Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-06
POLICE GET BONUS
AS PAY INCREASE
Question of Appointing Colored
Men to the Force Given Thor
ough Discussion Also.

Following an hours recess, during
which time the question was aired at
length in the committee room, City
| Council last night, granted considerable
increase of pay in the shape of a bonus
to the members of the local police force.
| A petition was presented to Council
| two weeks ago by them requesting an
| increase in salary but until last night
| the city fathers" did not acquiescc.
In granting the request several Of the
| council men went on record as favorpg
the placing of colored men on the forcc
rs patroiman, and it is likely that Council
will forward communication to the
Board of Police Commissioners recon-
mending that they give recognition to
colored men for appointment as patrol
men.
The matter of appointing colored men
in the department WAS brought up by
Councilman Hopkins OF the Sixth ward.
following the passage of resolution
empowering the Police Commissioners
to distribute Is per cent OF the unspcnt
salary list each month TO the rank and
file of the department, rs n bonus during
the duration of the war.
After this resolution had been passed
by eleven aves and no naycs, two mem
bers being absent, Councilman Hopkins
stated that he thought the Police Com
miSsioners should favor his race by ap-
pointing a coiored man in the department,
if not as patrolman, then as chaucifcurs
on the patrols. and he said that the colored
race would consider 1T their patriotic
duty TO serve.
MR.. ROBEnrsOr's VIEW.
Councilman Robertson announced that
h Il Nf - Il
Councilman Hopkins, as did Councilman
Cathcart, who said that he lived in Phila-
delphia when Democratic mayor there
appointed the first oolored patrolmen,
and they had acquitted themselves with
honor in their position. Other Council
men spoke on the subject at the close of
the Council session, and 1t wns intimated
that an appeal will be made to the Police
commissioners 10 have them fill some
Of the many vacancies existing IN the
department by appointing c0lored men.
During the recess of the Councilmen
the question OF allowing the 5000 per
year wage increase sought by the pa
trolmen was discussed at length, and IL
was stated when Council reconvened
that none of the Councimen opposed
the increase, although all agreed that
such increase should be in the way of
bonus.
RES SOLUTION ON SUBJECT.
After the recess the following reso-
l1tion. introduced by Councilman Robert
son, chairman of the finance committee.
was read and passed:
Whereas The police force of the city
Of Wilmington has petitioned The
Council for an increase on the salaries
of all members of SAID force. and
Whereas, 1t appears, that because Of
said force not having been kept at
full quota. there Will be at the end of
each month 4 surplus existing in the
amount OF money set aside by the Board
Of Police Commissioners for the payment
of salaries, and,
Whereas, The Council" appreciating
the efficiency of sad police force, and
believing the members Of SAID force an.
maintaining to the best Of their ability
good order within their respective dis
tricts and are accomplishing all that a
full quota could rcasona bly, be expected