Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-05
Police Reform Needed.


There are pending In Congress two bills re-
lating to the Metropolitan police force-ope pro-
viding for an increase Of the force by the addi-
ton Of 100 men at $50 per month. and the other
providing for 50 additional men with salaries
not specned. The provisions Of these bills have
been tho subject OF discussion among the police
officers ana their friends for some days rast 1t
is safe to say that neither of these bits meets
the approval OF the friends OF the force. There
are some who claim that no very large Increase
OF the force is necessary; that owing to some OF
the innovations made during few years past
st has been considerably crippled; that there Is
merly when 1t was under control of a board OF
commissioners. Some Of or citizens who have
been converEant with felice affairs and
well acquainted with the details OF its
organization have recently prepared a state
melt for some of the members of Congress,
showing that the officers Of the force QhcluGing
paid annually Sd6, s26 and the 1913 privates who
do the patrol duty, 1896, 300; that after the or
ganizatton Of the force in September, 1861, the
various systems Of other cities were examined
and what is known as the
s'sx HOUR SYSTEM
was adapted, by wl.ch there should be 90 and 81
men, respectively, IN the two night watches.
ond precinct. Under Mr.. webb. the first suoer-
1ntendent, and Major &C. Richards. the force, 1t
is claimed was well worked, but when the Old
board was superseded by Mr.. Gatchel and others
and Major Richards resigned, experiments were
tried, the NEST serious one in its results few
months since.
HOW THE NIGHT SERVICE WAS WEAKENED.
precincts, which added to the 90 detailed In
various places, diverted no less than 90 men
from the important service CT night patfoling,
70 the utter confusion Of the systematic
spectacle OF "a men coming OF duty at O'Clock
p. m. daily, while but 65 or 66 go on duty for the
night even If there are none OF the force sick or
Oh leave. Besides this
TIE OUrsrIoN or pIv
comes In. The patrollmen received formerly
500 per month, but it was reduced to 500 per
month, and there was no "ktck," for it was
SUI poSea that at some time the pay would be
restored. In consequence Of these 40 mounted
men being allowed $40 per month for the care
and feed OF their horses, and the failure OF Con-
was necessary, in order to pay this allowance,
to take the money from Others and therefore
the pay OF q men, some OF whom had been
several years on the force was reduced each to
SIS per month, and they were compelled to con-
tribute SIS per month towards feeding other
mems horses dneluding those In the county,
There Is another feature-the original act pro-
vidtng for but 20 sargeants and the system re-
curing sergeants to each of the eight pre-
c1ncts, whose pay Is now S95 per month, it has
been necessary to appoint acting sergeants.
and have the proud satisfaction of being called
'acting sergeant without the additional pay.
SUGGESTED REFORMS.
The general sentiment among friends Of the
lOiCe 10 IudU tut ulOuuJeu men should De dis
mounted and permanent details should be dis
allowed except for the prevention OF crime. and
that there should be restoration and equaliza-
ton of pay (Which can be done by doing away
with mounted men in the city; that every man
should have the same pay as other men doing
the same duty; that the amount proposed to be
paid the new men $3.50 per month"; will not Sc
cure nrst-class men as rule; that details to
wharves and railroad depots should be dlscon-
tinued and filled by private parties and be paid
by the corporations or companies who receive
their services; and finally, that the government
OF the force should be under board OF commits
SiOnerS, as formerly.