Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-22

TIE CrrY PoIIcx-Editoy Of fks star: Every
body concun with avigilance," that the day and
night police Of Washington city are worthless.
They protect no ones person or property-prevent
no fires or burglaries, and detect none Of the
offenders. instead Of vigilantly watching the
property Of the citizens, they are generally en-
gagged to preserve order at negro dances, getting
- 50 night each, in addition to their city pay,
and being tchifs gsmuisn, have the first choice Of
the liquors and confectioneries. etc, etc w hen
not loaAng at these gatherings, they are found a.
less reputable places. With such temptations
before them, their Legitimate duties neglected,
and the property Of the Taxpayers falls an easy
prey TO the incendiary and robber.
The day police are equally derelict. They have
not the Injuries Of the negro dance, but they have
the Of the restaurants and oyster cellars, free
gratis for nothing" and 1t is much pleasanter to
drink whisky, smoke cigars, aud eat oysters, than
to attend to the affairs Of the city at 5000 per year,
without the whisky, cigar and oyster perquisites.
This whole system Is wrong, and propose to his
honor the Mayor the following reforms to correct
the abuses alleged Compel the night 'ceteh to cry
the hosr Of the nighf, at srery corner Of AIS beat,
from O'Clock IN the evening to o'clock IN the
morning. They can thus be found at least once
in every hour when wanted, and may find them
oftener than otherwise At any rate IL will satisfy
the public that the watchman is about, as he can
not dodge, deceive, or neglect his round without
immediate detection. This was the mode In olden
times, and was only abolished because Ii was sup
posed depredators could track the officer and
commit their crimes at one point while he was at
another. But the change does not work well now.
The silence Of the officer rather enables him now
to hide his dereliction Of duty from the public,
than catch the criminal. What q relief II would
be to every householder to hear at the corner Of
the street. at the dead hour Of the night that we'll
known stentofian voice proclaim, at IL past II
O'Clock and a bright Starlight MORNING. :"
And then, too, furnish the Waterman with that
old forgotten ''rattle-that glorious old rattle,
which, when sprung, put every ofncer and every
householder within hearing on the alert and on
guard, and made them all watchmen for the occa-
sion. Now do, Mr.. Mayor, reinaugurate the cry
ing of the hour and the alarm s.rattle, !" and nv
word for 1t, incendiary fires and burglaries will
greatly diminish In numbers, II they are not en-
tirely prevented.
A word about the day police. They are Of very
ering the cost Of keeping them up, are rather a
nuisance. But, allow me to suggest plan to
| make them useful while we have them on hand.
1t 10 well known that a system has been inaugu-
rated, at great expense to the city, called trim-
ming and travelling the streets" This consists
Of elevating them 6, 8, or 10 inches, with red or
yellow clay, choking the citizens with dust In dry
weather, and rendering the crossings impossible
| In wet weather At present the crossings in many
places are ankl deep In mud-even Pennsylvania
avenue and other paved streets are inundated from
| this system Of ''trimming and travelling" Now
propose that the day police, as a part Of their
duty emitting them to the 5000 per year, shall be
| required to roll up their pants and ''wade I'M
| with shovels, buckets and brooms, (" and keep the
| crossings open and free. This will not be az
pleasant as wading into liquors and oysters, but
| II will be Of infinite service to the public. Nc
doubt many Of the officers would rebel and Csc
ceden under such rule; but they could well be
| spared from 90 coercion, )" better men would
take their places, and be grateful for the chance
Do, Mr. Mayor, inaugurate something practical
and useful like this, and relieve us from the use
less but costly pageanty of glazed caps, gilt but
tons, grey uniforms, and lazaroni.
| CANNON Sxysr