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Letter to Editor
November 22, 1910
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A letter urges the city to prioritize raising police officers' salaries to a living wage over spending on a patrol wagon and maintenance, citing the increased cost of living and inadequate compensation compared to other workers.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
COMMUNICATED.
THE POLICE FORCE.
While the efforts of the Board of Police Commissioners to bring the police force of our city to a state of greater efficiency is very commendable, it is the opinion of a great many of our citizens, that instead of the expenditure of $500 for a patrol wagon and the $520 required for its maintenance, it would be better, after the installing of a telephone system and the establishment of a pension fund (if a feasible plan can be devised), that any other money the city can afford to appropriate should be applied to raising the salaries of the men employed on the police force.
While the compensation of so many wage earners and others in the business branches have been advanced to meet the great increase in the cost of living these men are still receiving wages less than helpers and laborers in the various trades, a wage rate that must be totally inadequate to properly provide for their families.
In the opinion of the writer and a number of those with whom he has conversed on the subject, it will be the duty of city legislators when considering the raising of the standard of our police department, that the first essential will be to provide a living rate for its members, instead of the very poor salaries now paid.
E. M. B.
THE POLICE FORCE.
While the efforts of the Board of Police Commissioners to bring the police force of our city to a state of greater efficiency is very commendable, it is the opinion of a great many of our citizens, that instead of the expenditure of $500 for a patrol wagon and the $520 required for its maintenance, it would be better, after the installing of a telephone system and the establishment of a pension fund (if a feasible plan can be devised), that any other money the city can afford to appropriate should be applied to raising the salaries of the men employed on the police force.
While the compensation of so many wage earners and others in the business branches have been advanced to meet the great increase in the cost of living these men are still receiving wages less than helpers and laborers in the various trades, a wage rate that must be totally inadequate to properly provide for their families.
In the opinion of the writer and a number of those with whom he has conversed on the subject, it will be the duty of city legislators when considering the raising of the standard of our police department, that the first essential will be to provide a living rate for its members, instead of the very poor salaries now paid.
E. M. B.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Social Issues
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Police Force
Salaries
Cost Of Living
Patrol Wagon
City Appropriation
Wage Earners
What entities or persons were involved?
E. M. B.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
E. M. B.
Main Argument
the city should allocate funds to increase police salaries to a living wage rather than spending on a patrol wagon, as current wages are inadequate amid rising living costs.
Notable Details
$500 For Patrol Wagon
$520 For Maintenance
Installing Telephone System
Establishment Of Pension Fund