Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-18
INCREASE POLICE
FORCE; PROVIDE AN
8-H0UR SCHEDULE
Board of Commissioners and FL
nance Committee of Council
Reach Agreement.
FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAK

The Board of Police Commissioners
will establish an eight hour schedule when
The number Of policemen has been increased
to I65. If on the proposed cIght-hour basis
the police appropriation OF S22o,NWt Tor tho
next fiscal wear Is inadequate rN ouhcii
will meet the deficiency. his was agreed
toat conference held last night by Coun-
cll's finance committee, the ponce com
nlssioncrs and the chief oi police Al
though designated a meeting oi the iinahce
committee, all the members OF 1ouncll
except President l.von were present. DC
cause there had been MISUNDERSTANDING
ri a conference held one month ago ana
10 prevent furt her misunderstanulhg tug
police commissioners were told 70 iofihai-
" petition Council.
Chief of Police Black estimated that 100
men would bc required TO cstabilsh an
eight-h hour schedule
Police Commissioner Smith expressed
,he opinion that additional men could not
be obtained unless salaries were increased.
lie thought the necessary men would nc
obtainahle within three months Il higher
salaries were offered.
Police commissioner NCgear Cstlmated
that tho salaries Of los men on an cight ,
hour hasls would aggregate SISO,o'N, anu
NIr. smith said the appropriation was out
$4,000
ouncilmcn Forwood. Kane and MearnS
stated Council had gwen assurance one
month ago that It would pay the addition n
a mon il they could hc obtained
Nj smith said lie understood Sllt,ooO
was the limit
several members Of Council declared
thatli had promised tomcet the dohclencv'
hut th, poncc commissioners had taken =
a.
Councilman Forwood remarked that the
nolicc commissioners had recommended
EMPLOYING additional men, but had not
made application for authority to employ
them
Police Commissioner WiCkcrsham suE-
rested sending to Council cCmmun1ra-
tIon requesting permission 90 employ
MIR. Smith stated tho police of Reading,
Pa and Trenton and Camden. !. J.. arc
on an eight hour schedule and receive
larger salaries than Wilmington paws.
Tho conferces thought better service
would he obtainahle on an eight-honr
schedule and Chief Black said better
tvpe 81 men could be obtained.
Mr.. Smith declared moro men could
be got in three months by increasing the
appropriation $50, 900 than IN SLY months
on The appropriation recently fixed
Councllmcn MURRAY and kane stated
some policemen want an eight hour sehed-
ulc. and Nessrs Black and Smith SAID
some rrefer increase Of salaries. Chief
BLACK announced that the old mon are
satisfied with the l2-hour schedule.
Mr. Smith. replying TO MIR. Mcarns,
Unmarked that Il wou 4 he a good thing
~ IN .oase policcn1en' : nav notwithstand-
ing the prospect Of other mon seeking
jobs soon Mr.. Mcarns disagreed.
Mr.. kanc recalled tho time when
e,poIitical pull was essential to get Oh
the police force.
Mi Murray stated two pounds q
hecfsteak could be bought then for =
cents.
Repeating that Council would meet tht
financial deficiency. tho members o.
that body told the police commissioners
70 petition for authority to increase the
number Of policemen.