Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-09


I University and the reform school for girls. In
the MIN are the Government Hospital for the
Insane and numerous villages. two of which
contain population each of over 2, 900 souls.
With additional boxes and the light wagons
/ herein recommended these rural districts could
be far more efficiently patrolled than now, as
an ofcer would not be compelled to ride
several miles to eliver prisoner to the station,
anu residents. supplied with keys. could them
selves call for aid in euergent cases when a po-
hceman was not within easy reach.
ISEBRIATE ASYLUM.
I II is yet my belief that in n community Of
2js.OOO people there should be an institution
Tor the treatment Of iuebriates. 1t must be
remembered that here drunkenness is not an
offense against the law and that persons whose
insanity is the result of inebriety are not ad-
mi;ted 20 the Government Hospital for the In
sane, neither can tine victims of drink, unless
diaorderly, be confined against their will in any
local instituticn. They can, therefore, roam
he streets. pitabie objects, now and then dis
I appearing for a brief period from public view
when committed to the work house habitual
/ druHkard5.
DISCIPLINE.
: Notwithstanding the fact that the police force
received an addition of ten members at the
beginning Of the fiscal year 1892 at its close
I there had been before the trial committee
twelve less cases Of violations of the rules and
This decrease NAV be ascribed to several rea-
sons, the principal of which was the good re-
suits which followed the declaration of the de-
paT'menI To rid itself of inefficient members.
Another potent factor was the abolition of the
army and navy clause In the law governing ap-
pointments on the force, which was taken adj
vantage Of under an initial appointment Feb
rIary \. 1892. That policemen should err is to
be expected. Every large body of men contains
some who are weaker than others and while il
Il he Iffp rYNHT Il
ment to dispense with the services OF those OF
IT. members who transgress the rules there are
many difficulties encountered in determining
such cases. which too often arise through the
prevalent opinion in many sections that po-
hcenan should be dnwned If in the execution of
the law he dIscOuCcrts somebody's feelings
] he Laws requires that an officer shall do his
duty at all hazards. politely, If possible. by
ali means firmly. and the wanton and uncalled
Tor use of the baton and revolver is deprecated
and condemned.
THE FoLICENENs FUYp.
The policemen's fund. as originally created
by the statute. embraced all fines inn posed upon
members Of the police force. by way of disci-
pine: all rewards, fees proceeds of gifts and
emoluments that might have been given for
services. and all monies arising from the sale of
unclaimed goods. 1t could be utilized by the
board Of police. which was the trustee under
the law for The necessary expenses of MEM
VT VI INC iOTCt curing actual DISABILITY III
CURED in the discharge of duty. but such
allowance might be discontinued by the board
Tor any satisfactory reason. Twenty years
after its creation this fund became inadequ te
To meet the demands made upon il by reason of
the rapidly increasing number of members who
became charges against it through the breaking
down of the older officers from long service
and exposure. As consequence. Congress
passed the act approved February %. 1885.
which required the Commissioners TO deduct
81 per month from the pay of each policeman.
the sum 80 derived to be added To and form "a
part OF the fund existing under the former
law. The fund at the same time taken
from the custody Of the Commissioners and
placed IN the hands Of the treasurer of the
| nIted states, 10 be invested in United States
or District bonds, and held by him. subject TO
the drafts of the Commissioners for the follow
ing specific purposes:
For the relief Of any policeman who, by in
jury received or disease contracted IN the line
of duty. or having served not less than fifteen
wears. shall become so permanently disabled as
To- be discharged from service therefor, and IN
case cf his death from such injury disease,
leaving a widow or children under sixteen
years. for their relief Provided further That
such relief shall! not exceed for any policeman
or his family the sum of $50 per month; and a
sum not exceeding SIS may be allowed from
said fund To defray funeral expenses of any
policeman dying in the service Of the District.
July l. 1886, about the time the new law was
put into operation, the fund aggregated S27-
4ss. %. and eight pensioners had been placed
upon the roll under its provisions at monthly
expense of 1850. A year later the number of
pensioners had increased to ten and the fund
to S2S.slS.3i July /. 1sSS. the roll contained
the names OF twelve pensioners, and the re-
sources reached $50. 06S. OIL. az a monthly cost
OF S430 In 1889 the available means had on
the Let day of July grown to S3I. 706. As. with
twenty pensioners at an expense of S575 per
month. July !. 1890. when the roll embraced
thirty names, the fund began TO diminish. In
other words the interest on ths money invested
and other sources Of supply were not equal to
the demands, and In this connection the fact
should be stated that the decrease would have
started two years prior had not annual steam
boat excursions and ball been given by mem
bers OF the department IN order 10 prevent a
draft upon the principal. At the close of the
fiscal year 1921 the work of depletion had fairly
begun when the aggregate dropped to S21,-
IOl.51, with an annual roll amounting to Sl3.-
$50, not including allowances for funeral ex-
penseS Of $75 in each case Of death of a mem
Der OF the force. At the present date. July !. !
1892, the fund had been reduced TO $40. 9S3 GA |
The department has now among its old and
valued members those who have gone through
twenty wears of duty, some of whom are fast
approaching the time when they must surrender
the baton and badge for the rest they SO Justly
deserve. 1t would be inhuman and cruel to set
these faithful servants aside without the pro-
visions which have been made for others or to
see their widows and little ones thrown upon
the world to look for the necessities of life
while law stands upon the statute books pro-
yiding a method for their relief without fur
nishIng the means to carry ii into effect 1t is
my aim to impress thus early upon the Com
missoners the doleful situation which s:ares in
the face those entitled to relief that ample
time may be had to formulate and put into
operation such law will avert disaster to
them Ii Is therefore recommended that an
annual estimate be made for an appropriation
for the support of the pensIoned class, and that
the law be amended TO limit a widows
allowance to the term of her widowhood.
COOPERATIVE RELIEF.
There is conducted independently Of the DO
lice department a cooperative relief associa-
ton, which is contributed 10 by most OF those
who are or have been active members of the
department.. There are two classes of insured
In this organization-those who pay So, as well
as those who pay 81. to the beneficiary in case
Of death OF the insured. and those who contribute
81, VINO, on the other hand, are insured for the
number of dollars the full membership would
contribute at 81 each.
In one case the widow or heirs receive about
S6li and the other about S53l. The total IN
suranee varies In every instance, owing to in
crease or decrease i'll membership.
For years the chief clerk has conducted with
out compensation. the Off cial business pertain
ing To this charitable arrangement and is en-
titled to the gratitude of those interested for
the excellent system of credit and disburse-
ments he has arranged. The records of this