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


ures. In twenty years the capital city of
the United States mas grown in wealth and
population proportionate to advancement
throughout the world. 1t is the only city
possessing an exclusive form of govern
ment in municipal matters-a city with
buildings and thoroughfares adapted to the
requirements of the great capital, with
population differing in social aspects from
that of any other place in the country. As
it has grown in a decade so have its laws
become more numerous and complex bust
ness of every character has advanced hon.
generously, the least, perhaps, in police af-
fairs.
The captain of police in this District is
the second executive officer of the depart
ment. If for any reason the Superntend
ent is absent from his office everything per
tanning thereto devolves upon the captain.
He must be learned in the local laws and
have the intelligence and force TO give them
effect. The vast amount of public property
belonging to the department, as well
personal police belongings, must undergo
his careful inspection. To a great extent
the appearance and conduct of the members
of the force reflect the manner in which h
directs and carries into effect the inStruc-
tons of his superior. This officers pay to-
day is exactly the same that it was when
his office was created. while the many mat
terS which must be looked into and he per-
fected by him have quadrupled. 1 recon-
mend the increase of two hundred dollars
included in the estimate. and, were il pos
sible, the title of this officer should be
changed to that of assistant superintendent
The Inspectors.
Following the same lines with the
original proposition, the salaries paid the
three lieutenant inspectors of police are
inadequate. The inspector charged with the
suppression and detection of crime in this
jurisdiction should be paid a sum at least
equal to that in vogue in smaller cities
The otticial who especially instructs to
the apprehens ion of criminals skilled in
their vocation, who works out and success
fully defeats schemes to impose on the gov
ernment institutions and those having them
in charge, as well as on the large resident
population of this extensive District. should
not be made to feel that he is of less i'm
portaHce than the individual who has lit
tie of such important work to do in smaller
cities 1t should be borne in mind that the
District of Columbia occupies a position
directly between the north and south. 1t is
within few hours ride of Richmond, Bal
timore aid Norfolk. on the one hand, and
of New York Philadelphia and the larger
cities to the north and east, where GRIM
inals are closely watched and scrutiniZed by
well-paid officials, where such people may
live on fll-gotten gains secured in COM
munitieS more poorly protected than their
own. To this end this officers salary is
estimated at $500 per annum.
Duties of sergeants.
For many years it has been the custom
for the lieutenants of the several precincts
or those acting for them to report daily to
the superintendent at police headquarters
for the purpose of handing in reports of
the operations in their precincts for the
preceding tWenty-four hours. receiving
such complaints and papers as may have
been made and prepared for their atten-
ton and discussing with the superintendent
matters of departmental and public inter-
est. While these lieutenantS are devoting
the forenoon or the best part of the day
in attendance at headquarters their pre-
cincts must be left in charge Of and I'M
der the supervision OF sergeants, who,
while they are expected to act in lieu of
their suDeriors, have another duty to per-
form of equal, if not more, importance. A
sergeant of police, like a private. is cloth
ed with the mower of. arrest, and it is his
duty to see that the laws are enforced
and, if necessary, to actively participate
ii the police duty of making arrests, but
he is authorized to maintain at the same
time an inspection over the privates of
the force and to exact of them a strict
performance of duty.
Change in System.
There are two other officials of equal
rank with the inspector in charge of the |
detective bureau. known night inspec- |
tors who perform duty similar to that |
of lieutenarts and sergeants, in that they |
go forth in the night time and see that |
members of the force are rendering a strict |
accountability of their respective duties. |
These agents have proved themselvs pro- |
should be exercised by them under cover |
of the darkI-ess rather than in the day |
time, when similar and equally as import |
ant work is required, is q question which |
suggests not only a change in the system, |
but justified a recommendation for in |
creased &C mDensation for these two Off /
GERS.
That their services may be more prop |
erly directed, it is proposed that the Dis |
trict of Columbia be divided into two police /
subdivisions, to be known as District No. |
l and District No. 2-the former to contain |
the police precincts included in that ter
ritory west OF 18th street west; the latter |
to include all the precincts east of 9Th |
street west. This would not conflict with 1
the organic act, but is purely change |
within the scope of the Commissioners |
power.
District No ], 1t is proposed should be |
supervised and inspected by one of the |
inspectors, who would be held accountable |
for careful adherence on the part of the |
subordinates to the rules and regulations /
for the maintenance of good order and the |
prevention and detection of crime in such |
district.
Instead OF combining the inspector du- /
ties to patrolling the streets In the night |
time he would become the operating