Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-21

right, S. '' ~ iiio-
- October 21+ am, 80; am. 90; y m.
sc. and p.m So - ~
Maximum, 50. at pm. October 20: min
lmum, 53, at am, October 81
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'end with narrow, confined ard unsanitary
quarters To- the conduct of its affairs Sew
erai moves have been made in the past
twenty years. with view of improving the
SITUATION, but none of these to advantage,
except rs to location. Clerks have heen
crowded to interference with imnortant
work, and the public has rightly condemned
the means afforded for doing business The
heaoGuarters OF this branch of the service
winch should be in measure reserved and
secludeh are incommodious 6avoid IF
privacy and have been repeatedly con-
oemned as unsanitary by reason of their
SIoWoeo ana cramped condition. 1t wouJd
ne 10 the advancement of the denartment
We're accommodations secured eiSor,bana
building. = municipal
Exclusive Telephone Service.
FOR many years police telephone OPERA
tors nave been employed, paid and s11ner
Vised py the fire alarm service. The oner
ators nave been charged with all business
VI CONFIDENTIAL character going and conn
ihs over the wires to and from headouar
ters, the several police precincts and tho
public l am Informed thar as an outI
saHm.n OF the system they occupy the same
tSia.Ne position to other DEPARTMENTS of
the District government DE. this &c -
may the Importance of having operators
VINO conduct police affairs under the same
rIo,,a .setiieht ana discipline as other en-
Pio1e@ VI thls department is quite apDare,t
IN iurtherance of this conclusion If might
pe wei 10 secure the establishment in the
near future of a telephone switchboard
battery, apparatus and operators axcJ,I
ines of I'll.
ment. ~ "ePaA =
Schools of Instruction.
Sold1eriy bearing and attractive carriage
among members of the force should be the
result OF drill: but in this matter, as in
many others, the department meets with
opstfuctlons. Uniformity in drill follows
"here the master has the time and free
dom from other requirements to accom-
pllsn II. Where instruction must be given
oy t several serseants to distinct companies
at the expense of urgent duties of more i'm
portance, and often when the material is
exhausted from overwork, the highest eff
clchcy cannot be obtained. Were the force
inc s nis t strensth to allow an alternat
ing Grass LOT instruction in the manual drill
dutles and athletic exercises the physical
ana mental status of the force would be
very much enhanced.
Sunday Sales of Liquor
A growing evil has manifested itself in
the past year incidental to the effective
work accomplished by the police in Grad
icating the speak easy" The latter name
Is applied to out-of-the-way places where
liquor Is sold without license The police
We're long puzzled to know where SO many
intoxicated persons procured drinks on
Sundays. The mystery has been rcve,lad
ana despite the fact that some breweries
nave extensive sales throughout the weel,
ti,tss seif 10 customers on Sundays III guam
toa u. an eighth of key or more of
cution. "a piose-
Ihere Is no law which will reach this
cI'iss OF sales. The evil is extending. and.
~ ~ me absence OF law to cover this class
ol barter, 1t is recommended that vo,r
honorable body solicit such amendment to
lhe excise law as will enable the police to
prosecute this class of Offenders ~
Desk Sergeants.
AHhcugh the estimates presented hare-
with designate the station clerks as st.
'ion keepers, II Is suggested that this c,.ss
VI suoorolnates be raised to the rank and
..ee'e Inc pay Of sergeants on the force
mere are many reasons why this change
VI iiaihe ana pay should be made Those
e"ipioyeo IN the capacity Of station keepers
- o"y perform the duties incumnen.
a ap.a d cierk OF the third grade in the gov
sitIa 20. service. but they are held respon-
prisoners must frequently instruct officers
III prisoners, and of necessity do
o e.ne work o. strictly police nature. In
thew 80 ~ accept collateral~from a prisoner
IL, nuse 10 await the presence Of the
lieutenant or sergeant VI 'iie
ING department congratulates itself on
having lnaugurated a successful wa mn
Polly p9a;y playing. This satisfactory turn in
affairs a Is que to the special efforts of
aetail which operates directly from the Of
nee OF the superintendent 0onsfdera bIe
embarrassment is encountered by DELAYS
III securing jury trials. when demanded by
me 1lienolng par.es. Such postponements
enable the fixing of witnesses and a com
t OF policy dealers to defeat Justice
There should be no deferinent In the trial
., pomcy writers and runners beyond that
aosoiuteiy necessary to summon and i'm
panel jury. and the courts can do much
10 down this character of violations by
more prompt proceedings - 2
me concealed weapon law should be
ahenueo py congress SO, as to provide a
penalty fcr default on the part of dealers
IN making weekly returns of sales of re-
volvers, razors. etc. To be sure, the law
s WOsks some something Of hardship where a
be absorbed for the affidavit to the report
o. sale. but such returns have proved of
value TO the department In establishing
evidence where crime has been Committed
and 1t is very essential that dealers should
be made to answer for their shortcomings
In falling to make sworn statements of
weekly sales, as the law provides.
The Bicycle Squad.
Prior to the detail Of a police squad to
enforce the bicycle regulations and those
intended to prevent reckless driving, there
was considerable discussion Of the abuses
which the general adoption of the machines
had brought about upon the smooth-p paved
streets OF the District, and a vigorous de-
mand for police Intervention against
scorchers. Congress was urged to allow
FUNDS for the purchase OF wheels to mount
q detail. but an appropriation was not
public, several experienced members OF the
force were induced to provide bicycles at