Evening journal., 1919-12-04
BONUS FOR CITY
Police OFFICERS
ConLlnued from FIrsL Page.

| Luub4uutu Aioii illeh Edttt
William F. schell. secretary 20 Chiei
Black, served TO bring out strongly th'
low pay Of tho men at present, ont
called for their expressions OF amaze
ment and Indignation among tho alder
men
After stating that the proposition had
received tho sanction Of the Police
Commission. Palrolman Gaynor said:
I'VE flnd Il pretty hard to make both
ends meet on our present pay. We
fully realize and appreciate that Coun-
ell has been good 10 us. and we are
willing 20 continue 10 show our appre-
clatlon by doing the best work We
know how. You have given us an In
crease In pay. but we find the cost or
living has increased faster than our
salaries. It's pretty tight work TO
support a family decently on Si2o a
month, the pay we patrolmen receive.
The sum doesn't go far these days
Patrolman GaynOr then said there
were eighteen vacancies in the ranks
at present and that there had been
anywhere from IS 10 % patrolmen shy
throughout the last five months. inc
work which would have been per
formed by men fllling these places had
been done, he said, by the officers on
the force. =,
we have done much extra work.
said Gaynor, Willingly ana cheer-
fully We have withstood the lure OF
big wages and shorter hours in indus
trial plants. In brief, we have trled
our best TO do our duty. Now we ask
this bonus from the money which
would have been paid out had the force
been comp etc. II will 90 a long way
towards making a brighter and happier
Christmas for us all"
Sergeant Schell gave figures as 10 the
present financial standing OF the de-
partment. The sum Of $4,000 was re-
0uIred. he said, for the monthly pay
roll for a complete force. For the past
five months os the fiscal year, thls
meant $4,000 However, only S69,3s5
had heen paid, leaving an uneXpended
balance of S1.li7. AS the total amount
actually paid had been s69.3o3, ten per
cent OF u would be on y S693s, Whlch
would leave net balance after bonus
Of s2i7. ,,.,
Councilman Faulkner said he believed
, bonus should be given. but that itl
should be equal for every man ana not
according 10 his present salary. At
lhls iuncmre the delegation was ques-
Toned with regard TO hours Of duty ana
nav II developed that twelve hours
are served thirty days every month";
regularly, by each patrolman' LOT
which he receives Si25, or about "a cents
an hour.
'.Why | know common laborers VINO
are getting &c cents an hour inter-
Iected Councilman McManus.
Sergeant Schell, on request OF the
made some comparisons OF
police work and pay here and In other
,ities. He believed Wilmington com
pared fairly well with most cities, eX-
,ept PHILADELPHIA, which has an eight
lour day and the men are paid higher
han here.
After the police delegation had re-
tired the Councilmen took up tne
bonus question at considerable length.
Mr.. Mulvena declared he felt the low
pay given here was outrageous add
Ing with regard 10 extra WORK done Dy
The men, without any extra compensa-
ii0n. why, In most places we nave 10 /.
pay men time and a half or double time ].
for extra work President Lyon IA
yored a nat distribution OF the money,
but urged a weeks consideration Of the
subject. A. This Mr.. McManus warmed !
M and exclaimed: Il believe these men
nave earned this money by u1.hg extra
work and they should have H." Mr..
Faulkner said be believed the men
would rather have the vacancies filled
90 as 10 relieve them Of their extra du-
lies, than get the extra pay. This view
Vas concurred in by virtually all pres
INT. As a matter Of comparison, Coun-
Gilman Abberger said he knew OF girls
II only II years, who were making from
5i2 TO S5i a week.
Mr.. F0rwood, chairman Of the finance
committee, said he thought II would be
wise TO let his committee consider the
question for one week and then have
he Police Commissioners confer with
Council in committee Of the whole next
Wednesday night This proposal was
,oncurrnd in