Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-26
ARRIVAL OF A CALIFORNIA STEAM
LOCAL NEWS.
The Metropolitan Police.

Ine MetrOpOllbQn FOllces
QUARTERLY REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
WEBB.
The report of Superintendent Webb, for the
quarter ending June 3uth, 1863, has been trans.
mitted to the Board Of Metropolitan Police
The force was at that time not full, there being
one man less than the legal complement
There has been great in crease in the time
lost by the men on account Of sickness, alb.
sence, &c. Csc days in all were lost during
the quarter, and the sickness is attributed to
the want Of comfortable and wholesome &C.
iconmodatioDs. The Surgeons OF the Depart
ment long ago reported the station houses as
unfit for the men, and the matter has not vet
been remedied. This loss OF time is also attri-
buted among other causes, to che facility with
which the men get their sick time allowed
them. This, however, cannot be helped SO
long as the pay OF the force Is SO small; and
the report OF the Surgeon is taken as final
The Superintendent thinks, however, that il
a man Is mean enough to sham sickness, even
loss Of portion OF the pay would not deter him
from doing SO anyhow.
In order to remedp this serious difficulty, the
Superintendent recommends that when men,
Der OF The force loses, in quarter, more than
q certain number Of days, to be nxed by the
Board said officer be required to account to
the Board, under charge Of inefficiency, for his
so great loss of time.
He states that he is satisfied that there must
be an increase Of men, with corresponding
~
necessary supervision as will insure entire
discipline. It is impossible, with beats one,
and in some instances two miles long, winding
through alleys and squares, for any officer to
know what the men in his charge are about.
In the army, bv the multiplication Of nom
commissioned officers, every three or four men
in company are under the supervision of an
officer. There is great similarity between the
army and police In this respect. The police
msn, like the soldier, should be in charge Of
some one responsible for his conduct, if you
would have him do his whole work. In the
force as at present, there Is but one oflcer--the
Sergeant-in each precinct; tor tho roundsman
is only q patrolman detailed to do duty As
roundsman, and receives no extra compensa-
ton. ..-. -..
Nothing would contribute more to the in
crease sf discipline than the separation OF ON.
GERS and men, which 10 part OF the plan Of
the stationyhouses, a. approved by the Board.
Another treat difficulty In maintaining . high
standard Of discipline 10 that offered by the
narrow limits within which the Board 10 CON-
flned In its imposition Of penalties for offences.
1t il impossible to 6nemen whose pay 10 mere
pittance and to turn them out OF the force seems
cruelty, except In extreme cases, and yet the
Board must protect itself from the license Of
the men In some way. The discipline OF the
force has bean remarkably we'll maintained
considering all the circumstances. Fortunately
for the Police Department. there arc enough
good men among its force 70 leaveu the whole,
and taken a. body he 10 satisfied that there u
not better OF moro cdacient police force In the
> 1siative to station. houses, the attention d
the Board 10 again called to their unfltness al
OF thsm having been eondsnued By thu. sur