New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-30
More Money for the Policemen

More Money for the Policemen
Police Commissioner Woods's plea
to the Board of Estimate for addi-
tional members of his force and for
paw increases for first grade patrol
men, captains and inspectors ought
to be granted if the authorities can
possibly scrape up the necessary
money. The Police Department de-
serves much at the hands of this
community. 1t is now by long odds
better than it has ever been, cleaner,
freer from graft, more efficient. 1t
has recently done notably good work
in the transit strike. That service
has received much praise, but praise
pays no grocery bills. The men de-
serve substantial recognition, in ne
gotiable coin of the realm, if it be
within the possibilities.
There has been no increase in the
numbers of the Police Department,
save for the men put on temporarily
during the strike, since 1913. The
regular roll this year is some 200
men short of the number on the roll
in 1914, for there were budget cuts
in 1915 and 1916 which caused the
Commissioner to carry untitled every
vacancy in the force. He wants to
add 235 men to the patrolmen at
present available. That is an emf
nently reasonable request. If it were
granted the city, considering its
population, would still be under
policed according to the scale of po-
lice to population in most of the large
cities of this country and Europe.
If New York, in proportion, had as
many policemen as Philadelphia, the
force would number 1883, instead
of some 10000; while if we had as
many guardians as London, there
would be an army Of more than
5000 bluecoats.
Nobody contends that this city is
over oliced at present. The mani
fest fact is that it never before has
had so few policemen for the work
they are required TO do. The growth
of the city and the growth of the de-
mands on the department have out
stripped the growth Of the force. The
force has stood still for three years,
but the need for police activity has
not by any means. Traffic regula-
ton, to take only one phase of the
departments work, has demanded
for a couple of years more men than
ever before. Obviously these men,,
on duty all day, cannot be used at
night for a protection against law
breakers.
The patrolmen need the proposed
increase. They, like all other sal
aried men, are victims of the tremen-
dously augmented cost of living.
Their nominal salary of 81 400 year
IS not their real salary, for they have
to pay for bedding and equipment,
which means about 500 a year. 1t
is years since the higher officers of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and in
spectors-have had any salary in
crease. These men do a highly re-
sponsible work, exacting in its de-
mands, vastly important to the COM
munity. They are underpaid even
by comparison with other employees
Of the public-the higher officials in
the Fire Department whose JOBS
roughly correspond with theirs.
These requests of Commissioner
Woods have been denied by the sub
committee Of the Board of Estimate
not, it is understood, with any
prejudice TO their merit, but be-
cause there is a general policy that
the city may not spend more money
this coming year for personal SER
vice" than was allowed in the cur
rent budget. The holding down Of
expenditures is a policy with which
no taxpayer will quarrel, to be sure.
Nevertheless, the policing of this
city is one of its major activities,
affecting every resident. 1t would
be a penny-wise, pound-foolish sys-
tenn TO maintain for a considerable
period a force manifestly inadequate
for its job, and then to discourage
the members Of it by underpaying
them. 1t is TO be hoped the Board
Of Estimate will be able to reconcile
itself to meeting the demands Mr..
Woods puts forward for the men who
have done such excellent work for
the public.