Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12
THEY WEAR BADGES,
Also Brass Buttons, Garry Clubs and Are
Called Policemen.
Some Gossip About the Force a. q
Whole and Also Individuality
DRINKS, Chickens, Dogs.

Drunks, Chickens, Dogs.
At this season of the year the police wit
| ness some queer sights while on their beats
after midnight, for then 1t Is that the citi-
Zen who Is in the habit Of going home
late after nights frolic Is likely to drop
on the front porch or grass and be looked
upon as a burglar or suspicious person until
his Identity Is made known. 1t is not an
unusual thing for the officers to find per-
sons in this predicament. and sometimes
they are quarrelsome and have to be
looked after.
In this way husbands and sons often fan
In the hands of the officers, and when
aroused some of them become noisy and
show fight Often in this way q whole
neighborhood Is aroused. and the neigh
borhood is supplied with food for gossip.
There is a great deal more of this bust
ness in warm weather than there Is In
winter" remarked an of11cer the other day.
1T is. perhaps, because in warm weather
the liquor takes a stronger hold and lasts
longer than when it is cold. and then, too
the front lawn or porch is inviting, because
a man in such q tired frame of mind does
not care for the exertion of disrobing when
he gets in the house,and many OF them
probably do SO to avoid a curtain lecture.
Lectures" added the officer, do not
always satisfy the wife. for 1 have known
cases where the intoxicated husbands have
been given a sound whipping and made So
Der enough to realize their condition. Some
times the conduct is repeated SO often that
make him pay fins or two until he either
does better or learnc not to disturb an en-
TIRE neighborhood just because he feels a
little happy"
Barking dogs are one of the greatest
nuisances with which the police have to
contend now. Many times voice from a
you stop that dogs barking?"
No. madam" is the usual response,
that is not in my power"
But he disturbs our family, insists the
gentle voice from the white robe.
Can't help it, madam. You Will have to
get warrant for the owner"
The officer goes on and the dog continues
to expand its lungs.
There is a section Of the police resula-
ions which covers such cases, but in or
der to prosecute 1t must be shown that the
particular individual has been disturbed.
policeman attending to his duties could
hardly be disturbed and an effort on his
be looked upon with suspicion by his slI-
perior officers unless the disturbance In in
the neighborhood Of his home where he
sleeps. There are many citizens who would
like to get rid of noisy dogs, but who Pc
frain from doing so because they are afraid
of offending their neighbors The same
law applies to Growing BOOSTERS and cack-
ling hens.
Drills and Trials.
The absence of a drill hall for use of the
police Is greatly regretted Just now The
annual review Of the police generally takes
place In September and while no arrange
mentS have yet been made for such an af-
fair. 1t is possible that the review will not
be omitted this year. 1t is the desire OF
Maj. Moore to have the review, but as this
orhciaPs time Is occupied with other mat
tiers. and he has no other person upon
whom he can depend to act as drill master,
he Is afraid he cannot get the men we'll
drilled in time for the review and ami
yerSary celebration.
The trials of members Of the police force
BY the trial committee are causing the
officials some annoyance and a waste of
much valuable time. Under the law sworn
charges of citizen have to be tnvesti-
gated, and the number OF trivial cases
heard lately has convinced the members
Of the board that some discretion should
be allowed In many cases where the OFF,
GERS make arrests and fail to sustain the
charges in court they are complained
against before the trial board. The trial
deprives the city of the services Of two
Moores stenographer has to take the testi-
mony. Trials have become so numerous
lately that the board finds 1t necessary
sometimes to meet more than one day in a
week.
The duties Of the chief clerk and the
property clerk. which are filled by Mr..
Richard Sylvester, have been greatly In
creased during recent years, but there has
been no corresponding increase in salary.
This official handles and Is held responsible
for all the valuable property which comes
into the hands Of the department This
property now amounts to nearly 81, 300
annually.
Police Pensions.
With seventy-two persons on the pension
list and the fund on the steady decrease,
Major Moore realizes the necessity Of con-
gressional action at an early date. The
members Of the force contribute 81 a month
each to the fund. and an occasional picnic
or excursion has greatly assisted in keeping
the fund out of danger, but Major Moore
does not appcDve of this manner Of taxing
the community. and therefore it Is lot
likely that there will be a police excursion
this summer. The pensions now paid range
from $40 to $50 month.
Next week two covered patrol wagons
will appear in service. This is an expert
ment 50 far as this city is concerned, and
one which Is welcomed by the officers and
citizens alike The coverings will not only
protect the officers and prisoners from the
weather, but will also hide from view many
unpleasant sights and prevent the usual
string OF boys and others from running af-
ter the wagons to see the unfortunates un-
loaded at the police stations.
Surgeons and Weapons,
AS stated in The Star a few days ago
the new board of police surgeons organized
| with the election of DR.. Addison as prest-
dent Of the board. One new move made by
the new board will be a great relief to
some Of the patients. 1t has been decided
that when an operation is to be performed
| 1t Is to be done not by one physician In at
| tendance. but with as many members O,
the board present as possible. At the frs,
meeting of the board twenty-eight appli-
cantS were examined, and only eleven acre
| accepted
The new concealed weapon law provides
for the destruction of weapons by the nron.
/ erty clerk, and next week stxty-four suct
weapons will be destroyed The weapons
will be broken, and will then be thrown IN
the channel of the river from the patro
| boat Joe Blackburn" Heretofore such
weapons as were left on hand were sold
and the proceeds went to the credit of the
| policemen's fund. An invoice of thirty-sis
Colts revolvers reached headquarters yes
| terday to take the place of some of the pis
in the department
/ Although the new liquor license year does
| not begin until November, preparations are
now being made for the work This heinz
| the first year of securing licenses under Tho
| new law, the officers will have plenty OF
| work on hand, and the task of yerifyine
| the signatures will consume several week
| at least
Personal Notes.
Badge No. i Of the department is WORT
| by Policeman l.. B. Anderson, who Gid duty
| in Anacostia for so many years, and who
| Is now detailed at the District buildings
| He Is the only officer who has ever worn IT
| Detective John T. Hall of Richmond was
| In the city yesterday. He was shown abou,
the city by Detective Boyd, who recovered
about 500 worth of property stolen in Rich