Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-07


You are getting well paid for what
you are doing" Mr.. Ward said
How do you know | ann" MIR. Davis
asked, in reply adding: For 20 years
was brakeman on tho railroad. y
II know your method" MIR Ward
remarked. "you have demonstrated it
before"
TO CONFER WITH POLICE BOARD.
After the matter had been debated at
some length, AT the conclusion Of the
| hearing, it was decided To have general
| public IN seting ON the subject III tho
| Council Chamber next "Wednesday night,
| which the members of the Board of Police
| Commissioners, the Central Labor Union
and the Non-Partisan League OF Del
aware will be invited to attend.
Before reaching this decision II was
| pointed out by Messrs. Robertson, Kane
| and some of the other members of Council
that the latter body IS powerlesS 10 mako
| any effective move, as the Police Board
| Is working under State law, but the
| feeling was that an exchange of opinions
| and dissemination Of information from
other cities might make il possible TO
| reach an agreement with the Police Com
! missioners whereby the latter could see
! their way TO change the system so rs tn
| get results without following the present
plan.
| Prior TO giving the data he had OBJ
! tanned Mr. Davis told the Councilmen
| that If II was their desire he would have
| police authorities from number OF other
cities appear before them 20 answer
| questions concerning their police de
| partments. The Councimen did not,
| however, feel that this was necessary,
| though number of the letters were
| vague and did not give the information
desired.
| Mr.. Davis made the accusation that
the Non-Partisan League had been
baked in its effort to obtain information
| from some of the cities to which it had
written letters.
| Mr.. Ward, who had n number Of
similar letters before him from several
cities, expressed the opinion that Council
| had made no such move, whereupon Mr.
! Davis said he did not refer TO Council.
/ Concerning the possible outcome of the
| proposed negotiations with the Police
! Commission, Mr. Cathcart said if nothing
| appreciable could be done under the
present law it might he. possible 20 have
some legislation on the subject.
| MIR. Davis said the league he represent
| Police Department, but believed it could
| be enforced III some other way without
imposing hardship on the policemen S
| families.
Councilman Kane said Council was
not in sympathy with the present method
here, but Council has no authority to
change it. Councilmen Harrington, Alb
berger. Cathcart ana some otner mem
bers felt that conference with the Police
Commission would do no harm, neither
would it do any harm for Council TO
express its opinion III the matter.
John Dougherty. visitor, expressed
the belief that an eIght-hOur system for
the police would be the best for the men
and the city lie was opposed to the men
beng required 10 work without pay.
The matter of permitting the Police
Commission TO give the men i Is per
cent bonus during the war Was not dis
posed OF last night, Chairman Robertson
of the finance committee. to which the
matter had been referred, stating, when
asked about the matter that Council
Is not in d position to do anything in
that behalf at this time
HOW OTHER CITIES ENFORCE DISCIPLINE
Following is the gist of the information
obtained in replies to letters sent to
different cities 10y the Non-P Partisan
League, requesting information concern
ing the enforcement of discipline in the
police departments Of those cities:
Dayton, O.-Loss Of days from vaca-
ton, also suspension for periods from
three days 10 a year; imposing OF from
five TO 90 dement's, and when q mans
merit average runs down to 20 he is
automatically discharged; three suspen-
sions in year work automatic dismissal.
Cleveland, O.-Deduction from vaca-
ton, furlough, discharge and suspension
without pay; or fine. with appeal to the
Civil Service Commission, which has
final jurisdiction.
Baltimore. Md-Deprived of leave.
fined or discharged. Drunkenness works
dismissal
Albany \. ! -Reprimand; with
holding pay not exceeding 80 days; sus-
pension without pay or dismissal
Los Angeles, Cal Fined certain
number Of days pay, which goes to the
pension fund Jas rs the case in Whining
tom suspension or dismissal.
Salt Lake City, Utah Suspended for
| from 10 to 80 days, length OF service being
considered, or discharged the men, as a
rule, being permitted to resign instead Of
New Orleans, La-Merit and de
merit system, with up TO 80 demcrits,
| 90 in year automatically dismissing
| the offender The dement's can be can
| celed by good behavior
Portland, Ore-under army discipline
rules Men charged with offences are
tried by an efficiency board composed of a
captain, Inspector sergeant, patrolman
and plan clothes man. The letter did
not disclose the method of penalizing.
Louisville, ky.-For minor offences,
one to five days pay, which goes into
the pension fund; for serious offences,
! including drunkenness, dismissal
| Atlanta, Ga.-Suspension and dis
missal
Providence, r.. l. Fined or dismissed
Buffalo, N. Y.-Otfenders are tried by
| the city commissioners. The letter did
not state what the penalties are.
Boston, Mass Excess duty, suspen-
sion and dismissal
Birmingham, Ala.-Suspension and
/ dismissal.
Harrisburg, Pa-Reprimand, deduc-
| ton from pay and dismissal.
| jersey City, n. J.-Loss of days pay or
loss of furlough
Memphis, Tenn.--Suspension and dis
| missal
| Lancaster pa-SnsnenSion without