Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
Superintendent of Police Submits His
Annual Statement.
ESTIMATES OF DEPARTMENT EXPENSES
The Appropriations Solicited for
1900 Aggregates $86l1o5.
I N CREA SEES ASKED FOR

report and the estimates for an appropria-
| ton for the maintenance of the force for
| the year 1900. After Il brief preliminary
statement, in which the history of the de-
| partment is discussed. Major Sylvester
| says:
| During the earlier years of the depart
| ment the greatest number of men patroliing
| the entire District of Columbia at any one
| time, under the system in operation, be-
| tween the hours OF pm. and & am. was
| one patrolman to the square mile OF terri
tory and one ratrolnlan to 1912 popua-
| ton, no allowance being made for privates
| absent on account of illness or on leave.
This year, when the population is about
| $4,000 the highest numerical strength rem
| deriHg similar accountability at any one
| time, the maximum assignment being on
duty between the hours of o'clock pm.
| and = O'Clock am. on estimate based
| on the reports of the 18th day of July last.
Is 10, or one Datrolman to 1,690 popula-
| ton, and two and one-half patrolmen to
| one square mile of territory.
| 1t may be asked by what means this de-
! ductlOn is reached, when force of so
privates is available. On the date referred
| TO eleven members of the 800 We're sick,
| nineteen were absent on leave, which the
| Law authorizes; sixty-seven were detailed
| for various purposes; forty-one We're per
| forming post duty, and the balance, $50
| We're either on reserve patroliing their
| beats.
| 1t should be remembered that the full
force OF 80 Dr1VateS marked present is
| not on duty at one time. but the men are
| divided into reliefs, ore section, or about
| one-fourth, being on the street from S
| o clock a m. until | O'Clock p.m.: one-fourth
| o'clock pm; one-half, or one platoon, be-
| tween the hours of Il pm. and u m ar.i
| one-half, or one platoon, between II o clock
pm. and o'clock a. m. rhis division re-
| duces the actual number of patrolmen on
| duty at one time to 10, which forms a
| basis for calculation with 2SO,OO0 popuIa-
| ton and an area of seventy square miles
| of territory.
| 1t might be added to the credit of the
| department. that this solution cited was
| reached al time when the list of sick and
absent on leave was at a minimum, it being
not at all unusual during the winter, when
the men are EXPOSED to extreme climatic
| changes, to have a much larger sick roll
and an unusual demand for details.
With this state of affairs existing is it
surprising that policeman is not always
| IN sight when his services are required?
Utilizing Material
A proper utiliza ton of the material in
hand has long been a study, that the best
| results might be had. and it has been the
uniform conclusion that no change in the
hours of working could be made to advan-
tage. Granted, then, that the force is prop
| erly distributed as to hours of service how
may better protection be afforded life and
property in this jurisdiction? 1t is evident
| to those having experience in such matters
| in particular and to the public in general
that the remedy is in having additional
men, the size of the extensive beats being
thereby reduced in proportion to the in
crease provided.
If more privateS are allowed by Congress
means must accompany such allowance a
VIII insure their proper working. In other
words, provision should follow for superior
officers.
A further consideration is that of COM
pensation. Since the organza ton of the
metropolitan police department in the Dis
trict of Columbia this important feature
has been given little attention it having
been deemed more desirable to obtain
an increase in the force than in
creased compensation. but the time has
now arrived when the superintendent is
prompted, in justice to the work in hand.
to impress upon the Commissioners the i'm
pOrtance of this matter. A police officer
should not only be honest of physical
health and visor, and of good appearance
and address, but he should embody that in
telligence, far more necessary at the nation
al capital than elsewhere. which will en-
able him to deal with delicate problems
often international, requiring rare judg-
ment and diplomacy.
Every man engaged in an undertaking
requiring such assistance realizes that tai
ent must be paid for according to its worth.
Advanced conditions which have followed
progress in every direction make it neces-
sary that skilled hands and minds should
be employed to accomplish creditable work.
The same rule applies to the man who
makes police affairs a profession. My es-
innate, submitted herewith, is based upon
these considerations.
Estimates for 1900.
One major and superintendent 81 300:
captain, $1,000; 3 lieutenant inspectors, at
$3.50 each, IS, 400; chief, also property
clerk. $1,000; l clerk, 81 800; clerk, $500;
surgeons of the police and fire depart
| ments, at 500 each, 81. 500; additional COM
pensation for IL privates for special ser
vice, 81, $50; lieutenants, at $500 each,
$1,000; 33 sergeants, at 81 200 each, $50, COO;
300 privates of class l. at 5000 each, $40
0O0: 400 privates of class =, at 81 $50 each,
S432,92o; telephone operators, at $500 each,
81 800; 20 station keepers at 5000 each,
$1S,GOO: 10 laborers. at $3.50 each, $500;
messenger, 500; l messenger, $500: ma jor
and superintendent. mounted, $40: l cap
tain, mounted. s240; 40 lieutenants,
geants and privates, mounted, at $40 each,
$1o,SOo: - drivers at $3.50 each, SLIGO; 4
police matrons, at $500 each, 81, 400: for
rent of substation at Anacostia, 5000; fuel,
5000; repairs to stations, 5000; miscella-
neous and contingent expenses, including
stationery, books, telegraphing photo
graphs, printing, binding, gas, ice wash
ing, meals for prisoners, furniture and re-
pairs thereto, beds and bed clothing in
sigma of office, purchase and care of
horses, bicycles, police equipments and re-
pairs of same, harness, forage, repairs to
vehicles, van, ambulance and patrol
wagons, and expenses incurred in preven-
ton and detection of crime and other nee
essary items, s24, 900 improving of the
stable and grounds of the third precinct,
81, 700; flags and halliards for station
houses, 1926.
Policemens fund and fremen's relief
fund: Provided. That hereafter the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia are
hereby authorized and directed to deposit
with the treasurer of the United States
out of receipts from the District of Column
bia revenues sufficient amount 10 meet
any deficiency in the police fund CT fire
mems relief fund.
Total, 1851, Jos; appropriation for 1899.
$633, sos; excess over 1899. S227, 300.
Items of Increase.
This estimate exceeds by $227,30O the ap-
preparation for the current fiscal year, the
items of increase being as follows: Salary
Of captain, $500; salaries Of three Iieuten-
ants, inspectors, at $500 each, $780, salaries
of four surgeons, at $50 EACH 500; salaries,
of nine lieutenants, at $50 each, 81, GEO; sal
aries of thirty-one sergeants, at $50 each,
81, $50; two sergeants, at 81 200 each, s., 400;
two hundred privates of class two at 81 $50
each, $4,000; salary of twenty station
keanerS at $50 each So 900. two mounted