Evening journal., 1917-04-19
CONTROVERSY OVER
Police pension BILL
MIR. Downward Says Con-
nelly, Father Of Act, Has
Mayoralty Bee
EXPLAINS WHY HE
OPPOSED MEASURE

Henry c. Downward, president of City
Council, and member of the House OF
Representatives, made the following
statement today relative TO Representa-
tive Connelly's recent request OF the
Police Commission that delegation OF
police officers be allowed to wit Dover,
to urge Governor Townsend to sign the
bill passed by the Legislature providing
for an increase of the salary OF the
officers:
81 was surprised on reading the paper
to notice that Mr.. Connolly had appealed
to the Police Commission for permits
sion to take a delegation down TO
Dover. Why should he recognize at this
late date the Police Commission?
"The law says That Council can re-
move any member of the said board for
cause after trial A notation on this
subject says: The Council in addit on
to still possessing the above power,
makes appropriations to the department
and the police force cannot be enlarged
or the salaries of the police be increased
without its consent This is about the
extent of its (the Council's) power The
Police Commission was appointed to re-
lieve the Legislature Of internal city ar
rangements of which the majority of
the Legislature could have no Bnowl-
edge 1t was further intended that
Council should have supervision of the
expenditures, standing, as Council does,
between the taxpayer and his money, It
is its duty to scrutinize all proposed ex-
penditures."
"Now in regard to the visit OF sew
erai city officials, including myself,
TO Dover to confer with the Governor.
AS the contemplated visit was pub
lished in the papers, there was moth
ing secret about il. nor was there any
necessity for secrecy. The city solicit
tor has already stated that he made
the arrangement to confer with the
Governor on a number of bills, one
Of which was a bill in which Mr.. Con-
nelly was the beneficiary. and which
I urged the Governor to sign. l did
not know what bills would be consid-
cred, and would have said nothing on
the police bill when 1t came up had
Mr.. Connolly not have ,intimated that
did not want TO arrange a confer
ence for him with Council. What
said / had already said on the floor
in the House, viz, that I was not OPP
posed to the policemen getting an in
crease in salary, but according to my
Interpretation Of the law the Legisla-
ture had by an act delegated that
power 20 an agency, the Police Com
mission.
"a a member OF the claims com
mittee OF the General Assembly, a
claim OF Chief OF Police Blacks was
referred 70 me. This claim was for
expenses incurred by Mr.. Black in de-
Tending himself in an investigation in
stituted by the Legislature. l said
the claim should be paid in full. The
claim was somewhat over 500. Wher
the appropriation bill came UP fol
action the amount allowed was only
s40O. AS Mr.. Connolly made the claim
accounts under his hand and made VI
the figures it would be interesting Ia
know who changed the amount OF this
claim. Further. Mr.. Connolly loudly
protested that he would not accept any
more than a certain amount for mile
aga and changed the figures on the
list to correspond with his words, hui
when the claims bill came up before
the House his amoun' had been
changed to correspond with the rest
In looking back over my Legislative
expenses OF two terms and as presi-
dent OF Council for two years. I know
of no act or speech or vote that
desire to change.
"I stand ready at any time to dc
Justice to all men and no amount OF
intimidation could swerve me from
doing my duty
81 have no quarrel with Mr.. Con-
nelly. who. like the rest of us. is try
ing no doubt. to make good although
we may differ in our methods; anc
In his aspirations to be mayor, were
he OF my party, I might wish hin
success"