Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-16

Tnr STAR has repeatedly directed attention
to the damage suffered by the District through
the uncalled-for restriction placed upon its
choice Of recruits for its police force. The law
reads that mo person shall be appointed as
policeman or Waterman who has not served in
the army or navy Of the United States and re-
ceived an honorable discharge" Everybody
knows why this clause was engrafted upon the
statute. II was one Of many means taken, after
the close Of the civil war, to testify the graft.
tude of the government to its veteran defend
ers. There was good sense nv well as
patriotism in IL for q time, as the men who
had seen honorable service in the field were
presumptively brave, strong. and Injured to ex-
posure and fatigue. But with the passage of
years every argument in its favor disappeared
Men who quilted the army in 1866 in the prime
of health and strength became superannuated
Those who were thirty years old then are
ffty-four now; those who were forty-hve are
nearly seventy. Even the youngsters who had
enlisted promptly on reaching mans estate
and served their four years are now forty-nine
close upon an age when no man feels his full
capacity for work For long time. therefore,
the clause has been positive incumbrance
rather than a benefit. 1t has remained
in the statute for no better reason
than that Congress, for political effect has not
dared do anything which might be construed
rs rejecting upon the veterans Of the civil
war. As a matter Of fact, we are drawing now
upon the regular army in time of peace for our
supply Of policemen in the District What is
the result? Army officers are not so angeli-
cally unselfsh as to be willing to part with the
pick and flower of their troops for the sake of
guardians. We have to take what they are
content to give US, with the consequence that
man who is obedient and of good habits.
but who has nothing else to commend
him, and who, perhaps, has some
physical weakness, which units him for hard
work in the field, stands the fairest chance of
obtaining his honorable discharge for the pur-
pose of joining our police force. Resort has
been proposed to the plan Of selecting compe-
tent civilians for police, and letting them en-
list with the understanding that they are to re-
ceivs their discharge shortly afterward But
this would have been at best a subterfuge-a
demoralzing evasion of law. and the officers of
the army were properly unwilling to lend them
selves to it. The only candid course left open
for improving the present state of things is to
repeal the obnoxious law; but it is suggested
that the feelings of Congress can be spared by
giving the amendment the guise of an addition
rather than eurtailment. If to the statute.
as it stands, were appended the words, "or
from the national guard Of the District of Co
lumbia," point at least would be gained. We
could then be sure of having supply of really
able-bodied and intelligent men to choose from
at all times, residents Of the District acquainted
with its needs and directly interested in its well
fare. If any city in the world wants such ma
terial for its police force it is Washington, with
its miles upon miles OF surface area to be pa
troled and its meager numerical allowance of
men to patrol them.