Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-31

Legislature when it enacted the law
1t did not define. specifically enough,
the duties and powers of the commis-
sion. One amendment carried in the
bill under consideration did this. 1t
made clear the rights of the commits
sion with reference to their control
of equipment and property of the DE-
partment. This it seemed to him,
was an essential. He pointed out that
as Il result of the lack of definite set
ting forth Of power the authority CT
the commission to even buy a post
age stamp had been questioned
While it was true that the sala-
ries fixed by the original bill might
have been ample under conditions in
the early part of 1917, they were not
now. Patrolmen We're now paid 81 -
a day, which was less than shovel
ers on the street received. Firemen
Of Lewiston, he understood. were now
to be paid SIS week. Mr.. Crockett
quoted pay of police officers in other
cities and said that he believed the
patrolrnen should be paid S3.55 a day.
Under present pay it was impossible
to secure men for the department..
Speaking Of Chief Field. he declared
him an efficient head Of the depart
ment and worth the $500 suggested in
the bill. Captains. inspectors and the
police matron. he said. were first class
officials and should be paid more
than at present.
Taking up the portion OF the bill
devoted to changing compensation CT
the commissioners from S. each, per
meeting, to $500 each. per year, Mr..
Crockett stated that, they regarded
this as just compensation. but shat
they were willing to rest the matter
with the committee and would be
satisfied with whatever was above ed.
be it 81 or $1,000.
Answering a question by Senator
Quincy. Mr.. Crockett said that last
year, though the bill made :: fixed
expense Of about $4,000 pc. year. The
city council of Lewiston cnl,' app, 20
priatcd $4,000 for the police depart
ment.
Robert S. Hodgson of Lewiston as
sured the committee that Lewiston
had a good police force composed of
excellent men. He believed that they
were worthy of their hire and ia
vored giving them the increase. He
had confidence in Chief Field and felt
him worthy of $500. He declared
there was no business man in Lew
iston who was finding fault with the
police protection received. He did
not think the commissioners should
he paid by fees. He did not think
they abused the privilege, but did
not regard it as good business to per-
nit any man to fix his own compen-
sation. Further than that it was not
known who future commissioners
might be.
At this point Commissioner Crock
EFT assured the committee that no
member Of the committee sought the
job and that all We're willing to be
relieved from duty.
Replying to an inquiry by Mr..
Brann Mr. Hodgdon said that he made
TO suggestion regarding pay Of the
commission; he was speaking only for
the officers. He had no figures re-
garding time or pay of other commits
/ sions in Lewiston. lie did feel that
/ liic Dtdk vi tlc IIS!l li IISo iIttb pNNii
reached and that from now on they
would show a decline.
| Prof. Fred c. Pomerov, another
member of the commission said that
he felt the amendment clearing up
! the powers of the commission to be
| most essential He did not approve
! of the fee system and disliked being
/ accused of abusing it. The commits
/ sion had held meetings which they
did not call and did not charge for,
, because of this criticism. To him
! $500 a year seemed reasonable. but
! he was willing to submit to the jus
tice Of the committee. He understood
that the opposition to this bill was
not to increasing the mems pay and
this was gratifying.
Speaking Of the duties of the police
matron Prof Pomeroy said they were
most arduous and that during sew
era1 months she paid, from her own
| pocket, third of her pay in the work
of helping persons. She was not re-
compensed for these expenditures.
Commissioner Crockett said that
the duties of the matron were defined
by the commission and not by the
statute. He made this statement in
response to question put by Mr..
Brann to Prof. Pomeroy.
Prof. Pomeroy said that the poll
cies of the commission were not es-
tablished; emergencies were contin-
ually arising which required new reg
ulations. In his judgment meeting
of the commission was necessary each
week.
Stephen j. Kelley. an attorney of
Lewiston, assured the committee that
he felt the pay of all the officers should