The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-03
FOR PATROL WAGON
COUNCIL AUTHORIZES ITS OPERA.
 TION AT ONCE.
Drivers and Two Additional Policemen are Provided for in Measure for Improvement of Police
 Service

Following discussion more or less desultoFy and bantering in nature, the Montgomery City Council last night decided to hitch a pair of horses to the princely patrol wagon standing idle at police headquarters and make constant use of it. The disgraceful and Iudi- crous sight of hauling drunken individ. uals to the city prison in wheelbar- rows. other peoples cabs, landaus and conveyances. including street cars, will soon be a thing of the unprogressive past.
 The advanced idea Of transporting arrested persons from the scene of the crime or capture had pretty difficult time in establishing itself last night in the annals of Montgomery. The oppo- sition was disguised in the contention that the operation of the wagon was too expensive. They wanted to see the ''Black Mariah'' run both day and night, but they believed it ought to be done by transfer company. It might prove less expensive.
 The plan of operation that was adopt ed--the same as any up-to-date city of Montgomery's size-vinvolves the pur- chase of two fine horses and harness at cost of $500. Further 1t will ne- cesgitate the yearly expenditure of $1,560 for two drivers to shift for night and day duty. That is all the cost, though in the resolution calling for the drivers and fixing their salaries was a provision for two extra patrolmen. The salaries of the patrolmen and drivers are $7SO per annum each.
 Incidents occurring almost daily with the police force Of the city were told by the supporters of the patrol wagon revival that mark Montgomery a lag gard municipality for several years. Pictures of Juggling drunkards through the most prominent streets. dragging them Into street cars filled with ladies, the beats of patrolmen open to depreda- tions during their trying trips to prison from outlying wards, and other spec tacles had no little, part in convincing the majority of the need of a patrol wagon. Besides. the city had already gone to the expense of ordering a mag niicent wagon built, costing Sz50. The wagon, instead of being put to horses. has been a frame for cobwebs and a home for indiscriminate rodents.
 Moreover, the city of Birmingham, Alderman Cox informed the Council, has run a patrol wagon for sixteen years.
 Alderman Jones caused q ripple of laughter by starting a speech in which he said, T am sure all opponents of the measure will retreat If they should go through the same experiences that I nave Wltn TeLtItuCG No NiiAS business. :" He soon made it clear, however that he =:as tEe. victim of the boisterous conduct and rawlings of ar rested parties who passed his resid snce not in a patrol wagon.
 Alderman Sullivan did not see how the matter could be treated lightly Ut all when it is known that our best women and men have been forced to jump from street cars to avoid the dam ger of criminals in charge of police men.
 These were. not all the pictures. but they are typical When the oratory had spent itself the following Aldermen voted for the operation of the patrol wagon by the city as specified: Cox, Coins. Grif1th. Holloway, Jones, Roe mer, Ruth, Ryan, Strauss, A. L. Tyson and Sullivan.
 Those who voted against the meas. ure. most of them explaining that they were against the mode rather than the actual running of the wagon, were: AL dermen Gunter, Foster, Lobman and J. c. Tyson.
 By this vote the Mayor was author ized to proceed with the purchase of the horses and equipment.