Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-16
THE POLICE CHIEFS
They Will Finish Up Their Business
This Evening.
TEE SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION
The BertiIIion Method Explained at
Length at This Mornings Session.
WASHINGTONIANS THANKED

There is a slight exodus of police chiefs
from Washington. few of them have
such wicked cites under their care that
they cannot leave them long, so they have
gone home to continue their work of watch
ing the thieves and thugs. This reduced
the attendance somewhat upon the third
session of the convention at the Ebbitt
House today, which was begun at 10
o'clock. After the minutes had been APP
proved President Eldridge urged that the
work of the convention should be closed
today, and it was decided that a session
be held at o'clock this evening to clear
up odds and ends of business.
On motion of Chief Jansen of Milwau-
kee Messrs. VIM. A. and Robert A. Pinker-
ton were chosen active members of the as
ISOLATION.
Chiefs Oliver and Harrigan supported the
motion in short speeches, in which the
clever work of the Pinkerton brothers was
highly praised.
Chief Harrigan said that as this was a
convention of thief-catchers it was quite
appropriate that these two men, chief
among them all, should be included in the
ranks. Chiefs Starkweather of Detroit,
Seavey of Omaha, Eldridge of Boston
Meagher of Terre Haute, Supt. McClaugh-
ry of the Pontiac (Mich) reformatory.
Chief Deitch of Cincinnati, Chief Mckelvey
Of Brooklyn, Chief Armstrong Of Duluth,
of Jersey City, Chief Russell of Williams
burg, Pa; Chief Holm of Cleveland, Chief
Mcdonald of Birmingham and Chief Reitz
of Toledo all spoke few words of praise
for the Pinkertons and their work. The
election was unanimous
Mr.. VIM. A. Pinkerton thanked the asso-
citation for the honor done to him and his
brother. and promised to work in even
of
police i'll the future.
Some miscellaneous Business.
On motion of Chief Demmer of Aurora,
ILL.,, resolution adopted thanking
Chiefs Seavey and Carr for their services
in organizing the association and work
president and secretary. An appropria-
ton of 500 was made to pay Secretary
Carr for his labors during the past year.
Chief Williams Of Columbus, Ga, voiced
the sentiments of many of the visitors
when he said that most of them wanted
to visit New York while here, and he in
PRODUCED a resolution. which was adopted,
providing for the appointment of COM
ton to the metropolis. President Eldridge
appointed Major Moore, Mr.. VIM. a.
Pinkerton and Chief Williams.
A report was read from the committee
on Jail appliances and dsinfectants. show
ing the state of progress in these devices.
Barnard's Criminal Cipher Code was
adoped for use by the various chiefs form
ing the association, so that they might
work together even more smoothly and
secretly than they do now. committee
was also appointed to meet during the
coming year and devise badge, to be
used by the members of the association.
Chief Seavey presented resolution de-
claring that the municipalities of 5000
popula ton or over in the United States
and Canada should send their chiefs and
superintendent to the annual meetings of
the association and pay their expenses.
The Bertillion System.
Major McClaughry of Pontiac was in
vited to speak concerning the workings of
the Bertillion system of identification of
prisoners. He said it was most desirable
that this system should be adopted by all
the departments of this country. 1t had
been found that it was difficult to obtain
the proper instruments, but the Chicago
department, which he represented by proxy.
had sent a squad of men to Paris to study
the system under NJ. Bertillion himself,
and is now prepared to furnish other de-
partments with instruments and full in
Structon.
Major NcClaughry also spoke of the
pressing need of the establishment of a
national bureau Of identification of crim-
RAILS in connection with the Department of
Justice. Resolutions were passed at ST.
Louis providing that Congress be memorial
lied in this connection, but no action was
taken by the national legislature. Accord
lHSiy, MCSiauSnfy O1efed a new
resolution. which was adopted, providing
for the appointment of committee to take
in charge the matter of preparing another
memorial to Congress, urging the passage
of bill to this effect.
Chief Connolly of Atlanta was unani-
nously chosen as vice president of the as
ISOLATION, this being a new office.
Neutrality-suspicious. Thanked.
Chief Oliver Athens of Georgia offered
a resolution, which was adopted thanking
Major Moore; the District Commissioners,
the citizens and the members of the press
for their attentive services. Chief Meagher
of Terre Haute suggested that President
Cleveland should also be thanked, but the
resolution was becoming such a dragnet
that the matter was postponed until to-
night, and left to committee consisting
of Chiefs Oliver, Meagher and Reitz.
Ex-President Seavey of Omaha, who is
not now at the head of any police depart
ment, was made a life member of the as
ISOLATION.
The convention being now without any
special business to transact, Chief Deitsch
spoke about discipline in police depart
ments, and argued that the military Or
ganiZation was the most effective. He
denounced the introduction of political in
fuences into police matters, and spoke of
his own experience in Cincinnati, where
the department has been taken from the
field of politics by act of legislature de-
failing the strict methods of selecting the
members OF the force. Inc minimum OIL
height is five feet ten inches, and the eX-
aminationS are very severe. After APP
pointment the new man is required to at
tend a school of instruction two hours
day. and also to spend certain length of
time in the police gymnasiums. There is
police library the use of which is urged
upon the men.
Chief Deitsch also called attention to the
need of temperate habits among the rank
and file of the staff, and he said the day
had gone by when, as it used to be said,
! anybody can be policeman In his de-
partment the rule is, every policeman must
be a gentleman" Discipline he said, must
be maintained among the members of the
force. The matter of the better apprehe1-
sion of fugitives from justice should re-
ceive the most earnest attention. 1t is
sometimes easy to clear city of thieves
and other undesirable PROFESSIONAL peo-
ple but it is not so easy to keep the chiefs
of the neighboring cities warned of such