Evening journal., 1915-03-10
LEGISLATURE FAILS
TO RAISE Police PAY
Just One Vote Lacking of
the Necessary Twenty
four in the House
Mr.. ELLIOTT MAKES
STIRRING PLEA FOR IT
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, March 10.-Lacking
one vote Of the necessary two-thirds
TO pass it, Representative Elliotts
bill to require City Council Of vii
mington TO increase the salary of po-
licemen of that city fifteen per cent
was defeated in the House yesterday
afternoon. This bill required a two
thirds vote (twenty-four) and TWEEN
ty-three members voted for il. The
bill was defeated once before but Mr.
elliott had the vote reconsidered and
the bill restored to the calendar. Sew
eral members were in sympathy with
the purposes Of the bill but voted
against it because they believed that
each municipality should determine
such matters as part of its home rule
rights The vote on the bill follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen. Carey, Daley.
Dickoy, Donovan. Elliott. Hall, Hance,
Hastings, Jones, Kenney. Lingo. Ma
brey, Milbourne. Rash. Richards
Roach. Salevan, schwatlSo. Vaughn,
Webster and Wiiliams-23.
Nays-Messrs. Bender, CubbaAc,
Daisey, Davis, Downward. Hill, Hoch,
Letherbury, Short and Speaker Grant
land-l0
In urging tho passage Of this bill
Mr.. Elliott made an address in which
he appealed to the members for their
support. He said
Mr.. Elliott Urges Bill.
in asking that this bill be recon-
mitted ! was moved by a feeling Of
patriotism and felt that there existed
/ quite a misunderstanding as to its
merits.
MY asking that the policemen Of
the city of Wilmington get an in
crease in salary IS not a mere object
of personal friendliness. It is a duty
we owe and a duty which we should
perform to grant a wage or a salary
sufficient for the performance OF a
perilous duty. and, l might say, the
most important duty that a citizen is
asked TO perform.
Taking it from a laborious stand
point, the occupation of a policeman
is the most pleasant and hcalthful
position that man can fill It is
not labor but a meritorious cXer-
else, walking from post to post and
making reports which he is called
upon to do.
'The reason for which / think he
should receive a most reasonable sal
airy is the risk he takes. the danger
he encounters and the perilous posi-
tions he is forced into for the protec-
tion and welfare of the citizens.
"He is the limb Of the law He Is
the object at which the scapegoat
and the thief, the crook and his al
lies, lay all their plans and frame up
to try to scandalize and belittle him
by having him made the subject of all
the filth and underlying crimes that
they can swear on him. by their un-
scrupulous lying tongues and their
perjured accomplices.
He stands in the midst of the COM
munity which he is pledged TO pro-
tect as a beacon-a bright. sparkling,
clustering light in the darkness from
which all calamity and hatred can
hurl its infirmity and corruption at
him alone and unprotected.
"He stands there in his majesty, the
protector of organized society. pledg-
! lub nluictll dl All llIItH UtlMGtu the
| assassin's bullet and his assailant,
between enemy and friend. between
riot and order, between plunderer
and plundered, between wife beater
and wife, between the bully and his
! victim, between the strong and the
weak. He stands there the target to
be shot at, to be manned and slaugh-
tered. For whom? For you and me,
for g..
being for the benefit of society. for the
5 protection of all mankind. He carries
:. his life in his hand and is willing to
Y sacrifice it for the protection and
= safety of the city and its citizens.
That's what he should be paid for.
: That's what / am asking, that we in
crease his salary that he may be able
to keep and support his family and
lay little something away, so that
when he may met an untimely, speedy
r and unfortunate death there will be
something left for his family which is
unprotected while he falls victim fol-
the protection OF others."
Ask Council 10 Increase.
II Later In the afternoon Representa-.
tive Elliott offered the following reso-
q luton which was adopted unanimous
= ly by the House:
Whereas This House of Represen
n tatives has defeated a bill providing
a that the salaries Of policemen in the
r city of Wilmington shall be increased
a fifteen percentum; and
4 Whereas. Such bill was defeated
: evidently because Of sentiment tha
, such increase comes within the prov
= ince Of the mayor and Council o
e Wilmington rather than by Legislative
] enactment; and
! Whereas. The policemen OF vii
= mington arc required TO be on dut!
l twelve hours day and seven days
I week and expose themselves at al
h times 10 dangers while protecting tn
"a lives. liberty and happiness OF resi-
dents Of Wilmington: therefore be
y Resolved. That Il is tho sense o
r the members OF this House that IN
/. City Council OF Wilmington shall a
A. soon as Il deem practicable and eN
y pedient increase tho salaries Of IN
e policemen of Wilmington fifteen per
cqnfulra