Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-26
good work, but II the night Inspector is simply
appointed for spy SERVICE think the sooner he
ia drOnnQ6 the hQtter II horovnr hiu dy,fins

good work, out II the night Inspector ID simply
| appointed for spy service, l think the sooner he
is dropped the better. II, however, his duties
are the same as the captain, excepting that his
service is at night then he should be continued
'How about the new men coming on the
fOrce-ex-sOldiers and saIlOrs?" was asked.
Perhaps" said the policeman, "that proviso
OF the law has not yet worked any particular
Disadvantage but it Is about time that the rule
was relaxed, for the war has been over nearly Is
years There are but few men now who served
in the army or navy during the war who are less
than 80 years old. and that is little too old for
man to commence to learn policing. II we are
to have any change of law that prOvsO should
be stricken out. There has been too much said
about reducing expenses. One Of the Commits
sioners it Is said, told member of the District
committee few years ago that plenty of good
men could be procured at $50 per month. Per-
haps they could get them, but how long could
they be relied on. and was it the fair thin. to
make such suggestiOn3 His place might be
filled by man who could do his work at half
the expense. but is not man to be paid in ac-
cordance with his responsibilities and is not
$50 per month little enough for a police
man vino daily averages Gncluding reserve duty)
sixteen hours per day in his employment. No
one Will debut the necessity of an increase of
force. but the expediency of having two classes
OF privates. of keeping up the present semi
military system and continuing the brass and
n!ckle mountings of the uniform, is doubted by
nearly the entire force. | have heard of but
one private who does not favor some change in
the uniform. if no more than changing the but
tons and having flap to cover the badge
THE POLICE AND THE BURGLARS
suppose" said the reporter, 'that your sug-
gestions were carried out do you think burglar
ling and thieving would wane?"
''Well, think it would to considerable ex-
tent; but it will never be broken up entirely,
for there are always thieves who will take the
chances. Fully two-thrds of the burglaries and
thefts and large proportion of assaults and
other like offenses, are committed by colored
people, and, Judging by the way they take their
sentences, many of them feel satisfied with their
lot. Some have been to Jail time and time
again. and numbers have served more than one
term In the penitentiaries. Now what is wanted
here is that the law now which makes second
oflense of petit larceny punishable by imprison-
so as to embrace. third and fourth
ofienses. Judge Wylie has, during his conduct
OF the criminal business the past year. set good
example by giving the maximum punishment In
most cases. but the trouble is that the law does
not go far enough. Why some of the colored
thieves we have had to do with do not care for
going up year after year. but if the law as to
petit larceny. second Offense was amended so
as to read for third Offense, 3 to years. fourth
to 10 years and fifth to Is years, this class would
sooh pe securely out OF the way. or they would
be on their good behavior. Judge Wye. I have
noticed, is sometimes lenient with those who
have trades, and he is evidently Of the opinion
that one dose of the penitentiary will do for
them. Perhaps it WILL but there are numbers
who. having trades. have left them to follow
stealing. Give us an increase of force: let good
men be appointed and trust them the same as
you would if you engaged one to do good lob
of work; give US good laws, and let the
Criminal Court not be too lenient
and we will be able to police the District better
than it has been for years. The public ought
not to put all the blame on US as we are now
situated. All cases reported as buTglaries
should not be so charged for a fair proportion
OF such cases, to say the least should be charged
to the carelessness of the householder, who per-
maps trusts the servant girl to close up the
house, or perhaps to receive company in the
kitchen. While the family are in the front part
OF the house, the thieving beau is gathering
things for housekeeping