Putnam patriot., 1917-02-23
COMMON COUNCILS ANNUAL
 BUDGET CALLS FOR S3O,31O
This Is An Increase of S230O Over Appropriations of Last Year. Council Votes to Increase Pay of Police Force
 Approximately Fifteen Per Cent.
Paroman Suspended From Force For One Week For Neglect Duty
 Adjourned Meeting lass Until After Midnight

The adjourned meeting of the com mon council held Wednesday night lasted we'll into Thursday morning. It WAS called for the purpose of making up the annual budget and the council recommended appropriate ms amount ing to S30, ,3l0 to be voted upon at the annual city meeting March 5th. This Is an increase of 2,300 over last year.
 During the session the pay of police officers was raised and patrolman Regis Bouthilette, who covers the business section of the city nights, was suspended from service for one week as repremand for neglect of duty. There was a great deal of dis cussion relative to police affairs and the manner in which appropriations are expended.
 Patrolman Bouthilette was suspend ed upon recommendation Of the police committee Alderman Marcy, chair manof the committee, stated that after the burglary in the Champeau store on the night of February 1lth rumors refecting upon the conduct of the of fscer on duty in that section were heard and the committee made an in- yesligation calling the officer before the board.
 Alderman Marcy stated that it de- veloped at the hearing that on the night of the break the burglars entered through rear door and put one of the night lights in the store out while they did their work. The patroiman didn't take any notice Of this. The patrol nam virtually admitted that he did not go to the rear of the store after twelve o'clock that night and did not even pass in front of the store except oa the opposite side of the street, after rsidnight. This was contrary to the esders of the captain of police who had instructed the officer to go to the rear Of the building on his rounds.
 Alderman Marcy said that it de- veloped that the officer had been lax in his duties at other times and had spent time at the fire engine house. He did not feel that the neglect had been such that the officer should be dis charged but felt that the good of the department demanded that the officer be disipiined.
 The Mayor stated that he was pres. ent at the hearing and heard the evil tteAce. He said "I think there ought to be discipline in the police depart nent and that officers should obey their superiors. If their orders work too great hardship on them they should resign. Ifsan officer is given orders to do a thing and he doesn't do it he should be reprimanded."
 "I think,u said the mayor, "that in this instance that it was more mat ter of not knowing what :his duties were than wilful neglect of duty. If any officer of this city won't do his duty when he knows what it is he should be disch arged."
 The Mayor later stated that when me patrolman was notified of his sus. pension he should be informed in what light the council viewed the matter as he felt that the officer was trying to perform his duty as he saw 1t and that ihe reprimand was merely as warn- Sug that the discipline !of the depart roent must be:maintained.
 TAe police committee :.were given few minutes to consult regarding what ,hey would recommend in the way of Eeprimand and when they returned recommended 6 suspension of . week which was voted.
 The police committee also recom- nsnded that three more time clocks De purchased for the department and plseed on patrolmen's beats to assure pseper performance of duty. They brought up ,the matter of increased pay but made no specific recommenda .iion in this matter. It was stated that ss the present wage young men are not attracted to make application for posi-. ttms as they can earn more elsewhere than the city pays it's policemen. It was thought that if a better wage is paid more men would be attracted to spply for positions on the force. Alderman Marcy strongly urged an additional man for night outy but on the ground ef the extra expense entail eA no action was taken. It was left that with the "tuning up" of the de- partment under the time clocks, in- creased salaries and other changes rec ommended.such as not allowing both night men to be off their beats at the same time, that more efficisnt service would result. That, if after this is given a trial, it is not found 10 meet the needs of the situation another of- -hser may be put on.
 It was the sense of the council that some arrangement should be made whereby the officers would not have to 20 across the river to headquarters 10 eat their lunches and thereby leave ihe city without any protection for the lime being.