Connecticut western news., 1921-04-07
MOUNTED CONSTABLE LARY VS. STATE POLICE Would Cost State Only Little More Than Present
 System

That is the question before the leg
 islature and the people of Connecti-
 cut at the present moment. Which
 is preferable, a carefully selected.
 highly trained body of men, an
 equipped with horse, motorcycle or automobile, placed at strategic
 points throughout the state, patrol
 ling the roads in rural districts and small owns, on the job continuously day and night, ready to answer in stantly call for help; or 8 body of unmounted state policemen, permit ted under the law to spend as much of their time as they may deem necessary in cities and large towns, not specially trained, not patrollinx rural districts, not able to respond promptly to a call, but largely sup plementing work which should Ss done by city police. r...
 To help in determining this ques- tion, let us examine the cost of each organization. The present state po- lice, consisting of 12 men, under the management of Commissioners and a Superintendent, Thomas F. Egan, cost the state, for the year ending June 80, 1920, the sum of $5,398. 6I per man, being $14.63 per day per man; total $64, ,063.S9. .,
 The proposed Mounted State Co., stabulary would cost the state for the first year, including the purchass of 64 horses, 15 autos, and 6 motor cycles, rations and lodgings for SC men, saddles, brides, blankets, fire arms, uniforms, in fact complete new outfit and maintenance for 91 men S3,271.80 per man, being s8.97 per day per man.
 For the second and subsequent years the cost of the Constabuiary would be per year per man, but $2,- 702.91, equalling per day per man $7.40.
 [ Thus it will be seen that the Mounted State Constabulary would be conducted at about one-half the cost per man of the State Police.
 The New York State Troopers, according to the last annual report, 1920, of the department, cost New York State $6.69 per man per d1y, $2,441.85 per man per annum.
 It is a question for the people ts decide whether the present. State Police force, as conducted under Superintendent Egan and the fiv@ Commissioners is not expendina sex- travagantly of the peoples money.
 In view of the fact that a bill is now before the legislature asking that the present State Police forcs be authorized to increase its numbers to 35 men, hese relative figures be- come of immediate importance. At $5,338 per man the enlarged Stnts Police force would cost S1S6,530.U0 per annum. For the limited service they could render this would seem to be most unwise expenditure.
 The figures of costs and numbers of men of present police force arc taken from the published Stato Records of the Finance Board and the State Register and Manual for 1920. The costs of the Mounted Constabulary are supplied by the Citizens Committee from figures ob- tanned rom the ouperlnJenuenLs sot and New York Stats Troopers and correspond with tho figures actually paid by those or 
 Why the present State Police force needs to expend much more than double the cost per man of the New York Troopers, and about double the cost of the Proposed Connecticut Constabulary, including dost of en- tire new outfit needs explanation.
 Let every citizen compare these figures and decide for himself as to which he prefers, an efficient, econo- nically conducted Mounted State Constabulary or an enlargement of 9 m extravagantly financed Stata Police.