Evening journal., 1918-02-28
SEE NO HARDSHIPS
N COP D(CNINC" c"
City More Lenient Toward
Guardians Than Many
Others, Officials Show
AGREE THAT WAGE
INCREASE IS NEEDED

The much mooted question OF Dock
ing" pat olmen In the local Police De-
partment for infraetlon Of the rules Of
the department was discussed for two
hours last evening by members Of City
Council and the oBard Of Police Com
missioners. n.Councl chambers The
conference was arranged by City Coun-
eli. Nothing definite was accomplish
I'd. however. Data shown the Coun-
cilmen by the Police Department show
I'd that the local commissioners were
more lenient on its employees than
commissioners in many other cities.
The only definite conclusion reached
at the conference was that the local
police were not receiving enough
money. and 1t was stated that the
comm. .ssioncrs were going TO appear
before Council and urge that body TO
provide more pay for the men. The
commissioners favor the bonus plan
while the war is on.
The conference was opened by Coun-
Gilman Ward. chairman of the police
committee, who explained that the
docking system was unpopular hero.
Tho discussion which followed was
frank. William B. Megear. one Of iho
commissioners, read Rule No. %, which
defines penalties for infraciion Of the
iules Of the department. u is this rule
that has brought opposition % ihe
docking system.
Mr.. Ward asked tine commissioners
if they were willing 70 deviate any
from this rule OF making a policeman
work without pay. but the commits
-ioners explained that they had indi-
D 20 fa d
me letters they sent q short time ago
iu reply to the Voters Non-partisau
League and the Central Labor Union
10 was admitted by the board that they
are willing to make any chsnee thai
viii be for the good Of the department
The record Of the department for
the past "a months relative 20 the
lining Of patrolmen showed that dur
ing this period % members Of the force
ave been fined % days pay. The same
men have lost 293 days because of sick
less or other excuses for being on duty
ror'these 293 days they were paid, the
hoard explained. 70 was admitted 10y
ile board that some members Of the
f1rce would stand for a fine Of n few
lays pay II they were not compelled 10
work just 10 set that number Of days
vacation.
The question Of punishing q man by
deduoting days from his vacation periof
was suggested. but the commiss loners
aid that this would work a greater
hardship than the present system. The,
aid the policemen would object 20 thi.
more than they do 10 being fined as
lcy 1re now.
70 was also shown that some mer
have been before the commissioners
sleven times while the rules cali fol
their dismissal on their fourth appear
lnce before the commissioner. This
fact, alone showed the Councilmen tha
the commissioners were lcnient wifi
the men.
The Portland. Oregon system whici
forms the basis Of a system which som'
residents have been advocating for tn
police force Of this city was held y b
much more severe than the rules il
force here, and It was admitted that o.
MI the systems referred TO from othel
cities none 0f them Is as lenient witt
policemen as the one IN effect here
The commissioner also stated tha
The adoption Of an eight-hour day hcr'
was impossible because OF the limited
number Of men in the department bu
they 3, id they wers wiling 10 do any
thing lnat would assist IN uphuildins
The department.
some Of the Councilmen thought q
for punishment a policeman were IN
ID a stated sum of money u might b'
different from fning him a stated
number Of days pay, thinking the
sound Of the punishment might hav'
q different effect.
The Councilmen admitted In the enc
that the Police Commissioners are
moro lenlent with the men than they
had thought and they also admitted
that the department is run differently
from what they had understood it wa!
managed. but they insisted that the
docking system Is unpopular. The
members discussed the situation a
length, but finally adjourned without
coming 10 any definite conclusions OF
he subject.
WEST PREPARATORY SERVICE.