The Detroit times., 1911-04-26
BATTLE WILL RAGE OVER
PROPOSED SALARY BOOSTS
(Continued from page IL


valuation into consideration, the tax
rate would be S1S.03.
II is almost certain that the bud
get. as finally submitted. will be con-
siderably less than the figure quoated.
s7159,131.S5. Either the $2s0,000 al
lowed for the Northwestern high
school or the $1l3,359 allotted for
increases in the teachers salaries will
come of this sum, II President Bar
nett has his way. An attempt may
also be made TO cut the number OF
new policemen TO be allowed Com
missioner Croul down ID 100, although
the board, in committee of the whole,
allowed $50.
In estimating the general road fund
at s2,000,000, the cuts are figured at
$3.50. 900, which Is understood 10 be
very close 10 the actual figures, the
report being secret. Some OF the
members look for still further cut
OF about 100000 In this fund.
President Barnett will oppose any
effort TO reduce the number Of new
patrolmen below $50 men, and he ex-
pressed the opinion. Wednesday, that
any such attempt would fail Bar
nett received highly complimentary
letter from President Milton A. Nc
Rae, OF the Board of Commerce, We'd
nesday morning, thanking him for his
good work on behalf of the police
department fund in Monday nights
session. OF the estimators. The letter
follows:
l want to thank you for the
splendid service you rendered the
police department at the board OF
estimates last evening, and hope
and trust that you will exercise
your influence at the final meet
ing of the board, so that the police
department may have sufficient
funds to protect the city OF De-
troit as 1t should be protected.
In behalf of the Board of Com
merce, want to thank you for the
services you rendered and also as
sure you of my personal apprecia-
ton OF your efforts.
II feel very proud of that letter,
said Eddie" to The Times. You
know, some people thought that be-
cause I was q saloon keeper ! would
not treat the police department fair
ly."
Mayor Thompson believes that the
estimators should not allow Commls-
sioner Croul more than 100 new men
at the outside, and would be better
pleased IL the number were reduced
to rs. Tuesday afternoon he sent tel
egrams to the mayors of seven OF the
principal cities in Detroits class ask
ing for information as TO the cost
and extent OF their police depart
ment, the population and area OF the
cities, etc. Each replied promptly
The mayor had the information tabu-
lated, Wednesday morning, and prob
ably will call the attention OF the
board of estimates TO IL.
The most interesting comparison Is
found In the information that comes
from Cleveland. With an area of ass
square miles and a population of $780,
666, IL has a police force of 623 men
and the cost OF maintaining the de-
partment last year was S746,516. De-
troit with an area OF 41.44 square
miles and an estimated population or
ass. 900 this year, will have a force or
sS7 II the $50 new men are allowed,
and the estimated cost OF maintain
ing the department for the coming rs
cal year is $1,024,000.
On the same basis, the mayor fig-
ured out that Cleveland has one pa
trolman for every 900 OF population,
while Detroit has one for every $40.
Cleveland has IA policemen for every
square mile of territory and Detroit
Il for each square mile, counting the
new men
On the other hand, Buffalo, with AZ
square miles OF territory and a popula-
ton of $4,000 maintains a force OF
SAL men at ain annual cost OF S909,7S5,
and Baltimore, with only 81 square
miles, and a population OF 691 900, has
a force of 1,03S men and the annual
cost Is s1,24S.600 In Boston the ex-
pense is proportionately higher for
l,4S3 men.
Il do not mean TO criticlse Commits
sioner Croul," said the mayor. "but
/ do not believe $50 new policemen
are going to stop thievery in Detroit.
He was quoted the other day as 10
the amount OF property stolen within
recent months, II he WITH guarantee
10 prevent such robberies In the
future and save all this property,
would say. let him have all the men
he wants. But when a man Is going
to break into house, for instance, he
waits until there Is no policeman
around, and the fact that there are
a few more in each precinct isn't go
ing TO stop this sort of thing