The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-07
more PAY" MOVEMENT
AMONG the POLICE

Continued from Page One)
increasing the pay OF sergeants and leu
tenants
The subject is so complex that il will
require considerable investigation and
and none Of the commissioners was pre-
pared today TO give any of hand infornia-
ton concerning it.
THE PATROLMAN's SIDE.
One OF the more intelligent patrolmeu
said: I'VE should have the increases we
propose to ask for. not only because prac-
tically all the clerks in the city hall, many
OF the teachers in the public schools and
even the highway laborers have received
increases while their occupations are by
no means so hazardous as ours. but be-
cause we have seen the salaries OF the
chief of police raised twice. the captains
and deputy twice since We have had any
raise. and when our pay Ia considered in
the light OF the Increased cost Of living
and compared with the pay OF workers on
the highways men In trades and many
other occupations we are receiving far
less in proportion.
Moreover. look at the way In which we
have to dress. / have to pay 1915 for my
pants, Sl7 for my coat, $22 for my dress
blouse, s27 for a heavy overcoat and ana $50 %
| each for three hats and be generally pre-
| pared with heavy underclothing to face
| the winter blasts all day or night as the
case may be.
I'm addition to this after patrollins
from a m. to 8 p. m, l am likely to be
| assigned TO some department store
| dance, wedding or other entertainment,
and have to remain until midnight OF
| later. Then / have TO buy my own lunch
| down town. which often proves consid-
| erable item of expense.
| when / analyze II / find at times that
my s2l per week isn't really equal to the
| common laborery ~ per day. Moreover
| the occupation is extra hazardous. we
| are compelled TO take our lives in our
| likely TO be torn or even destroyed IN
| making arrests and we nave 10 puy
other clothing out of our own pockets.
II think that when the commissioner
| come to look into this question. they vii
| recognize the justice OF our petition ano
| recommend IL to the city fathers. who
would not dare, In my opinion. 10 turn
| down such recommendation.
Aside entirely from the merits OF tht
proposition the officers intend to put up tc
| the police commissioners there is sus'
p!cion in some quarters that some OF the
| politicians are likely to encourage the mer
/ In the belief that. provided only that thee
| can inrlsice the commit ssioners to make the
recommendation, the city council VII
| gra MT the request, whether the leaders OF
! the council have any such intention or not
The difficulties the commissioners have
! experienced In obtaining any additional
/ grants from the council would tend Il
show that any demand for about $500 ad
ditional for raising salaries In the police
department would provoke considerable
opposition IN the council
MAYOR IS DETgPHTC.
| Mayor Patrick J. Mccarthy. when asked
what he thought Of the proposition. said
this afternoon: II uhank the laborer II
worthy of his hire" He refused TO bt
more specific.
Another official asked: What do you
think would be the result IL the police
commissioners should advertise for 300, oi
more men for the police force who are
willing TO work for 81 per day. Dom
you believe there are more than that mum
her OF desirable persons willing 10 work
as policemen for the city for that payY
Another citizen thought II would be diff
cult, II not impossible. 10 duplicate the
present Providence police force for twice
the pay and said II was not so much a
question Of how much a man was wihne
70 work for as II was how much the city
was willing 10 pay good. able, courageous
and clean public servants.