National Republican., 1888-02-09
OUR POLICE FORCE.
Row IL Stands in Comparison with
That of other cities.

The present Congress could enact no
legislation for the District that that would
be go generally appreciated as that which
would provide for an increase In men and
money for the the police department. 1t Is
fact to be rldicued that the capital OF the
nation nhould be guarded by police force
OF less than 100 men at any one time. Sim.
ply that good order should prevail should
not be the only argument for an increased
force. That same pride should exist for
a perfect police organization at the capital
as is manifested for grand buildings, lofty
monuments, and rhetorical statues. The
true spirit OF patriotism suggests that the
Institution which is to exercise vigilance
over the capital city by night and
day should be as near perfection as pos
si6le. The police district comprises
the entire area OF the District Of Columbia,
729 l0square miles, excepting Philadelphia,
the largest police domain in the United
States. Two hundred and fltty-fve patrol
men are appropriated for by Congress to
keep the peace within this radius,
But half Of this force is on duty
at one time, and deducting an
average daily sick list OF fifteen and de-
tail Of nearly forty at the executive man.
sion, depots. commissioners office, health
office, &c, there remains for patrol duty
First precinct, is men; second, IL; third,
12; fourth, II; fifth, 13; sixth Ia; seventh,
G; eighth, 10.
1t will be observed that the district or
precinct in which is located the Presidents
house, the State, War, and Navy, and Treas
ury Departments, the Corcoran Art Gal
lefy, and millions OF dollars worth OF pri-
vate and public property, has police force
Of twelve men. In this district there are
81 patrolmen to the square mile; 10 New
York, 60; Philadelphia, IL; Brooklyn, 2T;
Chicago, 2S; Boston, IS; st Louis, a.; Bal
timore, 40 Cincinnati, 10, and Detroit, III
Sirce the act creating the metropolitan
police force here, there tae been no increase
In the number OF officers. There has been a
so per cent. reduction In the clerical force,
and so per ceut increase In the labor
exacted. The superintendent 10 required
by law TO be on duty twenty-four out OF
every twenty four hours. He must deal
with every form OF crank and must
be diplomat Gs well as a
disciplinarian. For this he receives the
sum Of 50, GOO year, while Supt. Murray, Of
New York, draws Sc, Geo, and has three as
sistants at $500 each. Philadelphia PAYS
salary OF SO, 600, Brooklyn, $1,000; Chi.
eego, $4,000; Boston, $500; St.. Louis,
s3,5G0; san Francisco, $4,000; Milwaukee,
5000. The colored element constitutes
one'third OF the population and
about GO per cent. OF what the
police has to deal with The hundred ad.
ditional privates Maj. Moore has asked for
is matter Of fret importance, aud that the
superintendent should received respecta-
BILE remuneration tor his services no one
would dare dis ute. II Congress, for once
in twenty years, should make q proper
allowance for the police Department. 1t would
first give the superintendent decent salary,
make the present captain an assistant
superintendent; provide for the necessary
clerical force, and pay them salaries equal
to those Of the department clerks, make
provision Of the ten sergeants aud 100 pri-
Yates asked for, remove the army and navy
restriction for appointment to the force,
and under the present administration the
police force Of Washington would In short
time be excelled by no other In the country,
as should be the case now. Alterations In
the police pension law, so that the old aad
infrm might be properly retired, is also
suggested.