The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-01
Police COURT IS
| SMASHING RECORD.
S1CO|N PRODUCER
Department Indicates 1t Will
Greatly Exceed "Quota."
Fines for Half Year Almost
Equal Total for 1919./

That the Memphis police department
will greatly exceed its quota as a
revenue producer is clearly demonstrat-
ed by figures available for the first
half year during which time the
| amount collected by the city from fines
and forfeitures almost equals the total
| for the entire year of 1913. During the
entire year of 1919 the money accruing
to the city treasury from fines and
forfeitures amounted to $69,s45.77. The
estimated income, according to the
budget published by the city, for the
present year is 100000. Commissioner
Edgar said Wednesday that he expects
| the gum to reach SiSb, 600, " Ac ctuaf cod
| lectipns from Jan. to June 30, 1900,
y IN eiint 10 S60, ,165.2S or a total OF $i2gs
| 330.s6, for the year at the same ratio
The 1919 budget for the police depart
| ment was $2l6,9O0, but the actual
| amount expended was S316, 900 In round
numbers. The 1920 budget calls for an
| outlay of $420,00O, but Commissioners
Edgar says that the total will reach
approximately $460,O00 or an increase
over the preceding year of $144OQ0.
Expensive This Year.
The police department is, according
to figures available, to be one of the
most expensive departments of the city,
taking into consideration the class of
work and the fact that at the end Of
the year the work accomplished VIII
be visible only on paper in the form
of figures.
Mr. Edgar denies, as do other city
officials, that the police department is
operated primarily for revenue from
collection of fines and forfeitures. Ar
rests for traffic violations have in
creased tremendously during the first
eight months under the present ad-
rninistration. The traffic squad has
been increased materially and traffic
rules and regulations have undergone
complete changes, but the commissioner
of police declares that records will
show that approximately half the ar
rests fer traffic violations are dismissed
in court.
Raises in salaries by the legislature
during the early part of 1919 was large
| ly responsible for the big increase in
the amount expended last year over
the amount called for in the budget.
Under the present administration many
new offices in the police department
| have been revived or created and sal
aries Increased In addition to this eX-
pense the furnishing OF uniforms to
policemen entails approximately $4,000
annually. The purchase of new filing
systems printing of hundreds Of new
forms for peports, creation Of police
school and travelling expenses for po-
| lice officials to conventions and other
cities to study methods make up the
ulllNlNli'V AAi NAN bhuPFto loi NiN N"b
years
Personnel Changed.
During the eight months that the
present administration has been in Of
flee the personnel of the police depart
ment has been changed twice, accord
ing TO Commissioner Edgar. The force
normally consists of approximately $50
men. Since Jan. l there have been ap-
proximately $50 names on the police
pay roll Due to this condition, Mr..
Edgar said, the police force has had at
all times this year a very large per-
Centage of inexperienced men.
The department is fast rounding into
shape" Mr.. Edgar declared, and we
| are getting things in shape to operate
as we should. We are replacing all
men who resign or are discharged with
young men and they will be trained in
| their work and l believe that by the
first of the year the department will be
| in first class condition.
The purchase of additional automo-
| biles, new police signal boxes, installa-
| ton Of new equipment and many other
reasons are assigned by Mr.. Edgar for
/ the large increase necessary in the po-
| lice department budget and the esti-
mate that the budget will be exceeded
| by $4,000,