Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-23
Letters to the Editor
Pay Police LIVING Waae

70 ihc Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir--Now that the city is in need OF
more patrolmen and trafYcmen an oppor-
unity to get the pick OF the best men OBJ
,sInable for these positions presents itself
a time when men are being laid on from
posItions where they are no longer needed: I:
men who have good records and could MI
tho positions and all requirements.
Those Who have been discharged from the
army with no real Job to follow should be
given first consideration. Applicants who
wsss the examinations should be allowed a
uving wage, an income that will mako the
,ob Interesting. say $40 n week to start
With and possibilities OF an Increase when
nsceesary to hold a man who proves him
a,if capable No man should be envied n
,vaRe that will allow him TO live In de-
c,ncy and to carry n large insurance to pro-
,sct his family in case he gets picked OF
hv some stray bullet that might not have
lccn Intended for him.
An income allowing him TO belong TO any
organization he no desires, that his family
nay be insured protection In case OF death
,,- sickness and that they may continue life
without debt facing them Depending on
charity to give them what they should have
rad II the husband OF policeman were given
,H income ba sed on the cost OF maintaining
lis family. plus the cost OF his protection
nd education, in place Of being given
certain amount Of income limited to the APP
r~opriatlon afforded allowing the payment OF
low wages ony.
A raise in wages to the present force will
oromote the best that can be produced and
= m bring good results. with the proper back,
,rg Of the higher officials. II IL a crime to
offer person employment at starva-
80, wage and expect him to produce ro-
suits on an honest basis.
Il has been proved that low wages ben
g, nobody. The Boston police. for example.
THESE men we're denounced for striking for
They pSnplled and other
Irrn put In their, places.
twenty. some OF these men who took their
u,gcos are held for crime. Imagine police
,,.n being held for crime! Policemen taken
y-um unnecessary duty would help In nlllng
,rr gaps In the force, caused by police being
supplied to ashcarts. taxicabs and numer.
ous other strike duties. which only pro-
zee, persons who not worthy OF pro-
(, ctlon. causing expense TO tho city without
any benefit in return.
This practice OF persons breaking into
ether workers Jobs from which they earn
their livelihood should be discouraged by all
10, A. workers and employers Many per-
.rs encourage this practice to reduce wages.
which means increasing the cost OF living
I'D lowering the standard. regardless OF
'nc life Of persons at the hands Of ine1-
n, ripnccd help Strikes end walSouts
should BE- truthfully Investigated. and II
would be found the employer Is as much re-
,uonsiblc az the cmploye and should be con-
. dercd as such until a settlement is reach-
.d satisfactory to both parties.
The workers. skilled or unskilled. includ.
iig city employees as we'll. should stop
hooking one another. shake hands and fol-
low plans that will protect themselves and
-he.r Jobs from persons who base their ad-
lancsment in life on their own selfish IN
d ,dual greed. which usually ends in dis
aztcr at some other persons sacrifice and
expense Accepting the next best price foG
'Eeir labor, their services become WORTH
loss and at this point they ask charity
from their brothers they have wronged. con-
dcrnIng every one alike for the cause OF
their downfall--brought on by themselves.
Many persons opinions strong
fsarst body OF men going out on strike
o. walkout in q group for more income to
Iroct tho higher living costs caused by the
+ mands OF groups such as the Ice Trust.
Fruit Growers Assooia ton, wool kinEo.
Beef Trust Coal Operators Association and
many other organizations. Why are these
osganiZed groups allowed to operate in
body when the workers are condemned for
tho same practice, tho motive in both cases
being tho same-more income7
The =. r. r. Co. Is used as a model
ample for eliminating strikes. with its Co
operative sivc-and-takc policy. which usually
rnds with the company doing the striking
in place OF the employees. Take what we
eve. Give what we take. -Four stuffy rides
'or a quarter. " you have time 10 wait.
md We will furnish a car to haul you to
Your grave for the small sum OF $50"
trust that every person will be In favor
q raising tho pay OF patroimen to $50 a
week II the new assessment goes through,
and II not, the police who are not receiving
$40 week will be raised TO $40 on January
] 1921. KICKING AND KNOCKING
Philadelphia. December "a, 1920.