(Copyright, 1911, by the "N. Y. Morning Telegraph Co.") The Policeman Who Is the Writer of My name is not Clarence the Cop, but it ought to be. Sometimes when I think it over and wonder why I ever joined the police force I am convinced that I must be a near relative to the patrolman in the funny pictures who is always getting into trouble. It isn't often that I talk about my troubles. What's the use? Nobody would believe me. But it is a fact that when I am not worrying about my job I am distressed over money matters. Often I do not know where I am going to get the next meal. Sounds strange for a policeman to say, doesn't it? But listen and I'll tell you some things about the inside life of a cop that you may never have heard before. The opportunities in the Police Department for a young man of strong physique and good character the kind the Police Department should have -are less and less each succeeding year. Let us presume that a young fellow looks to the department as a means of earning an honest livelihood spicuously "patrolling his beat." The roundsman has his own reasons for that same view of the matter. Just take yourself as a good-natured, easygoing "joke" and you have a chance to draw down a salary of $1,400 a year, after the first five years' service. But if you insist on being honest and play no favorites with law-breakers, you will find yourself working for very much less than the salary of $800 at which you started in. Before you get your first month's pay-$66.66 -you are in hock for several hundred dollars. Some men succeed in "bulling" their way into an appointment on the force, but most of them are willing to borrow $350 to pay some politician who is in a position to get it for them without waiting. Then there is the physical and mental preparation necessary before you can stand the examination. Your political friend can help you only when you help yourself and are fit. You are advised to go at once to some preparatory school, where all sorts of test questions are answered, so as to familiarize yourself with the line of examination likely to be pursued by the Civil Service authorities. The fee for this course of mental training is usually $50, and there are half a dozen schools that are supposed to enjoy the favor of the Police Department. The course in physical training, gymnasium exercise, costs another $50. But all this is absolutely necessary, and there is nothing else for the applicant to do but borrow an extra $100. As soon as he is appointed a probationary policeman the expenses begin to mount up amazingly. From the very first month's salary 2 per cent. is deducted for the Pension Fund. This percentage of deduction affects the salary of every member of the department from the time of his appointment until his retirement. I am not saying that the Pension Fund is not actually an insurance against injury or death, but mention the deduction to show that instead of receiving $800 for the first year the patrolman really draws only $784. A policeman's regulation wardrobe includes three uniforms each year. His Summer suit now costs $16.50; dress uniform, of Fall and Spring weight, $27.50, and Winter suit, $33. The cloth and the tailoring of these uniforms are undoubtedly worth the money, but the price of the first year's outfit has to be borrowed from kind friends before the policeman is allowed to don the blue. Likewise the policeman must pay for all the repairs and, as the manual of police rules is very strict in regard to a neat appearance, a conservative estimate of the sum necessary for pressing and mending during a year may be placed at about $10. Not infrequently a uniform is hopelessly damaged in the performance of police duty-in dealing with obstreperous prisoners, jumping overboard to save persons who are drowning and in rescuing others from fire. As a rule the officer must pay for another suit, although the Police Commissioner |