Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06

Leaving unexpended balance of S74S O3
PERSONNEL
The personnel OF the Police Department is as fol-
lows: One major and superintendent one captain,
one inspector, one property clerk, one clerk, one
clerk, TOUR surgeons, nine HeutenantS twenty
geants, n1nety-fve privates, class /, one hundred
ana forty privates class seventeen station-keep-
ers, eight laborers one messenger, one messenger,
one driver, one ambulance driver, one assistant
ambulance driver, one assistant driver.
VI this force the superintendent, captain and
twenty-five others are mounted.
Inc force also has, in common with the fire de-
paItment, the benefit OF the professional advice
by the Commissioners. They examine all applicants
1or positions on the force and respond to all de-
ands for their professional services in all cases OF
sickness or injury OF members of the force They
| receive $3.50 each per annum from the District
revenues, which is very moderate compensation
lor the services of physicians of the professional
Standng or those now filling these positions, and
IL would be unwiSe and inhuman to entruSt this
responsible duty to any but thoroughly competent
physicians.
The District is divided into eight police districts,
eacn OF which Is in charge OF a lieutenant.
POLICE SIGNAL AND PATROL SYSTEM.
This system has been in operation here for about
two years. 1t facilitates concentration OF the
force In cases Of emergency relieves officers from
dragging prisoners great distances to station
houses and leaving their beats meanwhile unpro-
tected, and greatly Increases promptnesS in re-
upon the force.
IHC became so IaVOraDiy I'M
pressed with the reports of this system by the
officers In charge OF the first, fourth and sixth
precincts, where 1t is in operation, that they in
Guided an item in their estimates for 1883 to pro-
Vide for Its extension to the second and fifth pre-
cinctS. They know OF no branch OF the public ser
wee That better Justies the expenditure required
lof us INTRODUCTION and maintenance.
INCREASE OF THE FORCE.
The superintendent OF police recommends an in
crease Of the force by one hundred men, and sup
ports his recommendation by impressive data and
argument.
While the commissioners are of opinion that an
increase OF the force to that extent, at least, Is
necessary for the adequate protection OF the Dis
trict, the present District revenues will not admit
OF provision for such an increase without too
greatly impairing the utility OF other departments
or the District government.
In view OF these considerations, the Commission
erS, In their estimates for 1885, which were sub
mltted to the Secretary OF the Treasury the 1st
OF OCTOBER last, recommended an increase OF ten
sergeants and forty-ive priyates as the best that
could be done with due regard to other District in
tereStS, and know no reason for modifying that
Judgment The existing laws vol. -, p. 412, c. S.
stat. at L., limiting the number OF prvates two
hundred and fifty, should be modified to admit of
an Increase OF the force.
MILITARY RECORD OF APPLICANTS.
The department suffers serious drawback in
the requirement that appointees thereto shall
have served in the Army or Navy Of the United
States. This restriction was originally designed
as means OF rewarding those who had been in
tLe military anu naval service or the government
during the civil war; but nearly all who belong
TO that class are now too far advanced in years to
avail themselves Of this preference, its present
erect is merely to cOnne selections for this force
to class OF persons neither specially qualified for
such duty nor sufficiently numerous to present
satisfactory scope Of selection, and it ought to be
repealed.
The department maintained its reputation dur
Ing the year for efficiency and devotion to duty.
HEALTH OFFICER.
This officer, under the direction of the Commits
soners is charged with the execution and enforce
ment Of all laws and regulations relating to the
public health and vital statistics &C. being prfnc-
pally the tmpounding OF domestic animals i'm
properly at large or without license; removal Of
garbage, nght-sotl, and dead animals; medical
deaths, and marriages: issue OF burial permits;
inspection of plumbing; inspection OF food, and
abatement OF nufSanceS.
The appropriations for the support Of his Office
during the year We're: Salaries 1880; cOnt1n-
gent gen expenses $3.50; removal OF garbage $4,000
The expenditures were: Salaries, so3,97s; con-
ttngent expenses 81, 66S.32; removal OF garbage.
$1,000. Total, $43,646.32 Leaving an unex-
pended balance of $48368.
REMOVAL OF ASHES.
The health officer recommends that ashes be
removed at public expense AS the accumulattons
OF ashes generally receive additions Of refuse
organic matter, and thus often become highly
deeteriOuS to the public health IL would seem that
they should be removed by District authorities at
public expense.
COMMISSIONERS OF PHARMACY.
The commissioners OF pharmacy are three phar-
macists and two physicians appointed by the Com
missioners Of the District under act OF June Ii,
1873 Vol. 90 p 137, U. S. Stat. at L.) 1t is their
duty TO decide upon the professional competency
OF persons desiring to conduct the business OF
compromising retailing or dispensing drugs and
medicine In the District OF Columbia, and keep a
register OF the names OF those qualified to do bust
ness as pharmacists here
They are entitled to receive e from each nerson
they register without examination as a phar-
maciSt and $40 from each person they examine
which amount is applicable to the expenses OF the
commission.
Their financial statement for the year, which is
made an appendix OF this, is as follows:
Balance on deposit. 1881 60
For p examinations. ...... 2lO 90
For 23 registrations without ex-
am1natiOnS 90. ......... 50 90
$500 60
EXPENDITURES.
Salary OF secretary, 2 years. .... $50 90
stationery Observation-Disclosures. Is so
Rent, light, fuel and labor...... 100 90