Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-01
POLICEMEN AND
F|REMEN FEELING
BURDEN OF LAW
Murmurings Because of Pay
ment of Fares on Troll
ley Cars.
EXTRA COST HEAVY ON
THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS
looks as if Pass Privilege
Was Taken Away by
Intent.

Policemen and f1remen OF Newark
who have been compelled under the
new public utility law to pay trolley
fares, even while on duty, are chatting
under the burden imposed upon
them by this Wilson enactment,
After having handed over nicEels for
several weeks to the p. 8. c. conductors
they have begun to realize more fully
what an added expense to the cost OF
living the new law imposes.
The average amount each policeman
must pay for car-fare is $5 a month.
The firemen pay about IS month, as
the latter go to their homes for lunch,
1t is contended on behalf of the police :
men and f1remen, and widely admitted
that their contention is sound, that
they are entitled to free transportation
because they are on duty every hour
of the night and day For instance. a
policeman is compelled to quell a dis
turbance, or do anything else In the
line Of ordinary duty even In his period
off, or run the risk OF being discharged
from the force. He Is at the beck Of
the public. II his services are required.
al all hours of the twenty-four The
fireman Is always on duty to save en-
pangered property.
In Class OF officials. .+.
The policemen and firemen feel that
persons who argue that they are no
more entitled to free transportation.
than the ordinary citizens do not take
the peculiar circumstances into con-
eideration.
The argument made by Frank Ber-
gen yesterday in the brief submitted
10 the Public Utility Board does not
Ihelp the case of the police and fire.
lighters any. Mr.. Bergen showed that
in court decisions ii had been held that
policemen and firemen were officials.
land therefore fell within the inhibition
tegaiDst the issuance of passes to that
sclass Dealing with the point that a
contract between a corporation and a
municipality which provided for the
giving Of passes to municipal officials
could not be abrogated, MIR. Bergen
showed that the State had authority
10 annul any contract made by the
municipality, its creature.
The Legislature seems to have exer-
cised that authority to the limit In
the public utility law when 1t decreed
that officials, thus including policemen
and firemen in uniform, should not be
entitled to the privilege of pass. The
Language of the law is clear on that
point. it Is absolutely provided that
no official Alall be given passes, and
when il is settled. as 1t appears to be,
that policemen and f1remen are in the
class of officials. there seems to be no
immediate hope that the patrolmen
and the firemen will be restored the
privilege taken away from them by the
Legislature.
II would require a special session OF
the Legislature to amend the law, and
the LEGISLATURE to amend the law, but
it is not likely that the Governor
would call such special session, even
If requested by the great body OF po-
licemen and firemep. Relief must come
through the l'ublic Utilities Commis-
sion, otherwise 1t will be necessary to
wait till next year, during which time
the burdenscme provision of this law
will remain operative
Many Are Affected.
Every patrolman and fire-fghter In
the state has been affected in the same
manner as those of the Newark depart
ments. Murmurings are heard of re-
prisals to be made at the polls when
the members of the two organizations
have an opportunity to get back at
-tbose who were responsible for putting
through the new law in such ill-digest-
rNIo nnh harnah1n
them. Policemen and firemen. as
rule are thrifty, and many of them
own their own homes. Some of them
saw that If the prohibition against
masses is upheld they will have to seli
their present homes and take up tnelr
residences nearer to their precincts.
The city makes no provision for paying
+he fares of policemen travelling In the
line of duty.
Although Assemblyman Egan, the
introducer of the public utility law
s.vs that II was not the intention of
the Legislature to take away passes
fron, hremen and policemen, 1t Is not
certain that this was not the intent OF
those who drew the bill. George l..
Record and some of his allies nave long
been disgruntled at what they term
the pernicious activity OF firemen ana
yolicemen in politics. 1t is regarded
y s,guifcant that there has been no
word in behalf of the firemen or police
men from Record or any OF his pohticai
fr,ends 1t was clearly the intention
NJ the trainers of the law to give no
fayors to anybody, and 1t must have
been evident to those who showed such
astuteness In all other matters that
the firemen and policemen would be
5enrived of a privilege they have long
enioyed and which many regard as
right.