Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
POLICEMEN APPEAL
Committee Place Grievances
Before Commissioners.
ASKFOR INCREASEDPAY
MR.. MCFARLAND SCORES THE
BLUECOATS' ASSOCIATION"
Would Not Listen to Organization
Within Police Force-Private
Smiths Argument.
ASKFOR INCREASEDPAY

An earnest appeal to the District Com
missioners to urge upon Congress the neces-
sity of increasing the pay of the members
of the metropolitan police force was made
in the board room of the District building
this morning by committee representing
the police department. This committee
consisted of Privates C. E. Smith, Edward
Curry and Thomas D. Walsh. They were
accompanied by Major Sylvester.
One interesting incident in connection
with the hearing was the vigorous express
sions by Commissioners Mcfarland and
West of their disapproval of an association
organized within the police department The
two Commissioners made 1t plain that in
their opinion the policeman have no right,
either natural or acquired, to organize into
an association, and they declared emphati-
cally that If the committee came as repre-
sentatives of an association they would be
obliged to turn deaf ears to their appeals
This incident was occasioned by reason of
the fact that the memorial presented to the
Commissioners urging the increased pay
for policemen. bore the seal of the Police
mems Association, D. c." and was signed
by the president, vice president" re
cording secretary treasurer financial
secretary and several members of the
Executive committee" These official
designations the memorial constituted
the policemen's offense.
At the beginning of the session Maj.
Sylvester stated that the object in ask
ing for the hearing was to give the pri-
Yates of the force an opportunity, through
their representatives, to speak in their
own behalf for increased compensation.
Private Smith, who is president of the
Policemens Association, in beginning his
remarks mentioned that a memorial had
been prepared setting forth the argu-
ments and appeal of the privates. Upon
n hn not i1,,tf Ho,~
missioner West interrupted the speaker
to inquire IL he appeared as represent
ing the entire force or as representative
of the association. Mr.. Smith said the
committee represented the interests of
all the policemen.
Commissioner Mcfarland then men
toned that the Commissioners could not
with propriety listen to an appeal from
repres entatives of an association or gam
lied within the police force, but that If
the committee came as representing the
entire force the authorities would be
pleased to hear their arguments.
Memorial Read.
Private Smith was allowed to continue
and then requested that the memorial
presented by the committee be read This
praised Maj. Sylvester for his work on
behalf of the force and quoted his state
ment that the greatest incentive to eff
cheney is fair treatment and fair paw"
The petition declared that with the pres
ent pay policemen of the District are un-
aple TO save anything from their salaries
and, in fact, that they cannot adequately
support their families and themselves.
continuing, the memorial recites as fol-
lows
police force receive $75 a month. and the
balance $50 a month. Sergeants receive 800
per month, and lieutenants s11O Out of
these amounts must be paid the following
vuyhs 1l,
a conservative estimate of the actual cost
of living:
Average expense for uniforms per month,
s6sl; house rent, per month. s225 80;
groceries, per month, $35; gas and heat per
month, 1915; pension fund per month 81,
making a total of S71.O6.
This leaves a balance of 1894 a month
in the case of the s75 men. and 1854 in
receive but $40 month 1t will be seen.
therefore, from this estimate that they
must practice great economy in order to
live on the salary paid"
After the reading of the memorial was
finished Privates Smith and Curry spoke
briefly in support of the matters urged, and
when they had finished their remarks Com
missioner West said
with the facts and arguments presented
In this petition / agree, and with refer
ence 10 the increases, on my recommended
ton the Commissioners have Included in
our estimates the advancement of ninety
more, from SIS to 800 month. But / want
to state my objection to memorial signed
by president, vice president recording sec
rotary and members of the executive COM
mlttee, or an association in the depart
ment. The increases are asked for the
benefit of all the members of the force and
not for the members of any association
within the department"
In the Interest of All.
In reply to this Private Smith said:
While we have an association, we repre-
sent not only its members, but also the
members of the metropolitan police depart
ment as whole. 1t Is absurd to think we
should come and say Give the members
OF the association an increase and nav no
attentlon 10 the other members of the
force Our association includes nearly $40
members or the force, and our interests are
Identical with those of the policemen who
are not members of the associat ton We do
not come here as representing part of the
force, but all of it. Neither do we come
here as officers debating what you shall do,
but we come as members of the force with
an humble appeal asking for what Is alb
soiutely necessary to support our families
and ourselves"
Commissioner Macfarland then stated that
the Commissioners would receive the COM
mittee as representatives of the entire.
force. and that they regret the memorial
should have been presented as from an as
ISOLATION 1.-THE Commissioners" he said,
cannot recognize an association organized
within the police department. The entire
board of Commissioners sympathize with
your purpose, and all recognize the high ef-
ficiency of the force under your present
major and superintendent. The Commits
sioners cannot at this time recommend ali
the increases asked, but they hope to Sc
cure all in time"
In closing the hearing Commissioner West
remarked that he has come to regard the
personnel of the local police force as higher
than that of any city, and it's efficiency and
discipline under Major Sylvester as above
criticism. He said he is very DESTROYS of
securing larger pay for the policemen and
has hopes that this end will be accom-
plshed in time.