Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
HELPING THE POOR.
Use of the Police for Distribution
Work Considered.


Major Moore, superintendent of police
had lengthy conference today with Act
ing President Wight of the board of Dis
trict Commissioners relative 10 the en-
ployment of the police officers in the dis
tribution of charity during tho ensuing
cold weather whenever it shall become
necessary that charity be dispensed in
order to avoid suffering.
The subject was not finally decided, ard
Mr. Wight requested Major Moore to fur
ther consider the matter and to submit lis
views thereon to him in writing. t"Is'
In conversation with a Star repel ter
Mr.. Wight said he had serious doubts as
TO whether the giving of charity was a
proper duty for the police of the District to
perform. He had no doubt he said that
when the work was done in that way it was
done efficiently. and that there was no rea-
sonabie ground for criticism; that il was
probatl! the promptest way in which re-
lief could be extended to the deserving
yet when officers We're employed in that
T41lssion 1T took many of them from their
beats and he did not know as yet. whether
even so cOmmendable work as that of char
lty was a sufficient excuse tor the possible
neglect of other duties.
Mention was made to Mr.. Wight that
IN some cities as for example Baltimore,
the police authorities each winter dispensed
vast amount of supplies that We're con-
trlbuted by wealthy people for the relief Of
the poor, and the work gave entire salts
Iactlon Wherever 1t was practceI. Mr..
Wight replied that there was no doub, that
tfat statement was correct, but that the
figures received by him from Baltimore
showed that there were on the police force
there SIT men. and that the territory TO be
guarded by them was only about 6fteen
square miles. whereas in Washington there
are only between 500 and 600 men: these to
guard property in 4 territory of seventy
two square miles
Mr.. Wight further stated that he was
nlo re interested in preventing the commits
sion Of crime than he was that the police
men should make a praiseworthy record
for the arrest of offenders, and if officers
were taken from their beats to perform any
other DUTY than that which they were ex-
pected to look after in that line the prop
erty of the citizens was left unprotected TO
certain extent: Whenever crime was
committed and the perpetrator escaped ar
rest. there was loud outcry from every
portion of the District that the police
authorities were not sufficiently alert to
catch criminals, and in view of this and
other matters connected with the subject
he had not been able to bring himself to the
belief that the dispensing of charity was a
part Of the duties of the policemen of the
District of Columbia. He had not, how
ever finally decided what to do about the
question. out would determine after re-
ceiving Maj. Moore's report. Many citizens
interested in aiding the poor argue that the
distribution of relief by the police does
more to prevent crime than any other one
thing. 1t presents the police to the poor in
the light of helpers and not scourgers The
police also, according to these believers are
in a better position to know the necessities
of the poor than anybody else.