Evening journal., 1920-06-18
s HOUR DAY
ASSURED COPS
Council Tells Police Com
mission to Go Ahead
With Plan
CITY WILL SUPPLY
NECESSARY MONEY

The Inauguration Of an s-hour day
FOR the Wilmington police now rests
with tho BOard Of Police COmmis-
sioners. and that body last night
promised City Council that they
would put the force on the shorter
day basis as soon as a sufficient num-
ber OF men can be procured TO prop
erly police the city.
There is 20 be no more passing
Of the buck" according 10 the mem.
bers Of City Council who discussed
she situation with the Board Of Po-
lice Commissioners and Chief OF Po-
lice Black. who had been requested
"a meet the finance committee. The
Attention OF the members OF the com
mission was called 10 the fact tnat
they had as yet made no request 70
-COuncl. either for an Increase IN
paw or FOR an increased force, that
they might give the men me s-hour
day IL was suggested that 10 would
mot be worth while for the commits
sion 10 ask for more pay for the
men at this time, The Councilman
l. agreeing that 10 might be better 70
give the men tho S-hour day nrst,
stating that in all probability the in
crease In pay would come later.
The Commission agreed TO make
formal application 10 Council Tor an
increased police force bringing tne
4 number up TO i65 men Instead or less
than 100 now. ard they were assured
that when the application was made
I it would not only be granted but mat
Council would take care or any dell
cheney that might arise through put
4 tlnr into effect the S-hour day.
All the beginning Of the session OF tne
finance committee, which was attend
ed bv the entire Council, II Was
mutually agreed that there had been
a smisunderstanding," but at the close
Of the session last night 1t was agreed
that there Is no longer cnahce Aui
any MISUNDERSTANDING; -, .h,
Charles Forwood. chairman OF uhs
finance committee. stated that ~ wa
his impression that the members ol y.
fhe hoard had agreed 10 the cut li
the department appropriation on IN,
- crourd that when they could 81
snflcent men 90 put the S-hour plai
I'M eject. Council would support th'
William B. Msgear, a member q
the commission. said. we unuest'
stood that I'm cutting the approprl
i ation 10 s226OOO. Council was gym.
us the most that they could see theh
,Uav clear 10 do. We feel mat II w
(. cniId saw That the elght-hour. plai
,vas 10 become effective we Would oD
lain me men" Mr.. Megear SAID INA
L.. he felt the necessary number OF me- me-
Il might be obtained ia ihree niontins nlia,
I'VE cannot go ahead ana ellplo'
ovtre men without we have the as
HI enrance that we can pay them, Mi
Neeear. further stated. ie aaaies,l
mai This could not be managed VIII
III fhe nresent appropriation. D.,
President Samuel X. smith salu
"You said the best you could 40 wa
II TO give us s2zo'VVo. Nh inc bsf bssis or
change the present WOrhlns T,in
that appropriation because at H,r
Ia imum fhe change would require 40
men President Smith also Drough
mn the salary question lie salu II
A was in favor Of Increased pay lor vi
members OF the force. .t,,.
Mr. smith cited instances or o,tlc
OF Wilmington's size that pald W. W.
II policemen much lsrser and naiI. Can am
from $500 10 $500 year, ana ctlll
- den n / $500 a year. Each or ines
cities had the eght-hour is"' NJ
si 9N M = ForIvood said that the commits
sion had made no request Tor aulnoi
itv 10 place an S-hOur day 10 enee
|"ir the commission will make such
request. we can settle the maDer "a "a
iefacfOrilv" Mr. FOrWOOd auue
General pusev Wickersham stat.
"The commission will ash Council
authorize minimum force OF ],
. men" Mr.. Megear offered TO preseI
the request In writing" IN ten mli
uies. IL was agreed that the reque
o. would be presented without delay.
All the members OF City Coune
expressed themselves as faVorlng u
e-hour day although several stat,
that they had heard that many men
bers OF the force preferred an intrea
In pay President Smith said th
many Of the older men wanted mo
money. 81 favor the shorter day ar
feel the men should have more PIT
n, Mr. Smith added. Councilman kal
Who presided stated that Council W
not considering increased pay at th
Time"
AT the regular session or Coun