Evening journal., 1914-09-25
PLAN TO Increase
PAY OF policemen
Councilman Slower Offers
Resolution to Abolish
the Traffic Squad
ACTION is DEFERRED
ON IT FOR TWO WEEKS

That the proposed mounted police /
squad be abolished and the money ap- /
propriated for that purpose by City /
Council be used to increase the salary
of the police force from Chief Black
to the patrolmen, was the sense of a
resolution presented to Council last
night by Councilman Slower. After q
recess of fifteen minutes 10 consider
the resolution, action was deferred for
two weeks and the Police Board will
be notified to take no further action I'm
making appointments until the StOv-
er resolution mad been acted upon.
COuncilmen McDormott, Grantland,
Williams and Kane objected to taking
immediate action upon the resolution
last night while Councilman Draper
lined up with Colonel Slower and said
he was willing to vote for the reso-
luton at once
Under the pending resolution the sal
airy of the chief OF police would be in
creased from $500 to S2l0O a year; the
salary of the captains would be in
creased from $1,000 to Sl32O a year; the
salary of the sergeants would he i'm
creased from $1,000 TO Sl0sO a year, and
the salary of the patrolmen would be
increased from 5000 TO 5000 year.
The Stover resolution in full is as fol-
lows:
Whereas, On August p, 1914. The
Council OF The Mayor and Council of
Wilmington passed the following reso-
lution
Wilmington. Del, August 27, 1914
Whereas, Section 6. of an Act of the
General Assembly of the State Of Della
ware, entitled An act to provide for a
municipal Police Commission for the
city of Wilmington passed April Is,
1893, provides that, among other things,
'Ihe said Board of Police Commission
ers are hereby authorized and required
Immediately upon entering upon the du-
ties of their ONCE. to appoint. enroll
and employ a permanent police force for
the city of Wilmington which po-
lice force may be increased by the said
board from time to time. provided
there is passed by a majority vote of
the City Council resolution recon-
mending the same. and
Whereas, In May, 1914, Commits
sioner l. p. Wickersham, representing
the Board of Police Commissioners. APP
penred before The Council, as The
Committee of The Whole Council, and
requested the appropriation OF funds
( for the maintenance of q mounted traf-
/ &c squad of seven additional police
men, giving the ideas of the Board OF
| Police Commissioners regarding the
qualifications and duties of said traffic
squad, and
Whereas. The Council of Whining
ton, believing that the appointment of
such a squad Is n public necessity, as
requested by the said Board, therefore
be IL
"Resolved by The Council of vii
mington That the Board OF Police
Commissioners be, aud they hereby are
authorized TO Increase the police force
Of the City of Wilmington by the APP
pointmcnt Of the number of addition
al men named above and in accord
ance with the request of the said board
as outlined by is representative, Com
missioner Wckersham. at the time
above mentioned
whereas. IL appears that the
foregoing resolution is insufficient and
not i'm accordance with the require
ments of the law in the premises, and
"Whereas. Recent developments have
demonstrated that the method employ
ed by a majority of the members OF
the Board of Police Commissioners in
selecting the men for the proposed
mounted traffic squad, is not in ac
cordance with the plans outlined by
Police Commissioner Wickersham, rep
resentng the Board of Police Commis
sions. at the time he appeared befor'
The Council and made request for tn
necessary appropriation, nor for th
best interests OF the city of Whining
ton. and
Whereas. in the opinion of th'
Council a mounted traffic squad Sc
lected and organized as contemplated
by a majority of the members OF tn
Board of Police Commissioners
would not guarantee that increasei
efficiency and police protection whicl
IL was intended by the Council q
secure through means Of q carefull
selected and properly organize
mounted traffic squad, and
| Whereas, I'm view OF the above
iH the opinion Of The Council tina
the interests OF the citizens of vii