Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24

| thority be conferred, and that the salary
be at least $500 per year g..
In Chicago the desk sergeants are paid
| 1890 each per annum.
Station Matrons.
Provision has annually been made for
three matrons, whose office is to take
| charge of the female prisoners who do not
| possess vicious tendencies to search all
such prisoners and to care for children
who may be lost or abandoned A fourth
| matron is estimated for herein Their work
| Is OF purely humane character, and it
should not be said of the national capital
| that 1t is not in keeping with, if not in adj
vance OF, other Jurisdictions in this respect
The expense is moderate in comparison
with the good results that follow
Repairs to stations.
One need but visit a station house to see
| the waste and decay of wood and other
| work. caused by lack of proper preventative
materials
A nigh standard of health is maintained
among the members of the force because
OF their excellent physical condition 1t is
not for want of favorable conditions that
the sick and death rate of the members
| of the force is not increased. What an I'M
fortunate commentary, when police off
Ger must come in from the street. from
active duty. covered with dust and SMELL
ing from perspiration, and be unable to
cleanse himself for want of bathing facili-
ties. Discomfort ensues. efficiency is i'm
paired and clean bed linen soiled.
Rooms should be adapted to modern uses,
old sewers and water pipes modernized and
dampness eradicated from the stations to
efectually protect those who must occupy
them against fouiness. If not illness Heat
ing appliances will also have to be changed
and repaired.
Contingent Expenses.
Should Congress make provision for an
increased police force, the estimate submit
ted for contingent expenses will be suf-
ficient to equip the additional number The
equipment is based on actual needs, which
include arms. insignia. batons, beds bed
clothing and minor necessaries. The next
most important expenditure necessary for
the prevention and detection Of crime ts the
secret service fund. which must be taken
from contingent expenses. The general
government is literally looked after in this
respect as are the police departments of
great cities.
Criminals adapt themselves to the ad-
Vanced improvements and precautions of
the times. They are more enlightened now
than ever before in history. They plan op-
erations and provide for escape with all
the cunning and subtleness that study and
experience teaches. General enlistment of
the public and officials against them at
home and abroad, becomes necessary on
certain occasions, and expenditures of
money become a requisite. The depart
ment should not be hampered In this re-
spect, where it employs the ordinary skill
in the first instance. From the same fund
is derived the running expenses of the de-
partment, which dsbursed with the
same view to economy which characterizes
the modern business house.
Conveying Prisoners.
The detective bureau has property re-
covered to secure, or prisoners and wit
other places, and to make prompt and rapid
conveyance of the same. the transportation
facilities, which 1t is now necessary to hire
should be owned by the department.
patrol wagon might be called from its leeit-
innate use at a station, but this would i'm
pair the precinct work and give rise to
proper criticism from citizens in front of
whose premises such a conveyance might
be stopped. Therefore, to attain the object
IN view, it is proposed that a light wagon
morse and driver be secured for such pur-
poses. This / have included in nv esti-
mate, and It is. to be hoped that those who
provide for such contingencies may appre-
ciate the wisdom of the recommendation
and make such provision.
POIfcemen's Fund.
The justice of making provision for the
police officer who may be injured or con-
tract disease in the line of duty, and car
ing for the widow and orphans of a man
who gives UP his life in the police service.
has manifested itself long since in the
principal cities OF the United States. Those
who make the laws that govern the Dis-
trict of Columbia, to say the least should
not be behind those who are entrusted with
like responsibilities in cities of far less i'm
portance- FOR many years congressional
committees have considered this question
without arriving at conclusion satisfactory
TO those interested. They have placed
themselves on record as favoring the pen
SlOulDg of policemen U
ike those of soldiers; but no plan has vet
been adopted which has been free of de-
fects.
The prevailing condition should be RENE
died by the same power and authority
which has acted heretofore and the SUI
perintendent has to suggest. after studying
the methods in vogue in other cities and
here, that the existing law should be fur
Their amended as follows:
provided, That hereafter the Commits
sloners of the District of Columbia are
hereby authorized and directed to deposit
with the treasurer of the United States
from the District of Columbia revenues
sufficient amount to meet any deficiency in
the police fund or fremen's relief fund:
and, provided. that the major and superin-
tendent, captain, lieutenant inspectors and
Heutenants may, after fifteen years service.
in the police department, or having been
injured or contracted disease in the line of
duty, be removed from the force and al
lowed a pension of 80 per cent of the salary
he received at the time of his removal; or
under sixteen years of age shall be granted
a sum not exceeding the allowance afore-
said.
''Ail of act, approved February %. 1885,
not inconsistent with aforesaid provisions
to remain in full force and effect
The superintendent here appends a list of
officers and dependents now on the pension
rolls, numbering ninety-seven whose
monthly allowances range from So to $50.
The Receipts.
On the other hand, the receipts for the
last fiscal year We're as follows:
Balance on hand July l, 1897. ..... 81 1913 -
Fines Police Court II, 6tj -
L ines, ODlDS
Proceeds of property sale. 800 30
ooiiei'ioilS' 1ZOUD
Amount retained from officers pay 6,534 10
~ ,lD1.p5
AS a further Endorsement of the suggeS-
ton hereinbefore stated, attention is in
vited to the existing provisions in other
municipalities.
The superintendent says:
The proposed law would not discriminate
in any manner as between those who have
already been provided with a pension and
those who might be under the proposed
law; and, on the other hand, there is am i'll
centive or inducement embodied in the