New-York tribune., 1921-03-07
Police, e,Fmenen
See Trick in
Salary etition
Various Protective Associa-
tions Charge That Rank
ing Officers Seek Only
to Safeguard Themselves
Won't Help Men in Ranks
Proposed Measure Makes
Present Department Pay
a Permanent Minimum

Some light on the real significance
Of the petition policemen and firemen
are being asked to sign in support of
an amendment to the city charter to be
placed before the Legislature for ac-
ton was cast by officers of the various
police and fremens associations yes
terday.
The petitions were passed among the
men by sergeants in the two depart
ments for the ostensible purpose, it
read, of Safeguarding their present
saIares.' In reality, it was explained
Yesterday 1t is move of the captains
and other ranking officials in the de-
partments, inspired by n fear of a
slash in salaries by an incoming ad-
mlnlstratlon. The proposed amend
=. ,ment, it was pointed out. would estab-
iIsn the present wages in the depart
''iel'IS as permanent minimum.
Advantage to Officers
While this would be of great advan-
tage to Che ranking officers. Who have
oeen treated with comparative gener-
oslty by the Hy an regime. l. W ob-
lected that 1t would mean little to the
RANK anl NE. Leaders in tie roi
formed Firemen's Association saw thev
have bill of their own which they
expected to introduce before the I.eois.
nature this week, making the minimum
salary CT first grade fireman $500
instead or $3.50, the present wage.
ny acton On the capt MS aetiti d.
they asserted, would only comnlicate
efforts
The petition circulated anonvmouslv
reads; Joint committee of the three
unt formed departments-Po Fire
anG street Cleaning-w cause to be
introduced in the state Legislature a
cnarcer amendment, the purpose O.
"nicn viii be to safeguard our present
salaries. This means that the present
salaries OF the patrolmen and fremen
&C ss~4b4ls.ea III the greater -New
Il I oHK chsrter as a minimum salary.
lncreAore' the signatures OF all patrol
L'sn ana Aremen n favor Of such pro
poSeo !egl lslaton are solicited. This
proposed Legislation does not in anv
way conflict with any present or fnt1,rs
Dli's Wnlch may be introduced to in
ure" SA0s9ii0 He
1t was asserted that Mavor Hvlar
mad assured the fire captains Of ~
support I the measure /, The 4n,ro.rai
o1 tne rank and file in the departments
was obtained. - -
NO Advantage to Men
Joseph P. Moran, president Of tho
= Atro! mems Benevolent Ass0cio.ion
and Albert L. Guinness. head Of The
Onllormed Firemen's 8 Association. how
eyer, could see no advantage for the
io,vV0 members Of their orraniz:,t nre
III the proposition, INTERPRETING The
move as an effort On the part Of the
hlgner OFFICERS > buttress themselves
against possible new administration
rank and file.
Both Moran and Guinness have
warned their associates that the peti-
llor has neither been authorized nor
"ppr'Ved by TIER organizations.
You see, said one of the leaders
yesterday, "the captains have ben
treated pretty good by the Hvlan ad-
mlnistratlon. The city charter allows
1nem only $2'f6Q They now get So. 700.
wnlcn they want to make permanent,
Inc charter allows US only sl.4OO. W.
get S2,ZoO now, but we think we are
entitled TO $4,000, and that's the rea-
son we don't want to be tied I'D in anv
way with any other proposition
1he patroimen and fireman have no
tear OF Z reduction in salary. We feel
that the people OF New York are will
ing to pay patrolmen and iremen SAL
arles CORES sponding tc the work ner
formed We were given to understand
mat the only reason We did not ret the
$500 last year was because the ci+v
was unable to make provision for the
estimated budget"