The morning times., 1895-11-09

| III skllleu Sudruldns, All from luIuS pro
vided distinctly for such purposes.
POLICE COURT DELAYS.
Delays incident to the conduct of cases
in the police court was referred TO, and
the superintendent says:
| The number of cases at the beginning
| of a week seldom number less than 100.
| When il is considered that one officer
| or more must be at court TO make infor-
| nation or appear as witnesses, can IL be
| wondered that the streets and avenues
| are ala rmiDgly unprot ected at times?
With only two Judges to dispose OF the
| various classes of cases arising under
| the laws, Notwithstanding the business
| is expedited with degree consistent
with justice, the delay is considerable" !"
He recommends that Congress be asked
| 10 make such provision as viii secure the
appointment for each precinct of magis-
trate whose duty shall be 10 give a pre-
liminary hearing 10 all classes of cases
| subject to prosecution by police Officers.
Such systematic magistrates to be re-
| quircd 10 try cases as early as O'Clock
| in the morning and as late us Z O'Clock
in the eveninG-would do away with eX-
| isting evils, and often afford an arrested
person an opportunity to avoid the humil
iation of confinement in cell.
For over year, the superintendent
says, the Incapacitated members of The
members dependent upon the pension fund
have been supported from funds derived
at the hands of charitable public, in
the absence of a Congressional appropria-
tion for their relief. The list now embraces
the names OF siXty-siX persons, whose
pensions range from S4 TO $50 per month,
an ANIMAL expenditure of S20,316.
QUESTION OF FEFFICIENCY. .
The question arises, he says, how may the
nffi,.iau,.y- of ia ha hx-I b..
retirement of numerous prvates no W eligible
todischargc by reason OF permanent physical
disability incurred i'll the line of duty? II
| ought Ia be done, but the pension fund is
inadequate.
Ten persons are now on the force subject
10 retirement under the rules.
The department" the chief saws, has
no unsulved mysteries upon its records. No
nurdererS or assassins have failed of appre
hension. The banks and business houses
nave been exceptionally secure in their trans
actions without interference from the con-
fidence man or burglar, and government
officials ana Institutions have been unmo-
Tested. Crime in the District during the
year, hasing the assertion upon the police
statistics OF arrests and complaints, has
increased in some and diminished in other
respects. The department has reason for
Congratulatiun, when, in closing the bust
ness of the year, the facts and figures show
such a favorable condition of affairs"
There were ,302 cases of arrest on the
charge OF petit larceny, S24 incurring con
viciion. There was one case of buying
stolen & GODS where conviction was had" the
superintendent says, but there should have
been many more. The inability of the po-
lice to have this class of people punished
by the courts is an incentive to thieving,
an encourag gement to the petit larceny
practitioner.
The law provides penalty where the
purchaser knows the goods 10 have been
stolen. This unwise provision furnishes a
loophole for the escape of the guilty.
EVIDENCE OF THEFT.
There are many innocent purchasers
among the dealers, but when an article
worth $50 is offered for So, the buyer must
be convinced that wrong attaches to the
property in some way, and the plea of ig-
norance should not be accepted as an
excuse"
The number of cases of arrest for the year
was 23.104. or 1.219 less than in 1894.
THE Edmonds law having been made ap-
plicable 10 the District. Al arrests under
its provisions were made. Eighty-eight
cases were sustained, 2S mourning I'M
prisonment; go a fine.
THE police of the District have given
much attention to the questionable patrons
of nearby race courses" Major Moore
states, lat least, to the extent of their
authority, and in their efforts to aid the
law-abding citizens of Virginia in an
attempt TO prevent gambling on the Vir-
ginia side of the Potomac, they have Sc
cured convincing evidence for the prose-
cution."
"Depravity among certain classes of
young men of this city is largely due
TO the want of convenient place of amuse-
ment Boys are driven from pillar to
post. The result is the hoy without play
ground Seeks recreation indoors. with cards,
cigarettes and drink The small hoy in
this city is 10 certain extent an out
law in the sight of those whose peace he
may disturb. Give the boys plenty of
room outside and they will neglect the
perils of indoor sports.
SWEET CHARITY'S WORK.
CHARITY work in the District has been
so ably seconded by the police organization
that there has been in recent years a dispo-
sition TO impose upon it the bulk of what
there is to do in that direction. 1t must
be admitted that such should be the sit
uation. as the police come in daily and
nightly contact with every section of
the District.
Last winter was one not soon to be for !
gotten. The extra duty imposed |
was fully and cheerfully dscha rgcd The |
sad situation seemed to shame the criminal !
from his rounds, the better to enable the |
policemen TO render succor to the needy. |
Experience shows that there are three |
classes of persons who need assistance
the worthy, the chronic solicitor and |
the beggar or tramp.
''The first class embraces men. women
and children, the latter two classes being !
in the majority. There are among them !
discharged government clerks. mechanics |
out of employment. laborers without work
those who. dependent on roomers, are left |
without natrons, and not few deserted
wives. This class becomes dependent only
when forced to do so.
ITO the next class belong those who
ack the faculty OF doing anything for
themselves. many of whom are honest.
,ut lazy: women with drunken husbands,
Who earn dollar one week and starve
he next.
''The thfd class is composed Of the