Putnam patriot., 1916-12-01
Citizens Signing Petition For Police Pay
 Will be Presented 10 Common Council
Captain Joseph Ryan Makes Statement

SaplalD J0Sepn Ryan makeS statement
 A petition was started in circulation, Tuesday, which requests that the i mem bers of the Putnam police force be given more pay and that the hours of duty be re.arranged
 While petition of similar effect has been previously presented to the coun- cil signed by patrolmen this is the first petition in which the citizens have been asked to join. The matter was discussed favorably by the coun- cil and it seemed to be the opinion of the members that more pay should be granted. No action was taken at that time as it was stated that there was not sufficient appropriation avsilable to grant the request.
 The patrolmen receive but S2.2h a day and the captain but S2.75. The men claim the Putnam department is the most poorly paid in the state and it is believed they are right. They work eleven hours for days work and have no days off except for one weeks vacation each year.
 At the present time, with the prices of commodities soaring and general increase in wages being granted in factories and other industries employ ing labor, the men feel that their dan- gerous and hazardous duties should be paid for in proportion to the risk they take and work they are called upon to do.
 The petition is being freely signed by the citizens who apparently agree with the men of the department and in all probability some action will be taken by the council as soon as they find they are in a position to take the step.
 When asked for his opinion of the matter of an increase Captain Joseph Ryan said that he would prepare . statement for the PATRIOT. In this statement he sets forth logically why he believes that an increase should be granted in fairness to the force and for the good of the department. The statement is as follows:
 CAPTAIN RYAN's STATEMENT.
 It has often been said that Police mans lot is not happy one. The faithful guardian of the law must be ever on guard against criminals, deni- zens of the underworld, prowiers of the night, land the swarm of constant foes of society. Hence, the continual danger tow hich he is obliged to ex- pose himself seldom elicits "Welch" from him. However, what ,eyeTy "coppern expects and what is due him in return for the faithful performance of his arduous duties, is salary of sufficient size to compensate him for his labors, and at the same time en- able him to support family in mod. crate style. Fortunately, it can be said that in great many cities in the United States today policemen are paid salaries commensurate with the amount of work they do, and the danger they naturally place their lives in. Of small percentage of cities, however, this cannot be said. These cities are content to pay their police the wages of an ordinary worker, yet they are free to acknowledge that their responsibility, is far greater than that of men who receive the same salary in other lines.
 A policeman must bestrong, healthy. neat, obliging, tactful. honest, intelli- gent, courageous and judicious. Every policeman has not all these qualifica- lions, but as a rule he has the greater part of them. Insurance men who guarantee your property draw from s ,Oo0 to s10,U00 year. The patrol man who guarantees and guards your ] life gets s2-50 or sS-J day. How much more pafrolman should get is dehs;hDle. But one thing Is certain, he,should get much better wage