city an increase of about S6.OO0.O00. to be paid
annually by the taxpayers. and it is declared by
the highest officers in the Police Department and
the Fire Department that both departments
would be made less efficient by such legislation
Both departments reached their highest effi-
cheney under the regulations for hours Of duty
which established many years ago. The
regulations have commended themselves to au-
thoritfes of other cities and have been adopted
for nearly every large city in the United States-
That the regulations are not to be considered
hardships may be understood easily. because few
policemen or fremen resign. and there has been
an increasing army of young and vigorous men
trying annually to secure appointment po-
Icemen and fremen.
The policemen of the city have much easier
work and shorter hours than the firemen under
present regulations. They have many privileges
not enjoyed by other in salaried Places
A patrolman Of the first grade receives s.. 400 a
year. a great deal more than he could earn as a
laborer. He may retire on half pay for life at
the end Of twenty-five years service. He ia
sure of the pension II he is disabled in the dis
charge OF his duty. and if he is killed the pension
goes TO his family. Few policemen are disabled
or killed in this city. and there thousands OF
ex-pOlicemen drawing pensions Officers of the
Police Department and city officials say that IL
the policemen required to do only eight hours
of patrol duty in each twenty-four hours their
pay ought to be reduced and their pensions 4
ought 70 be taken away
1t Is not expected. however that the Legislatures
can ever be induced TO repeal the special laws
il has enacted from time to time by which police
salaries and police pensions have been increased
particularly the police can always raise a
large fund for the promotion of legislation at
Albany. AS the police force is increased IN size
it's power to secure favorable legislation in
creases-