Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-28
NO SHORT DAY NOW
FOR CITY POLICE
FUNDS INADEQUATE
Two Members of the Force Turned
in Their designations This
Morning.
MORE PAY FOR TEACHERS

With the failure of City Counch laSt
night To make provision Tor the ciR't ,'"ui
system that IL was thought had been
practically assured for the Police Dephit
inent came the announcement this morn
mo that two more members of the police
force had rendered their reslgnntlons, 10
bacomn effective June g, bringing the
number of vacancies up to ~, with the
indications today that more designations
orc likely 10 bc made, us the result OF the
failure 10 improve the working conditions
of the members of the force.
The members Of the department today
indicated their surprise AT the action oi
Council after thov had been assured from
several sources that the cight-hour system
would become effective The policemen
however, in their characteristic manner
would not discuss the matter.
President s. X Smith when asked
about the matter by representative o
Every Evening Of the Board ct Police
Commissioners. said the appropriation
allows the department TO retain the pres
emf conditions, with full force. lie added
that with the force dwindling as It = no"
that il may be possible sometime during
the next fiscal year, through thls saving
o( funds. to establish the eight-hour
svstcm. The appropriation docs not
hermit this now, nor does It provide lot
more pay.
Viewed from the public safety stand
point. the situation il not assuring, ior
II does not indicate an adequate ponce
force az least for the next SIX months Al
Council meeting last night Chairman
Forwood Of thc finance committee said.
however, that Council might hc N
noaition 10 help the Police Department
later in the year.
IN connection with the failure Of the
cirht-hour system plan to he provided tor
II became known today that tho petition
Of the patrolmen asking for more money
had been withdrawn by them after CON
ference had been held at which they ielt
that they were practically assured that
thew would receive the eight-hour sys'
ten. upon the condition that they with
draw their petition
The two policemen who resigned art
Edward Hickman, who has been on th'
force several years. and August
Sninken. who became member about
six months ago,
The designations received today state
that the men are reslgnlng TO accept botte'
positions. with more money and shorte
hours In connection with the working
conditions of the department, IT Is th'
only one in the Public Building that j
omen "a hours n day. Patrolmen have ~
HOLIDAYS. work seven days week. hay,
no SATURDAY. afternoons or sundays 81
and have to work II hours each day, eNcep
when the shifts change each week, whel
they work Is hours on the street and m
men al the police station work - hour
straight
/ In connection with the announcement
that the appropriation hy Council Is NOR
/ than made last wear for the police depart
I rnent II was explained today that Ilt
4 CnuucI apnroprlated the Same amount Q
money last voar, but that as the depart
nent was short handed II was possible 70
+ the current fiscal wear To turn back 10 ia
city treasurer $40. 600 of tho appropriate
1 that had been made for the department
/ $1,000 MrNIAirM PAY ToR TEACHERS.
In contrast with the Police Dcpartmen
the Board of Education received All II I'm
( reason 10 expect III the matter IF mex
+ wears appropriation. according 70 Georg
RomneI president or the bosrd As
result. the board he said. viii give tn
teachers all they ask. IN the matter {
increased pay The minimum, now So
+ /, wear, will be raised 20 $ 600 staTfin
/ with the beginning If the next school veal
/ in September. and the ma mmnm will b
Z substantial, rated on the basis q iengt
+ Of service Janitors will also get a z
/ per cent increase. while the officers will p
advanced accordingly
The board had also asked for s35O00
+ for the erection Of new school bmIdln
! in the Twelfth ward This was eliminated
bu, Mr. Rommel said after all he though
il would be better TO negotiate loan TO
the erection Of this building and that i
probably what viii he done.
However. the board. Mr.. Rommel said
/ expects 10 receive about $3.50 600 as II
( share Of the state treasury surplus which
4 bv recent legislative enactment. Is 70 b
apportioned among the school districts q
/ the State As this money can be used iu
/ general purposes, Mr.. Rommel Is Of h
opinion that slO0, 900 Of il can be apple
/ to the proposed building project IN add
! ton TO this the city VIII receive ahou
/ SIPS. 900 from the regular school fun'
/ which can be used only in helping 4
meet the payroll Of the teachers III
board will have about s94s 900 ~ Il
4 disposal in the next fiscal year whicl
/ in the opinion Of the president. viii i
! ADEQUATE for all immediate needs
The board will hold several meeting
| before the next fiscal year, and AZ OF
az them will formally establish the nc
rate Of pay for teachers
With the funds available Il Is eXpecte
/ that il will be possible 10 correct tho MOI
glaring sanitary defects 10 the schools
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