Evening journal., 1920-05-29
S-HOURDAYUP
TOCOMMISSION
Council Thinks Police Board
Has the Necessary
Money
DEPARTMENT
ISIN DOUBT

The s-hour-day for Wilminston
policemen has been put squarely up
20 the Board OF Police Commissioners,
according 10 statements made by mem
-Ders Of City Council last night, and it
IS now a question for that body alone
10 settle. Every member Of CITY COun-
ell, some weeks ago, at meeting OF
-the committee OF the whole. which
was attended by all three police com
miSsiOncrs and Chief OF Ponce Black
pledged their support 10 the c0mnls-
sion In giving the police the o-hOuf-
day, and they now feel That The matter
rests entirely with the commission.
Councilman Charles ForwoOd, In
discussing the issue. said that he un-
derstood the police commissioners
would need at least 100 men 70 put
. teh eight-hOur system into enect
Il was said by the commissi iOners
that at least six months would be re-
quired 20 secure enough men TO ei-
feet the change from the present
svstem 10 an S-hour system. Under
the present Appropriation there would
be ample money To- pay the adgl-
tional men required 10 pui the s.
hour system into effect. The COM
missiOners now are saving about 50
80 a month through the shortage in
men. BY establishing the e-hOur
system. hiring additional men as
rapidly AZ possible there would Doe
ample funds 10 pay these men "a.
they were enrolled, Mr.. ForWooo
thinks
Members Of the finance commit
lee and the Police Commission wen
over the matter thoroughly with th,
. Board Of Police Commissioners. said
Mr.. ForWOod The plan of financing
the change 90 the ShOur. ihrcc-shif
system Was practically worked ou
and the commissioners asked II IL
could be done. We We're assured thai
the plan would be AN right.
1T docs not seem necessary TO an.
prOprialo funds for the employment
NJ 100 men in the department wher
there are not near That numbeh o
men on the force now
James B McManus. chairman of the
police committee declared the Three.
shift, S-hour system could be- STARTED
Monday morning by making the irsl
necessary changes.
"SuppOse. said Mr. McManus. "th,
commissioners started Boy annOuncInl
they would put into effect the new
system and Immediately appointed 3
new captain. possibly new desl
sergeant and "a new operator. There
are sufficient funds provided for ir
the present appropriations TO warran
these appointments
The next step, possibly. would hi
the appointment Of additional patrol
men and shortening Of the hours O
the old men as the new ones wcrI
appointed 10 ht into the new system
The matter Is distinctly up l0 thl
commissioners, said Mr.. McNanus
We all hOught the commissioner
understood the way matters stood
and that it was their intention .O 81
ahead and inaugurate the l-hour sys
tenn. We were told 70 would rcqui
. six months 10 put it into effect.
that Is so. the appropriations ape SUI
hcient 10 meet the expense"
Councilman Abrahams agreed wit
Mr.. F0rWOod's views and said th
the entire Council was unanimOusl
in favor Of an S-hOur system BE sal
4 was uup 10 the police c0mmissior
crs DO get the men and start Oh
S-hour system and Council would bac
them to the limit At the rate ih
commission has appointed men in On
last two years he doubted if thc fore
coulud De increased % i65 within 81
months. Hc though that If some b
he plants around town becam
slack. as rumOrs now state they 3i
likely N, that more men would 500
b. making application for the force
s K. smith, president Of the boar
of police commissioners. said he d
not Sc how the commissioners cQuI
re ahead and hire men unless the
knew thew would be required
work only s hours. ie said ho w
disapn0inted al the action of Cil
Council and felt they should NAV
heen guaranteed the addition
money