Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-26

How the Force Could be Improves.

THE QUESTION OF INCREASING THE FoRCE-EvILs
ARISING FROM OXIDATION OF PAY-THE
MOUNTED sERvICE-OFFICERs WHO sHrRK THEIR
DUTY-A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DRINK
ING MEN, &c.
The interviews with officers Of the police force
which have appeared in THE STAR have attracted
attention, and have given rise to considerable
discussion The privates generally Of the force
approve of the suggestions made, but at head
quarters there has been some adverse criticism
few evenings ago, one of two officers with
whom STAR reporter was talking anxiously
inquired of the reporter when THE STAR would
give second dose. The reporter having replied
that 1T was only necessary for an officer to ex-
press his views. the policeman said: i" The inter-
views should be had with the men, and THE
STAR should publish Them so as to enlighten
the citizens and possibly reach the powers that
be. for we have been able to reach Congress
heretofore only through the Commissioners
Some few years ago some OF us esSayed to make
our wants known to the District committees and
they said to US: We look to the Commissioners
for information on District affairs ANY commu-
ncation you have to make should come through
them That meant that private should look
to his sergeant. then to his lieutenant to the
major, and to headquarters. So you see that
anv communication made might be scaled till
tie was nothing in it. We don't mean that it
Would. and possibly up to the time it reached
headquarters it would be all right We are sat
isfcd that our seraeants and lieutcnants would
present any proper communication we chose
To make"
The time you refer to- interjected the re-
porter was when an attempt was made to
secure an increase of the force was # not!n
~ es 1t was. said one of the policemen, ''when
there was bill pending in Congress to increase
all the pay of the field and line officers if NAV
use such phrase. from sergeant up TO supern-
tpndent. and it was proposed to create Il third
class OF officers at so per month. There were
then two classes of officers SIS and $50 men,
and making these two grades worked more
harm to the force than any other cause"
How asked the reporter
why. was the reply, linen cannot work
well together. do the same amount of duty and
receive unequal compensation. If it was under
stood. however. that the second class was ONLY
a probation that he would rank with the first
class man in a few months it would be better
but this is not the case and there is really more
danger of the pay being reduced to the lowest
amount then there is of an increase of the
second grade pay. To return to the bill pro-
posed had it passed the force might have been
larger. but it is questionable whether it would
have been made more efficient. Our experience
with two classes has been such that we are
quite sure that third class introduced would
not have add much to the discipline
THE POLICE CAVALRY.
created?"
mo" said the reporter. 'not exactly"
well. there We're but twelve mounted men
when Major Richards lett the force but after
wards folty men We're mOunted-quite respect
aole show OF cavalrymen armed with clubs and
pistols. but for what purpose unless to make
show before brass band on the avenue we can
not see. These men are all efficient officers and
We nave nothing to say to their detriIDent bUt
there is no use for such a number of mounted
men except on special occasions and then
sulflcent number OF horses could be hired 1t
was the mounting OF these forty men which
hccessitated reduction of pay to pay the COM
mutation OF 80 per month. and for some other
expenses, % men were reduced to $751; per month
each. They know at headquarters that the
mounted police Is not popular with the people
that 1t has been
A WHITE ELEPHANT
and ten Of them have been dismounted while
others do some duty on foot When one is dis
mounted it would be supposed that the COM
mutation would be saved but such is not the
fact in all cases. for in some lieutenant has
been directed to take the communications There
Is an absolute necessity for the lieutenant of the
second County, precinct to be mounted. and
some necessity for the lieutenants of the third
(GeorgetOwn) and eighth EAST WASHINGTON
being mounted but why the communication
should be allowed the lieutenants of the fourth
(first Ward( and first (South Washington pre-
cIncts, can't understand
WHAT HEADQUARTERS OFFICIAL SAID.
One OF the officers at headquarters few
n!"hts ago accosted STAR reporter by enquir-
Ing What do you let those men stuff you for?'
and proceededto give his views saying. 1.-THE idea
that the uniform is too loud is prepOsterous.
III tell you what some men want uniform of
PLAIN citizens clothes, so that they cannot be de-
tected when they 90 into Saloons Give them
plain suits and they never can be caught"
The reporter asked, do you have any idea
that there is any considerable number of men
on the force who go into saloons or shirk their
duty:''
why of course" said he, .'there are some
and they need watching"
well" said the reporter, 81 have seen q
great deal OF the force, and am free to say that
don't believe that there is any considerable
portion OF the force who 90 into bar-rooms.
There are men on the force who are good mo-
chan!cs and am quite sure that | could trust
them to do an honest job of work At their
trades they cannot make as much as they re-
ceive as officers. then why should they be dis
honest in the performance of duty
Never mind" said the official, "sOmc will do
IL anyway What we want is more men, more
police. | have police reports from other cities
showing that at night in some places there are
IL policemen TO each square while in others IN
or dozen. down to about g. and here we don't
average l to square mile. Talk that part of
the subject up and we will take care of the uni
form part"
DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DRINKING MEN.
The next evening the reporter selected one of
the most exemplary total abstinence men on the
force and said to him: There is still some drink
ing among the police?"
"fes, he replied. perhaps too much of it.
for any amount is too much. in my opinion"
Il can see, said the reporter, ''some pretty
good signs now and then
'Of course you do" answered the officer. cor
you must be blind. But there are fewer drink
ing men now on the force than there were six
or eight years ago. There are some who
don't drink at all, and yet they not I'M
frequently go into drinking saloons or cor
ner groceries. taking sometimes a cigar or
some refreshment, and my observation
is that 1t does not take long for them to get i'm
the habit Of going into place tor drink. 1t
Is not the spy business which has reduced the
number of drinking officers, but they have come
to the conclusion to leave off themselves in many
cases Most men, as they become older. nav
more attention to their habits and become more
steady. There is much less drinking than for
merly."
IAN increase of the force is urged" said the
reporter.