Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-12
AGREE. ON Police PAY.
after LONG WRANGLE
Council Members and Com
missioners Finally Adjust
Matters on Compromise
MOST PATROLMEN
TO RECEIVE $1,000

Members Of City Council and the
Police Commissioners wrangled TOT
more than two hours last night over
the much discussed questions, Who's
who in Council and who shall de-
termine the wages OF members Of the
Police Department" AT the conclusion
tentative plan was agreed upon
whereas Council. as a committe OF inc
whole. fixed the salaries Of patrolmen
under a graded scale. Patrolmen on
the force previous to January, under
this plan. are to receive $1,000 year.
and those appointed since January l.
$3.50. Under the agreement the Polce
| Commissioners are TO fix the salaries OF
all other members OF the department
While these questions were belhs
threshed out, members of Council ana
the Police Commissioners engaged IN
discussions which at times became so
spirited that George T. Lyon, presl-
dent OF Council. had to rap for order
Council at its meeting tonight VIII
receive the new schedule OF wages
and IL is expected that It Will De
passed. Council will then appropriate
additional money 10 the Police COM
mission. with practically all OF the
patrolmen receiving $1,000 year IL
will probably require a considerable
sum more than the S21,5OO appro-
priatod by Council.
II was stated that the new scale as
agreed on last night is similar TO tnal
embodied in the Connolly bill which
was passed by the Legislature, lou'
not signed by the governory, with q
! few minor changes.
The new scale will call for the fol
- lowing wages: Chief. $500; captains
$500; sergeants $500; detectives
" S14OO; patrolmen. $1,000; surgeons
!, 500: matrons, 500; superintendent
- of reporting system. $500; lineman
4 $1,000; janitors, 500.
The new scale provides that all OF
ficers appointed since January 1 ans
from now on are to be graded. with
minimum wage Of $50 per month. 10 vii
be four years before these officers re
/, ceive 500 a month.
The conference on the subject las
q night was arranged at the request @
CITY Council and the Police Commits
sioners had a written opinion from Cit
Solicitor Thomas i. Bayard settin
! forth that the commissioners had a RICH
7. to set the wages of the department
u Council rs a whole thought that as Oh
previous councilmen had promised I'll
ratrolmen 500 a month, IL should
given them. The commissioners all
made il plain that they were not o.
posed 70 tho wages of the patrolm'
being fixed az 500 per month, but tn
contended that not enough money h
been appropriated.
The fight for the officers increa
was led by Councilman James F.ltc
ertson chairman OF the finance COZ
mittee and the arguments betwe
Councilman Robertson and the me
bers Of the commission we're spirite
This was especially true when w
liam b. Megear, a member OF the 4
lice Commission said 1T was "a que
ton of who was going TO regula
the salaries in the Police Depai
mnet." This caused Councilman 10
ertson TO ask, "Why did you con
M here?" Megcar replied. I'VE we
invited Il was not our own vollti
and ~ we are not wanted we will 7
tire"
This caused Mr.. Robertson 10 e
claim: you can leave If you want "a
Councilman Menrns. Of the Seven
ward. came to the rescue. and settl
the argument by suggesting IN
Council and the Commissioners ma
someone in authority define their
speciive duties as Council did n
wan. to exceed their authority
take any from any one else.
l The plan suggested by the Comm
I sioners, which provides for a grad
system was explained in detail
j. General I. p. W.ckersham. preside
= Of the board. who was corrohorai
I'm his statements by COMMISSIONS
- S. K. Smith and Mr. Megear.
Following the arguments the co
l. missioners retired for a conferen
e and a. the conclusion they sta
q that they would agree 10 have
Q wage scale set at 500 for the
J. trolmen appointed prior TO January
d and they would also submit TO {
Council an itemized list, and the e.
J. mated amount OF money needed
a addition to the amount already
q propriated.
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