The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-18


~ ~ Let New York Do Full Justice 20 Its
1ei Loyal Protec tors Against Crime
% and Fro.
Again the respectful petitions Of the
New York policemen and the New
York firemen for the establishment OF
scale Of compensation more nearly
adequate to the present high cost of
existence come before the Board Of
Estimate. This proceeding, as here
tofore In the experience of our own
town, Is an appeal for justice, unac-
companied by any threat against the
peace and order Of the community.
There Is no trace Of the Boston spirit
There is no Indication OF intent to
raise the dangerous issue with which
Washington is menaced. These fine
bodies Of loyal men In the municipal
service have their benevolent associa-
tons, legitimately organized for mu-
tual benefit and for the more effective
promotion of the welfare of the indi-
viduals concerned; but this is widely
different matter from the attempted
Ia ''unionlzing" Of the police force, or
the flremen's force, in the sense re-
Gently illustrated with appalling sig
nifcance by the police strikers and
y :deserters in Boston.
ar The vast difference must be kept
clear In everybody's mind. We have
auid Of hn tnlara
by these petitioners for fair living
10 wages Of the abhorrent idea that un-
der any circumstances can their al
legiance and obedience be transferred
Z from the authority to which allegiance
and obedience are due BY law and by
the oaths they take when sworn into
the city's service-virtually trans
ferred to the control Of another au-
.; thority unrecognized by the laws of
ne their employment and unmentioned in
~ the oaths which they have taken.
Here, then, in the matter which
goes to the Board of Estimate to-day
81 or tomorrow, no question is involved
Of possible desertion of duty, or of
that topsy-turviness of view regard
ing the policeman's relation to the
U.s. community employing him which
20 would transform the sworn guardian
of law and order into its most perni-
% cious assailant. No question of ."rec-
ognition" or utilization" ent4rs. 1t
is simply question of granting to
the city's indispensable officers dol
lars sufficient to enable them to main
e. tain themselves and provide for their
families In a manner conformable to
position under conditions which have
> deprived the nominal dollar of about
half its purchasing power.
THE SUN, as our readers know, has
~ been greatly interested in bringing
about such a readjustment of pay for
the police and the firemen of Greater
New York. At the time of their last
application to the makers Of the mtl-
nicipal budget we were glad to be able
TO render some help; but the increase
then granted was not sufficient. We
consider the scale of salaries sug-
gested by the Patrolmen's Benevolent
Association and the Uniformed Fire
mems Association as well within the
bounds of fair treatment. We hope
they viii get what they ask. We hope
the representatives of the Hylan Ad-
ministration having voice in the
matter will see the merits of the case
as The Sun sees them; and we are
quite sure that while the attitude OF
the petitioners remains so proper, so
reasonable, so void OF any thought of
resort to the methods which have dis
graced the Boston force and which
threaten the very foundations of So
9 cial order, these splendid fellows, to
= whom every man, woman and child in
New York owes SO much every day of
- the year and every hour of the day
- and night, will have the sympathy and
= support Of our merchants. our taxpay-
- ers and our citizens generally.