New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-09
WOMAN EXPLAINS
WHY cops" GRAFT
Continued from first page.

every month for making his bed at the
station house. Beside this, there was
never month at that time when lF
was not taxed for flowers or something
else.
eve were forced to do all this on
the beggarly salary of $500, minus :
per cent for pension fund. What was
the inevitable result? We were forced
TO 60 into debt for uniforms, ETC.. ana
live on inferior food. This, with the IT.
regular hours and exposure to the WIN
ter weather. run my husband down ana
he was home sick for two months with
pneumonia. was run down, as were
also our two children.
On Half Pay Two Months.
"'He was home on half pay for :wo
months. In order TO pay for medicine
and proper nourishment ] had to buy
at the grocer's, butchers and bakers
by the month, and. Of course, was
charged more, therefore. Then / hah
a terrible time trying to pay his III
surance. the only thing left to me ana
the children in case Of my husband s
death.
"'At the end Of the first year our
third child was born, and | was so run
down from hard work and lack oil
proper food and worry Of trying 10
manage on a small salary. and my hus-
bands sickness making it still smaller.
that | became melancholy and nearly
lost my mind At the end OF the third
year our fourth child was born. For
this expense I borrowed Sl33 on my
husbands insurance policy. We have
never been able to pay this debt on oui
policy. When my husband was on hVc
years he WIS laid up with rheumatism
for three months. During this time
the p. w. b. AS Association sent me
a gift of S25 to help me out.
"'With regard to the purchase OF
clothing | would say that | bought
mostly on the instalment plan, but l
found this such drag, and | was
charged so much, that ] tried another
plan during 1912. that OF getting SOME
at time and paying for some in thirty
days. But when the real winter set IN
during December there was so much
winter clothing wanted at once that I
could not buy that way. so | borrowed
500 and have since returned SO of
same"
In Miss Beavers's investigation "a
careful tabulation was made OF the sal
aries patrolmen were receiving before
they went on the force at $500 The
fluctuations are based on the informal
ton obtained from one hundred police
men. In almost every instance II was
found that they were getting consider
ably more than $500 year. being led
TO make The temporary sacrifice at the
prospect Of getting a steady job, with
the promise Of pension at the end.
But in experience they have found they
sacrificed much more than they
thought.
To the question, What entertain
ments do the family enjoy together"
the answers were: "Nonc: not been TO
theatre since my husband Joined the
force; occasionally going 10 movies to-
gether, but very seldom; mo theatre.
no balls, no racket since my husband
went OH the force: II haven't been
out with my husband since on the
force. Cant have many friends in,
because must keep house quiet in day
time so patrolman can rest" As for
family or social life for the husbands,
there was practically none.
Many Forced to Borrow.
In answer TO the question az to
whether money was ever borrowed,
Miss Beavers said: I'VE found that
most of the policemen answer In the
affirmative. one told me If he found A
man on his post who had TO borrow as
much as he did he would have to arrest
him for vagrancy. Here is "A typical
family budget:
'Patrolman 4. $500 has family
Of three. consisting Of self. wife and
has had severe illness, which has cost
for doctors and medicine $34. This
family shares % six-room apartment
with the wife's mother. located In an
attractive neighborhood.
Although Patrolman a. budget for
1912 was 81 .057 81 he is not In debt,
for his salary of $500 was supplemented
by drawing on previous savings to the
amount of $3.50 during 1912. Nothing
was spent for furniture. since they
share Mrs. AS mothers home. No new
clothing has been purchased since Mr..
AS appointment. and nothing is spent
for recreation and amusement.
1.-The result of all of which is that the
policeman is demoralized by lack Of
home life. and, discouraged by debts
that he has to carry over as burden
even when he gets Il raise, what Is
more natural for him than to accept
chicken from the corner groceryman?
That is the first little act of graft that
opens the way to bigger ones.
I'VE asked many OF them il they
thought II would help them II they
were given posts in the precincts where
they live, but almost all OF them, much
to their credit. replied no, because they
could not maintain authority where
they were familiar. and many would
take advantage OF friendship.
"a 4