New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-13
POlice Drive
For a Day Off
A Week Fails
Aldermen Refuse TO Sane
ton Special Revenue
Bonds to Provide for 400
A d ditionaI Patrolmen
Zeltner Urges Relief
Some Bluecoats Do Not Get
Glimpse of Their Families
i'll Two Months, He Saws

Hope of the city's patrolmen to en-
JOY day off every week instead of
day off every 81 days, as at present,
was shattered by the Doard of Alder
men yesterday. BY a vote Of 43 to
20 the board refused to sanction the
issuance of special revenue bonds
which would provide for 400 additional
patrolmen of the seventh grade at
salary of SLIGO each.
Ono purpose of the proposed in
crease was to enable the Police De-
partment to return from the nine to
the ten squad system which would
give to each patrolman six day work
ing week Assertions were made in
the Aldermanic chamber that no class
of city employees were kept away from
thir homes as constantly as are the
patrolmen. Alderman Louis Zeltner
declared he knew patrolmen "who
have never had a glimpse of their
families in two months"
"While other city employees are
snugly at home, these guardians of
the peace are patrolling the streets
and wondering whether the members
Of their families are still alive" said
Mr.. Zeltner at is one of the recog
nized principles Of modern civiliza-
ton that an employee is entitled to
one day off week"
The resolution, which was intro
duccd two weeks ago by Vice-Chairman
William P Kenneally, was not de-
feated on a strictly party vote. as
Alderman Jacob w. Friedman, Mr.. Zelt-
ner and Henry H. Curran, President of
cans, voted in the affirmative. Presi-
dent La Guardia voted against the meas
ure.
On motion of Alderman William F.
Collins, leader of the Democrats, that a
reconsideration of the vote be taken
at the next meeting, Mr.. La Guardia
said that while the motion might pre-
vail it would do no good, as then it
would have to come before the Board
of Estimate.
"The Mayor and I will vote against
it," said Mr.. La Guardia.
The motion to reconsider was carried,
but it cannot come up again, as the
board adjourned until October II.
Several weeks ago Alderman Fried
man, by resolution, requested Police
Commissioner Enright to return to the
tensquad system initiated, which gives
to the patrolmen one day off each week.
When the crime wave became pro-
nounced a nine-souad system was used,
giving the paCrOlmen DAY OH only
once in twenty-seven days.
Deputy Commissioner John A. Leach,
appearing before the rules committee
of the board, said it would be impos-
sible to return to the ten-squad sys-
TEN unless the force was increased by
400 men, Later the committee on
finance reported favorably on a pro-
posal to issue special revenue bonds to
pay the salaries of 400 more patrol
men.
When the report was called up yes
terday most of the Republicans said
if the Police Department could operate
the ten squad system during the war
when 600 fewer men were on the force,
it ought to be able to handle the situa-
ton now. Supporters of the resolu-
ton said the Commissioner had to de-
tail so many men to enforce prohi-
hilton that he was short of patrol
men. se~
Mr. Curran contended that the need
for moro patrolmen for the traffic
squad was obvious. He said the fact
that the department had been in
creased by 600 men since the first Of
the year should not enter into the
question.
''The men certainly should have one
day off week." said Mr.. Curran. A
delegation of the Patrolmen's Benevo-
lent Association appeared to urge the
increase. They expressed themselves
as keeny disappointed when the plan
was defeated