Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-08
INSPECTION MADE
OF POLICE QUARTERS
Stationhouse Visited by Represent
atives Of Central Labor Union
and Non Partisan League.

,,al abor Union, and n number of MEM
hers of the Voters Non-Partisan League
T., r;cbt made a thorough investigation
of the Wilmington Police Department
ouartcrs and equipment, guided by Chief
~ Police Black and Sergeant Hahn.
snd everyone seemed to be well satisfied
with the equipment, with the exception
of the machine gun that was purchased
some time ago. when the militia was with
drawn from the State.
This gun seemed To raise the ire of the
entire party on tour of investigation,
and Edward NJ. Davis, president of the
Non-Partisan League, said that if the
BOARD of Police Commissioners would
send him bill for 81 500 he would buy
the machine gun and ship it to Camp
nix. where IL was needed.
The men were met at police headuuar-
trrs by Police Commissioners Wicker
sham and Negcar and taken around the
department quarters by Chief Black.
Dr George " X. Forrest, police surgeon,
was present and explained the working
of the medical department TO the visitors.
The shooting gallery was next visited
and Chief Black told those present Of
the instructions the men received in the
art Of handling pistol.
While here John G. Saylor, secretary
nf the Central Labor Union asked Chief
Black If thcrcwNs any place where the
police housed men who came to the police
headquarters for nights lodging The
chief stated that there WAS no special
places for such men. hut that they were
taken care of in the cells of the police
station. Mr.. Savior further asked how
many vacancies there were on the force
and the chief answered that at the pres
cnt time there are IA When asked
L Al Il al ~.@..s
the chief answered that he thought the
National Army draft was in a way re-
sponsiilc inasmuch rs the age limit Of
the force and that # tho draft are rr"rlv
the same He stated further that the
high wages paid at different plants IN the
CITY was also IN way responsible Tor
the shortage in the force.
The working of the battery room of
the Gamcwell fire and police system
was nNplalned to the visitors and the
reportIng system was explained by Line
man GRAY and Operator liarkins. Miss
DAVIS the matrun, showed the visitors
through the wnmcns prison and ex-
plaIrcd the working of the new kitchen
n,ccntlv installed for the prepara-
tjop nf meals for the pris
Ii was upon the visit Of the inspectors
to the rest room that the reworks
started over the machine gun now in
the possession OF the department. The
first question was asked by Mr.. Davis
of the Non-partisan League. who asked
what the machine gun was for. The
answer was in case Of riots.
Mr. Davis stated that he thought il
WAS outrageous for city officials to spend
money on such articles and stated that
be thought that II would have been
lot hotter If the money was used for paving
higher wages 10 the patrulmen. The
head Of the league stated he thought that
the citizens Of the city should be protected
against such 3 gun and said that If the
Board of Police Commissioners would
snrd him bill for 81 500 the pnce Of
the gun, he would pay for II today and
send the machine gun TO Camp Dix
where il belonged.
Chief Black said that the purchase Of
the gun had been approved by the last
finance committee OF Council and that
the gun was IN case Of extreme necessity
Following the inspection Of the de
partment the investigating committee
went to the Hotel Nol Is, where a sup
Der was served and short addresses made.
Mr. Davis opened the specchmakIrg
" telling Of a trip he made TO see Hon.
Henry A du Tont whCr he was | nIted
states Senator. and asked Tor his sup
Tor railroaders and OF the refusal OF Mr..
du Pont of such support He declared
the backbone of the Republican ring had
been broken In Wilmington as a result
Of the efforts Of the Non-PartIsan League.
He said the league was responsible Tor
the fight with the gas company and the
Wilmington 4 Philadelphia Traction Co.
Some men have sand that have been
called off, SAID Mr.. Davis. They will
find that | am still IN the fight and pro-
pose 10 keep If up for the annulmgpt
of this order for docking policemen for
infringement of the rules and requiring
them 10 work Just the same II they
refuse tn quit the practice. ! pledge you
that shall send for every man SO docked
and have him come to my office. where he
will receive the amount OF pay that has
been deducted from ms salary
John c. Savior followed Mr.. Davis
and expressed appreciation of the fact
that there is one citizen of Wilmington
who is not only awake TO the needs and
welfare OF the citizens IN general, but
OF organized labor IN particular.
lit Is not falr, however, sald Mr..
Savior, that the responsibility should
rest wholly with Mr.. Davis, or the Voters
Non-partisan League. Let organized
labor generally voice the sentiment OF
TINS meeting duu uttA4dhd bllaS NAtS
Counci! shall sell the police machine gun
OF at least have II ordered out of the city
where there can be no possible Use Tor
II now, or IN the future
James Okane joined In the general
chorus Of protests against the keeping
Of the gun here "for the purpose OF
shooting down the laborlng men, as he
declared He turned TO MIR. Davis
and publicly thanked him on behalf of
the organized labor Of Wilmington for
the interest he has displayed In the past
an the welfare OF the working men, urging
them 10 keep the good work going
stuck TO IL, and the people ot Viii
mington will stick TO you, declared
MIR O'kane.
Shortly after IL o o'clock the chairman,
Leonard Cooper arose TO call attention
10 the lateness Of the hour and suggested
that while many had not had the oppor-
tuhity TO be heard the opportunity
would be afforded them little later
next Wednesday night, when q meeting
is 10 be held in City Council to which
all organized labor and those interested
In the betterment Of working conditions
and an honest administration Of the affairs
Of our city government should be present
TO voice their sentiments in any move
ment that might be brought before that
body for the civic welfare.
Several other labor union men made