Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-23
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Annual ReTcrs cs the Ssoerinteni 1.

%
TIE efficiency AID discipline of Che force are
coed.
INACE4UAcT OF The PRESENT FORCE
Fc states that the LLrlter Of men IL too Srna,l
20 properly patrol the ,aT-e area Of the Dis:riet
ard protect tie valuable property therein
since TIC authorization by Congress in 1865 OF
the present force the area ;uirinr police SIR
vetnance. the population. and the value nf prou-
erty, have al more than doubled and ,yhat Wa
at that tine sufficient is manifes;ly inadelua-e
al the present. The beats as at present laid q 7
and with the limited number of men no hettar
arrangement can be madel VIII AVERAGE
throughout the city, If the streets and alleys
are passed over. ten miles in LENGTH. n is NOT
at all surprising that with this extended line IN
traverse the pOiicemanfS sometimes sought in
VAIN. While the force is numerically two hun
d!ed strong, that IS b. no means the force
atailabe Tor street duty. Large details are
Constantly required for pubic receptions; the
courts necesSitate, when in session, an avera re
OF thirty men in attendance as cOmplainantS.
witnesses, ana In charge OF prisoners; perIna-
nent details comprise one lieutenant, two ser
geants and twenty priyates. disposed as follows:
Al folCe Court, one lieutenant. two privateS:
as dfiil sergeant. one acting sergeant; on night
duty at headquarters. one private: at e. and o
railroad station, one private; clerk in the de
tectve Office, one private: to health Office, as
inspectors two priyateS; as night Inspector one
SCI geant; at Executive mansion one sergeant
ana three privateS; at corner 18th street and Pa
avenue, one private: at Smithsonian park, one
private: city post Office, one private: Pa avenue
and 18th street. one private; Morrison building
one private: hack Inspector, one private; b. and
r; railroad station. one private; steamboat
wharf, one private: sanitary Office, one private
If TO these are added the absenteeS from sick
ness and leaves of absence the average residue
for street duty viii not exceed l25 men, OF ne
costly the streets are often uncovered and at
times single man is doing duty throughout
whole precinct. An increase of the force to 400
ITivateS, with the corresponding officers is re-
sVtct1ully but earnestly recommended
MOUNTED SERVICE
no
men was increased to thrty-fOur and the ey-
pertinent tried Of assigning some to each pre-
tlGct Tor day service throughout the precincts
Ihat is. not confinlng them to prescribed beats.
IL was thought that by mounting few men
ana Keeping them constantly moving, the num-
Der OF day natrolmen might be decreased and
The efficiency OF this small force largely en-
HANGED by corespOndingly increasing the num-
Der f0f night duty. The scheme has been found
10 work adfantaCeOusly: the mounted men are
enab'ed 10 get from place to Place with greater
lapluity. Trey can effectively patrol more
ground than foOman, and are easily seen hy
these desiring their services as well as by those
rearing their interference. The superintendent
IS i'll receipt Of communications from citizens
commencing the measure. \ further increase
OF the mounted force (by order OF the Commits
NOEerS) TO nifty Is to be made on the 1sf prOxi-
no. AS soon IS the men become familiar with
the new duties required of them, the exneri-
ment viii be made OF increasing the number OF
night latToimen by a corresponding decrease in
The number at present doing day duty.
lSFlRM AND DISABLED MEN.
1he force contains many men who thrnIIph
age long service and exposure. are becoming
Wcfn out; men who entered the force at itS
cremation hale and hearty are to-day inef-
itctlVc as patrolnlen. That some provision be
made fer such by which they can be prODerIy
cared Tor Is earnestly recommended the vacaH-
cies thus created to be filed by younger and
consequently more efficient men
CITY HOSPITAL RECOMMENDED.
Inc necessity for city hospital, 10 which
cases claiming the attention OF this department
can be assigned, is from day to day becoming
more apparent: the only establishments in the
bistrlct 10 which such cases can be assigned
are the FIeedlnanS hospital and the hospital
connected with the Washington ASYLUM, the
irst-named being especially intended for the
cOIGTed race and the other for pallperS The
establishment Of a city hospital having in con-
hectlon Herewith free diSpenSary. is espe-
cially recommended.
