The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-10-15
MRS. MASON PLEADS FOR
A LARGE POLICE FORCE
Pepsa cola Fla DOT IN 1914

Pensacola, Fla, Oct. 10, 1915.
| Editor Pensacola Journal
| In your Journal of the 9th and 10th
| inst. I see that our Honorable Mayor
| intimates that there will be no salaries
paid to the city employees on the 18th
| of this month unless the budget is
| passed. This is certainly going to work
| a great hardship, not only to the pen
| pie employed by the city, but to others
as well. Only a few days ago we
were earnestly solicited to consider
| the 5th Of October as obligation day
[ All were persuaded any honest debt
that they could possibly find the money
to do so, to pay it on that day. There
is many an employee of the city that
| has obligations to meet and is only
| waiting to obtain the small amount he
has earned to meet this same obIiga-
ton. When he obtained this credit he
knew that the city had funds. He had
no reason to believe otherwise than
that he would receive this compensa-
ton due him for actual services rem
dered, and so he promised the grocer,
the butcher, the baker, rent man, etc.
to pay on the first and fifteenth of
each month. These merchants, land
lords, rental agents, etc, have no rea-
son to believe but that he would do
so. Now, like a bolt from the blue
sky, comes the news that unless Ger
tain measure is passed the entire num-
Der of those that have already given
their services must leave the money
lie idle in the city Golfers until one
man sees fit to let it be paid.
In regard to the passing Of this bud
get I have just this to say: l know
very little about politics. Much less
n Zee Of
but do think if our Mayor had called
for the assistance of his political
friend and compiled this same budget
and had it incorporated in his platform
before the election and advertised it
thoroughly that he intended to dis
charge a large number of employees,
there would have been quite a differ
ent ending to the election. No. every
one that could possibly be found room
for were employed up to and for a day
or so after the election; then, one Of
our commissioners suddenly finds such
urgent need of economy that he ad
vocates laying off a round bakers
dozen of policemen. He advocates this
al a time when we most need the pro-
lection of these same men. Only last
week a lady, an officers wife, was
relieved of her purse containing most
of her husbands salary. This hap
pened in the busiest section of the city.
With the times as hard as they are
at present this is likely to be repeated,
and no telling just when and Nwhere
it will be. With the hundreds of un-
employed walking the streets the diff
ference between mine and thine IS
likely to be forgotten. The presence
of our blue-coated friend has quite a
restraining influence
The police force and fire department
have lived on half rations for several
months. When they were finally re-
stored to regular time they were al
most swamped with debts that had ac-
cumulated. Now. before they have
even caught up with what the reduc-
ton has forced them into, they are
suddenly faced with the probability Of
being either out of employment alto
gether or again being reduced to the
former Half Rations."
Right at the present time. I know
of more than one employees family
that are compelled to subsist on Two
meals a day. BY cutting out one square
meal each day they were hoping 20
extricate themselves from the predica-
ment that sickness and misfortune and
loss of time had forced them.
Some of these men are brave enough |
to tackle the toughest of tramps, |
drunken sailors and soldiers, to patrol |
the darkest alleys and by-wayS where |
more than one brave officer has for
feited his life Brave enough to rush |
in burning buildings to save life and |
property, yet. these same men quail |
at the thought that by some word, look |
or deed they may lose their jobs and |
their wivea and children be compelled ]