Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-19

OF one hundred the policeman knows prac-
tically nothing of the arm, and has not
been taught the first principles Of marks
manship That every officer should be so
armed must be evident to all persons hav-
Ing any knowledge of police duty. 1t there
Iore follows that the officer should know
how to use-with greater or less degree Of
Skin the deadly weapon he Is required to
carry and may sometimes be compelled to
use.
"A course Of instruction should be insisted
upon, and 1t would probably be only the
proper thing to withhold the issue of re-
volvers to those officers who develop in
ABILITY to handle them with due regard for
the safety of themselves, their associates
and the unoffendng public.
Fire Department.
Division of authority is not always de-
sirabie or profitable, but 1t Is believed that
division would result in increased eff
cheney IN the fire department. 1t is, of
course, possible that one man may some
Wnere be found who could care at once for
the discipline and equipment of the depart
ment and be possessed of all the Informal
ton and latter-day skill necessary to make
MIN an ideal fire-ighter, but the odds are
Individual
1.-The exercise of proper supervision over
tne men and material to the department,
the purchase of supplies, the keeping in
close touch with the Commissioners and
the representing of the department before
the committees of Congress ought to keep
one good man busy. While it would be
Wen TO select this executive head this chief
OF the fire department, from among those
who have Practical knowledge of fire de-
partment methods, it is not essential that
he shoIld be an experienced fire fighter,
Tor the plan contemplates a chief engineer
who shall be charged specifically with the
duty OF handling the department at fires.
win his whole time devoted to the theory
and practice of fire-extinguishing this chief
would necessarily become much more COM
petent than is possible under present con-
diuons, wien the one man has to do more
imam ought to be required of him, and vino,
therefore, must leave some things undone.
ne chief engineer. as provided in this
proposition, should make close and careful
study of the buildings of the city, and be
thoroughly conversant with their peculiari-
ties. but that he cannot do while present
methods prevail
Essential Needs.
of material assistance to the disci-
PINE OF the department would be the or
ganlzation of board of ire commission
ers, similar In its organization to that pro-
posed for the police department. 1t really
seems to be essential that the administra-
tion OF justice be in the hands of gentle
men whose names are not upon the de-
partment pay roll
Larger companies and better paw are
TWO OF the prime necessities Sickness as
SAILS even hrcmen, and when there are at
most but ten men in company the con-
ditions are often distressing and often dan
gerous.
The absence. legitimate or otherwise OF
Two members of company, stops the day
OH or all the other members and this
works real hardship to those who are in
noWise responsible for the shortcomings
OF the organization. 1t has frequently been
the case that the number of men on duty
was lnsuficient to properly handle the APP
paratus. With twelve men in each com
pany there would be no reasonable ground
IN ha re
strength The only remaining trouble
needing legislation would then be the rate
or pay. Firemens service is every whit
IS hazardous when averaged as that rem
dered by the most active policeman in the
worst nelghborhood, 80 there is no reason
why the rate of pay SHOULD not be the
same In both departments
Inc physical strain Is usually greater
upon the fireman than it is upon the noIice
man; ms life is shorter, therefore his pay
ought to be increased. In some respects
the nre-nghting equipment of our depart
ment Is less effective than 1t might be- or
ife-saving apparatus other than the crude
ladder we have practically nothing, while
we continue to use horses wherever horses
can be made useful, although other cities
with streets far inferior to ours have been
using horseless engines capable of being
propelled at great speed. For such engines
this is the ideal city.
District National Guard
Like the other departments of our city
government, the District National Guard
suffers from poverty. More favorably re-
garded now than it was when Gen. Ordway
organized it, it has beea much neglected
by Congress. If the District Commissioners
will only endeavor to secure the necessary
funds there is no reason that that local
br:gade-which should be regarded as a po-
lice reserve-will continue much longer to
struggle against adverse conditions such
as the national guard elsewhere is, for
tunately. not called upon to experience"