REFORMATORY FOR GIRLS
ibis department is frequently called uDOn to
trace our and bring from their hiding places
lruan1. erI1ng young girls, and there is no place
III the District where they can be sent where an
G lI'o toWaids tnelr reclamation can be made.
Inc department, until recently, has avai!ed
ltself OF the courtesy OF the House of the Good
shepherds, in Baltimore, but notice has been
reeeaed 1fcI mat institution that ii can receive
10 more cases from this city. The establish
meht of a feI0InatOry for girls is especially
recommended.
CAPACITY OF REFORM SCHOOL
III lhis connection. the attention of the Com
EliSSloreIS Is called 10 the lack of accOlnmOda-
tons In tie reform school. At the present
Writing, that institution can receive no more
cases. and inCOrrigibles have to be returned TO
thelr parents for the want OF a place for their
detention.
STATION HOUSES
Many OF TIE buildings. all in fact rented by
The District Tor station houses are not adantpd
10 the purpose; they are badly severed and
ventilated, too small. and inconvenfentlv ar
Iansed, and are lily adapted for the proper ac.
q liinC uatlon OF the force and the work of the
mo Itch,
ISL "a ara oth precincts. The erection by the
District OF buildings specially designed for the
purpose Is respectfully recommended
UNIFORMS.
! ne CHARACTER OF duties that this department
Is larCeiY called upon To perform in the matter
OF attendance on public receptions, etc, neces-
STATES more than usual degree OF attention to
The personal appearance of the men 1t is he
1eVed that 1t is subjected to greater expenSe
IN uniforms per year than any similar Organiza-
ton In the country. The average yearly cost is
$50 per man. This expense the men now bear
themselves. 1t Is respectfully recommended
that IN view or the extra policeman duty they
are cailed upon to perform, this expense be as
Sumed by the government, to the extent of $50
per year per man. If this be deemed inadvis-
able, that the expense Of repairing or renewing
uniforms damaged or ruined in the time of duty
De paid by the government.
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SUPPLIES FOR Station
HOUSES.
Cases requiring medical attendance in station
houses are or frequent occurrence arising from
arrays Or dcclQenlS among the class unable to
bear the expense. There has been but little
In obtaining the services gratujtOusly
or some physician in the nelghborhOod for to
ITS credit, be 1t said, the medical profession of
the District is ever ready TO respond to the
calls of poverty and distress; but the station
houses are not furnished with any medical or
surgical supplies, and for these necessities the
physician has either to furnish them at his
own expense, or. as is frequently the case the
charlty or the officers and privateS in the
station house comes to the rescue and the ey-
penSe Is borne by contributions; small yearly
sum would procure all that is necessary of
simple remedies. bandages, &c 1t is respect
fully recommended that S20 per year for each
station house be appropriated for the purpose
AUTHORITY TO ISSUE WARRANTS OF ARREST
ElnDarfaSS1nent Is experienced and frequent
~ the ends or justice defeated by the reStric-
ton upon the Issue OF warrants or arrest; should
q case arse requiring the issue of warrant
after the adjournment OF the Police Court de-
lay Is neceSStated until the next meeting OF
OF the offender, or If the Justices of the peace
(and these Offices are usually closed upon the
OF the COURT are appealed to- il is
at an expense OF 80 cents per warrant: an ex-
renSe That often cannot be met through the
poverty OF the complainant. To Obviate this IL
is respectfully suggested that the power to issue
warrants be vested in the major and SlIDerin-
tendaht, the captain and lieutenants OF police.
TRANPS.
Inc DISTRICT Is OVerrun with Wei Gus men who
DO not work, lodge at the station houses. and
prey upon The community in various ways; many
or them are Of the most desperate character
VINO would not work if they had 1t to do. and
who are reckless OF life and property The eS-
tabliShmeut yyba t,o-a