Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-10-15
CITY PATROLMEN GET
INCREASE OF SALARY
Council Also Gives Raise to Gus
todians Of Fire Quarters.
LOCAL S. P. C. A. REQUESTS AID.
Committee Seeks Appropriation Of $40
Per Month to Help Paw for Ser
vices Of Agent.

Important among the busines,
transacted at the monthly meeting OF
the City Council last night was che
adoption of ordinances increasing the
pay of the patrolmen of the city police
force, and the caretakers of quarters
of the three volunteer fire companies
to the amount of So per month in
each case; taking preliminary steps
looking to a real "safe and sane
Fourth of July in 1918, and prelimi-
nary action to the relief of a nuisance
and detriment to health by the col
lection of water in narrow alleyway
leading from Compromise street to
the City Dock.
Although the question of increasing Q
the salaries of police patrolmen had
been pending for some time, consider
able opposition developed when the
committee on bylaws aud ordinances
made favorable report upon the or
dinance, carrying the provisions for
an increase which had been submitted
several weeks ago. The opposition,
however, was based entirely on the
ground as to when the ordinance
should become effective.
Mayor Strange led in the opposi-
tion. He said that he could not see
from what source the necessary funds
to pay the increased salaries would
be forthcoming since no provision
was made for this in the levy for this
year. He urged, therefore, that the
ordinance be adopted 70 take effect
with the next fiscal year, when a new
levy would be made. There was con-
siderable discussion among the mem
bers of the Board, but the way was
paved for the passage of the ordinance
to the effect at an early date when
Alderman Parkinson moved that it
become effective January l.
Alderman Myers, as a substitute
for this. moved that the ordinance
take effect November l. The high
cost of living started the move for an
increase of the patrolmen's salaries,
and it was urged in the course of the
arguments that they are entitled to it
n)w; that until th1 next levy is made,
the several hundred dollars involved
could be taken from the contingent
fund, or carved from other sources.
So the ordinance was finally passed,
although Alderman CLANCY, who was
opposed to it from the start, regis
tered his vote against it. Mayor
Strange finally voted for the PROPOSE
tion.
With this matter disposed of, former
Mayor Douw addressed the Council iu
behalf of the caretakers Of fire quar-
ters. He said, among other things,
that since these men are subject 20
call at any hour of the day or night,
the same as in the case of the police
officers, he thought they, too were en-
titled to an increase of salary. The
City Fathers very promptly took the
same view, and later in the evening an
ordinance, drafted in the meantime by
City Counselor Melvin, providing for
an increase of $5 for each of the three
caretakers was adopted unanimously.
Alderman CLANCY explained that since
it had been decided to increase the
patrolmen's stipend, he wanted to 20
on record in favor of this PROPOSE
tion.
The ordinance providing for the
patrolmen, increases their salaries
from $50 to $55 per month, although
no change is made in the higher off,
cials, the salary of the Chief remain
ing at SIS, and that of the Round Ser
geant at $50. The ordinance also con-
tains the usual appropriations of S35
per year for uniforms and equipment
for the officers.
Taking time by the forelock and
in pursuance of a movement started
several months ago, committee of
the Chamber of Commerce, composed
of former Mayor Douw, and Mr..
George c. Barton, was before the
Council urging the repeal of Section
6, of Article 80, Of the City Code,
regulating the sale of fireworks prior
TO and on the Fourth of July. Mr..
Douw was the spokesman and he said
that concerted move against this
had beenn started by many citizens
of the city, and that while there
have been police regulations relative
to the sale and discharge of fireworks
in the city, in past years, they have
never been effective. The Council
took the matter under consideration.
Alderman Clausen called attention
of the Council to the condition OF
Compromise street as the result OF
water backing up in the street bed,
thus rendering the thoroughfare i'm,
passable. This question has been uI
for consideration on several previou:
occasions, and means of remedyine
the trouble is one Of the improve
ments contemplated in the near fu.
ture. But the situation now existing
demands immediate action, at least
of a temporary nature. While the
street is severed, the water is not
properly carried off, and as result il
collects in the street and in the mar
row alleyway, becomes stagnant anC
detrimental TO the health of the com
munity. Mr.. Clausen submitted /;
rough estimate of the City Engines
of the work to relieve the condition
The Engineer said he thought tha
saxr,o~