Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-15

oeae., anu are not. therefore,, TO De Regarded as
SoihR patfoi duty. OF these patrolmen there
being two Ioundsmen and three sergeants
amon the mounted force, eight are required TO
40 patroi dnty for the entire county, oeing the
rulai districts or precincts. This number is,
l. must appear TO every one, very insignificant,
and yet il is all ihst The exig, ncias OF the Dis
triet VIII authorize the board IN allottng to this
part OF the District. Georgetown has assigned
to it sixteen men, thus lea wing but etghty.eight
r II, c linen 10 do duty In Washington
The population Of this city by the census OF
with the nunb bef there Is one policeman TO ey-
cry 6.a Inhabitants. There can be no doubt
thst dsripg The past year there has been an
average population or at least 10000 people,
exclusive OF soldier S. and sometimes largely
mere, within the city, go that there has really
been not more than ebout one policeman to ey.
~ a'seo OF .ne ropuietion. 1t is estimated
every SEQ inhSprtunts; bat this estimate Ia
made for densely pcopled COM sand
wSuld ,ss oe no far criterion for dissetn
ere d as In this Metropolitan district
n the city OF Washington there are ~ streets
and cross streets measuring $50 fi-1Oe miles,
and together with the alleys, 800 li-lGO milas
the building squares, IS nun bered on the sur
Veyor's plan, arc lilo, afforaipg capacity for
population OF GsG,4s6 persons. Besides this.
there are within the limits Of the city publi,
grounds and reservations covering an area
about one fourth as grs at as that of the build
ing squares already refer red TO. Taking this
data, then, and making such an Arrangement
OF the beats Of the police officers as experience
teaches is the best TO secure a guard, il viii be
found, after making due allowances for the
improved or open portions Of the city. that 1T
alone Will require a. least 5i5 police officers,
and mat then each officer will have a beat over
half mile in length.
An increase in the police force is therefore
recommended.
Another great ots tacle in The way Of The per-
feet operation OF the system is the small paw
provided Tor the various grades OF office: and
and an increase is recommended. The Gov
eminent pays the police officer OF the Capitol
81, 90 per year; a watchman in q department,
frt m $3.50 10 S6co; messenger, Ss40; assistant
messenger, $40; laboreTs, 5000; and lamplight-
ers, 5000. The Metropolitan Police officers are
paid-the sergeant, S6U@: and the patrolmau,
sise. An increase in the pay OF the Superiu-
iendeDt Il also lecC cCmnlended.
Tie Board is satisfied that, with the force
increased in accordance with its suggestions,
the entire police duty of the District could be
number of employees, at present under no dis
cipline snd responsible TO no head.
The Board urges again as 1t did last year,
that the atcbmen and police officers en-
ployed in the various Departments and public
buildings be placed under the control OF tht.
Metropolitan Police Department
The whole number of arrests by the police fer
the year has bern 23,9l2. OF these, 1898 wee
mal.s, 3,S9i females; 16,72S could read and
Write, s,le4 could not read or write; S6l1 were
married, 15,295 were single: The offenses may
be classified as follows: Ofenses against prop
eriy, 5,5l9 males, 6a6 females. Offanses against
the person, li,i2a males, 1900 females
An mcreasefn the detective force, which now
con sists OF but six members, is also re.om-
mended, and the board relieve that this Gppart-
ment has aided materially in The detection and
pre- yentiOn of crime.
A change in the sanitary laws OF the Distri,t
Is recommended. The larger portion OF the
complaints which receive attention from the
sanitary police, however, grow out of the very
impe rfect sytt N, or ii might perhaps ba said
absence Of system, of drainage in ths city por-
tions Of the District. The streets, avenues and
alleys must continue 10 he dirty and insalu-
and ofial are deposited on The surface, either 10
be removed after lapse of time, or, in many
instances, TO decay W here they lie. And il Is
ltl antanesnionahly Ut true that by reason of the pc
and which has been heretofore referred o n
proper system Of drainage will cost so much,
ana be SO difficult 10 perfect, that it Is almost
revenue as limited RS IL has. Nor is this ali
Most ef the streets in that city are unpavea,
and, OF course, all deposits made therein a~e
absorbed, and form part of the soil, emitting
exhalatlons, when the rays of the sun are suf-
ficiently powerful to draw them out, most de-
leterious 10 health. All OF these matters are OF
the utmost general Importance. and commend
the mselves to the consideration of the legisia-
ture having the affairs Of this District in il
peculiar charge.
have registered and attended TO 1850 c,m-
pleints, have procured accommodation for -
cases Of smallpox. and have collected Sils Ge
IN the shape OF fines and penalties for vioIa-
tions of health laws.
The discipline Of the police force is pro-
nounced excellent, and the board has neyer
falles TO fully investigate all charges az ,inst
officers. In the past year 3bave been reduced
to the ranks from positions as officers; 16 rep
rimanded; fined. and IS dismissed. Tnree
policemen have died and 25 resigned The
board hope they have succeeded in m tking il
First. That the best possible police system is
the Metropolitan.
Second That the District Of Columbia ought
to have provided by the Government the very
best police system possible, and so sustained
as to develop all Of its advantages.
Third. That the complete organization and
cIeI alton of sNch system of police would
enab e the Government to dispense with por-
ton OF the military force now here, and thus
save TO the Government very considerable
Fourth. That the present police force is en-
tirely inadequate TO the wants Of the District;
and IN view OF these conclusions the board
First That the Metropolitan Police force
shall be increased to five hundred, with such
new arrangements as to officers as such an In
creased force will require
Seeord. That the pay Of all the grades OF
c GERS and men shall be so increased that the
other employees Of the government anu by
that NEAR made Independent Of all the ordi-
J ary lem aticns that, from the nature Of the
Off e, always surround them.
Third. That all the police duty reg quiste to
be done within the District shall be done by the
Metropolitan Police, including therein the care
OF the pubic buildings ana GROUNDS, ana tnaI
all power requisite to its performance shall be
conferred upon the board; and further, that all
OF the Offices having any relation 10 police
matters in and about the several public build
ipgs and grounds shall be abolished.
Fourth That there shall be appointed d for the
police department four clerks, of class number
one, to perform the requisite clerical duties in
the department.
Fifth That some legislation shall be had as
soon as possible for the establishment In the
6 sta bisf me mt in the District Of petty criminal
for the speedy trial of offenders.
The board quote largely from their report OF
last year in recommending an improved svs-
TEN Of imprisonment, and urge the necessity OF
q new pententiary or Jail, and workhouses for
both w asbington and Georgetown.
The organization 81 magistrate courts for the
peedy trial of petty offences is strongly urged,
an d the board close their report by bearing tes-
timony to the zeal and ability with which the
duties OF the superintendent have been per
tormtd. Whatever there has been of success
IN the operations of the Metropolitan Police
ystem IN this District, Is mainly owing TO the
manner in which the superintendent has la
bore d 10 CARY into syst, matte effect the pro-
visions of the laws establishing that system Of
police He has devoted his entire time to the
busipt es OF his Office, and labored constantly
for the inters st Of the public All this he has