Evening journal., 1914-11-18
commissioners TILT
OYER TRAFFIC SQUAD
Probability That Extra Men
For Police Force Will Do
Street Duty
GEN. WICKERSHAM'S
PLAN OPPOSED

The question of mounted police
squad for the city was again discussed
by the Police Commissioners yesterday,
when the resolution passed by Council
on Thursday recommending the appoint
ment OF seven additional men for traffic
duty was received and read. Following
the reading Mr.. Stayton moved that the
communication be filed. General Vic
kersham said the resolution provided
for the appointment of mounted squad
for the police force and he moved an
amendment to Mr. Stayton's motion
that the resolution be received and the
request for the mounted squad complied
with At this point President Bowers
stated that the resolution. as passed by
Council. did not mention the words
mounted squad. General Wickersham
explained that he had asked City Coun-
ell in Nav for a mounted squad and he
did not want TO ask Tor one thing in
Nav and vote for something else in No
vember President Bowers then put
General Wickersham's amendment, but
Il was lost. Commissioners Bowers and
Stayton voting against it. The motion
made by Commissioner Stayton TO ac-
cept the communication, was then car
ried by the same vote.
Commissioner Bowers said that
Council in passing the resolution
had provided for seven additional
patrolmen and while the word "traf-
fic' is used. mounted squad" was
not mentioned.
Following the tilt between the
commissioners, il was reported that
the working members OF the commits
sion, Messrs. Bowers and StaytOn,
intended to name the additional men
as patrolmen.
In their letter to the Council, under
date OF May 3, 1914, the Board of
Police Commissioners requested an
increase in their appropriation of
$15,270. The sum of $4,000 was re-
quested in order to pay the expense
of Installing wires in underground
conduits and for pay of a stenogra-
pher, leaving S12.270, the necessity
for which they explained in these
words:
"This increase results in the esti-
mated cost of increasing the force by
the addition of a traffic squad OF
one sergeant and six patrolmen,
horses and equipment for the same
The necessity for this in
crease at this time is. In our iudg-
ment, an absolute necessity and
should, We think. receive your favor
able consideration"
To give an exact idea of the esti-
mated cost of installing and main
tanning this squad, the figures sub
mitted by the Board of Police Com
missioners were given;
3 horses ...............s 100000
Board for s horses ..... 10000
Equipment for 8 saddle
horses ............... 25O.OO
sergeant of police. salary 100000
patrolmen, salaries ~ $4,000
Clothing allowance for z ad-
ditional men .... $4,000
Additional equipment for
additional men ......L. 5000
Total increase desired $12,27O.00
The law requires that each depart
ment of the city shall submit TO the
Council, annually, in time to be used
as a basis of compilation of the bud
get statement showing its estimated
financial requirements and the pur-
poses for which the money is re-
quired. Should this request be allow
ed by the Council il is said there is
EiafC Qhtollou as 10 Aht AtEdlll Ol
using appropriated funds for any pur-
pose other than that for which tho
item was "set up" in the budget.
The additional S12,270 requested by
the police board upon its representa-
tion that the increase of the force by
the addition of traffic squad of one
sergeant and six patrolmen, horses
and equipment for the same was a
necessity, was allowed and set up in
the budget for the current fiscal year
for this specific purpose, Il Is pointed
out, and il is said to involve a serious
question should this extra money be
diverted 10 salaries of other polio,
purposes.
There is said to be a belief that tn,
mounted squad would be available fol
use Oh Market street only. Il is claim
ed that such a squad should be avail
able for duty at any point within tn
city, at which their presence might b,
desired, such as patroling the outlyin.
districts which cover a wide territor,
and through which footmen have tron
bic patroling because of the distance
to be covered. Two OF three horse
men, it is said. in the outlying dis
tricts, would be capable of renderini
as much service as twice their numbe
of footmen.