Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-30
POLICE APPOINTMENTS.

Mr.. Crane Urges the Repeal OF the Army
| and Navy Clause
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
IL Is certainly pitiable condition Of things
when the chief OF police. stated by THE
STAR, is obliged to plead with the War Depart
ment for the discharge Of q man before his
term OF enlistment expires in order
70 secure him to fill vacancy on
our metropolitan police force, where there are
thousands ofable-bodied. intelligent young men
who are citizens of this District, familiar with
Its streets. its laws and its people. who would
be glad of an opportunity to fill such vacancies
1t seems this anomalous condition of things
| Is due to stupid and most absurd law--well
enough when enacted. but all wrong now
which requires vacancies in our police force to
be filed with men from the army or navy. 1
remember well the discussions that took place
when this law and others giving preference in
certain departments to soldiers and sailors who
served IN the Union army during the rebellion
were PASSED.
Those laws were for the benefit Of poor men
who ri-ked their lives for their country in its
hour of peril. and not for the benefit OF those
noe old enough to do military duty when the
way closed who have only served in the army
and navy in times of peace.
This law. which was approved March g 1867.
reads as fellows: mo person shall be appointed
or navy of the United States and received an
honorable discharge"
As the men this law was intended to benefit
are now ineligible as police officers on account
of age the law should be repealed, for. instead
OF beneiting such men. it operates against
them and their families, as while those who
fought In the rebellion arc now too old TO
serve on the police force. many of them have
sons who could serve and be of aid to their
aged parents: but who are disqualified from not
having been in the army or navy.
There are men Who died that their country
might live, whose forms arc now crumbling
back to dust beneath the sods of Arlington or
in the tomb OF ''the 5000 unknown" that left
sons now old enough and possessed of every
quahncatloH requisite to make good police
othcers. who are prevented from serving and
OF being able to contribute to the support Of
aged mothers on account of this absurd law.
The law as it now stands virtually says to
1.-THE roughs" in the slums OF the great cities
from New York to San Francisco: Enlist in
the regular army, get an honorable dis
charge and you shall have life
position, with a pensioned old age
on the police force Of the District of Columbia
where you will be independent of the people,
who have nothing to do with public affairs ex-
cept to pay taxes that non-residents assess"
How can We expect to have an efficient police
force made up of the material that is now
drifting into j; from the regular army? Are
men who are content to serve in the regular
lOr 60 per mOnth times OF peace the
best qualified for policemen?
1 suggest the following amendment to the
metropolitan police law, to wit:
Whereas only soldiers OF sailors honorably
discharged from the army or navy of the United
States are now permitted to fill vacancies on
the metropolitan police force of the District of |
Columbia; and whereas this discrimination is |
no longer Of benefit &c those soldiers and |
sailors that 1t was intended to benefit who |
served In the Union army during the late re-
1-iiion but n the contrary is detrimental to |
tDeir interests by prohibiting their sons from |
serving On said police force Therefore, be it |
@tacted by the Senate and House /
OF Representatives in Congress assem-
hied, that so much of the act of Congress
app roved March 2, 1867. as provides that no |
eison snail be appointed as policeman in the /
District OF Columbia who has not served in the |
army or navy of the United States and received |
al honorable discharge, is hereby repealed,
7"a on and after the passage OF this |
act only bona tide residents of the District of |
-Ulumbia shall be eligible to fill vacancies on
said police force. And the Commissioners of |
the District OF Columbia are hereby author
Ized and directed to cause the laws of Congress
Eni ordinances Of the District of Columbia.
including the police regulations that in |
a ay relate to duties of police |
ofncers, TO be printed in convenient form |
for distributions; and it shall be the duty of the
major and superintendent of said metropolitan
police force to furnish each and every officer
VI saIu ponce force with COPY of said
laws. ordinances and regulations for their
guidance in the discharge of their
duties And it shall be the duty Of the
said major and superintendent of police to
furnish every applicant for position on said
police force with a copy OF said laws, ordi-
nances and regulations. and no person shall, on
and after the passage of this act be appointed
on said police force who has not
passed an examination showing a thor
ough knowledge of said laws, or |
dinances and regulations before a board |
consisting Of three persons skilled in the law.
to he appointed by the said Commissioners of |
the District OF Columbia, which board |
shall meet ut such times and places |
as the said Commissioners NAV |
designate and shall be paid for their |
service at the rate of--per diem for the |
time actually engaged in such examinations.
which shall be paid cut of the funds appropri.
ated Tor the metropolitan police department of |
tie District OF Columbia
Brains, knowledge. sagacity and prudence
are qualifications much more important, to take
into account i'll the selecsion OF policemen than |
height or avoirdupoIs. But above all a police
man should he gentleman. No rowdy or
bully should have a place among our
metropolitan policemen. When our police force
Is made up entirely it is now in part. of the
right material We will hear less about clubbing
shooting and murders
J. II. CRANE.