Evening star., 1898-12-05

ther improve the condition of this depart
nlent by Strengthening it in every possible
way, so to get the greatest advantage
| out of the small number of men allowed
| the District for the prevention of crime
| the arrest of criminals and the perform-
ance of the various duties which have
! from time to time been ptft upon the police.
| Those who have grown old and feeble have
been retired TO the extent the moderate
| facilities afforded by. Congress would per-
init and their places filled with young and
active men. All the mounted men have
| been detailed to the county, enabling the
department to give better attention TO a
| large territory hitherto unprotected.
| The bicycle squad has been Increased
| from five to twenty. The Introduction of
the bicycle into the police department. in
| this as well as in other cities has proved
| a very decided benefit. The men can get
about so silently and swiftly as to enable
| them to cover a large area in a Snort time
| Instead of having them do general duty all
| over the city, as heretofore they are now
! assigned to precincts and their duties pre-
| scribed by the lieutenants. These men are
| now provided with wheels at the expense
! of the department.
| The report of the major and superinten-
| dent shows that the department has no
apologies to make for the record of the
| past year. 1t has done exceedingly well
Although unusual conditions have existed
i in connection with the recent war which
| brought many criminals and crauks to the
| city, the record is very good, especially in
| the keeping down and apprehendng of
| criminals of the higher grade.
| Murders Committed.
| Fifteen murders were committed during
| the year, but with a single exception all
the murderers have been captured and the
| department has strong grounds for believ-
ing that the one at large will soon be appre-
| hended a record which challenges COM
| parson with those of other municipalities
So much has been said in the past re-
| garding the inadequacy of the force in
| point of numbers, and the fact has been so
| thoroughly demonstrated, that it seems un-
| necessary to say more. Strong efforts will
| be made during the coming session of Con-
| gress to secure its enlargement to a point
| which will be proper and in keeping with
| the work to be done and the property and
| territory to be guarded.
| Attention is more particularly invited at
| this time to the condition of the station
| houses throughout the city Congress re-
| Gently made provision for additional stories
| on two of the stations. and these houses
| are now equipped and quite comfortable, so
far as the sleeping and sanitary conditions
| are concerned. Taken as a whole, how
| ever, the stations are very far behind the
| modern stations of other cities and not at
! all what Washington should have.
| AS inadequate as these accommoda tions
| are we can get along pretty well without
| much change at present. The cells, how
| ever, are absolutely insecure and discredit-
| able. Made of brick with old-fashioned
doors and the crudest sanitary arrange
: rnents, they are unsafe and unsightly and
| should be substituted at the earliest posi-
| bic date with the modern steel cell. Corre-
| sDondence has been had with the manufac-
| turers of these cells and it is believed this
| work can be done for q few thousand dol
| lars. An effort will be made at the coming
| session of Congress TO secure this improve
| ment.
! Much could be done to improve the condi-
| ton of these stations if the entire estimate
asked for repairs would be granted by Con-
| ed and shown to be absolutely needed last
| year, but only $500 was allowed. 1t is
| Foped a more liberal policy will be pursued
| next year. as the money is very much
needed to put the stations in proper cendi-
ton.
| The contingent fund should also be en-
arged to an amount sufficient to meet the
| necessary expenses without a deficiency aud
d suitable amount provided for the preven-
| ion and detection of crime 1t is well
known that in order tossecure criminals re
| wards must necessarily be offered and the
trayeling expenses of detectives must he
| net. well as other expenses incidental
| to such work. The department has been
| hampered very much in securing the ar-
rest of criminals because of the inadequaCy
| of the appropriation for this purpose.
Central Police Station.
The most important change by far would
| be the erection of a central police station.
| The station now occupied at the headquar-
| between c and D streets northwest has
ueen rendered almost unfit for use by the
erection of the city post office, which tow
ers so far above it as 10 completely darken
| the building. In addition to this the cellar
is always damp, owing to the fact that the
sewage is above the floor, the water some
umes rising so high as TO put out the fire
| IN the furnace. 1t would be better If a
building could be erected which would be
complete and modern in every respect and
credltable 20 the city. Ii should be located
| IN the first precinct, which contains most
OF the principal business houses, hotels
banks, etc. 1t should contain all the usual
rooms for office purposes, sleeping accom-
mCdatlons for the men and for the police
matrons and cell rooms for the proper de-
tehtloh or young girls, women and the bet
Ter class OF prisoners. There should also
| be swimming pool for the use of the men,
pisto! practice galleries, appurtenances for
physical development and a room in which
instruction could be given to new officers
as 10 the proper performance of their du-
ties.
This building was not provided for in the
estimates submitted by the Commissioners
| in October, because the exact cost could
not then be obtained but during the COM
ing session of Congress sketch plans with
detailed estimate of cost will be submit ed
ana an appropriation asked. 1t is believed
should Congress make such an appropria-
tlon the present station in this precinct
could be sold for an amount sufficient to
largely reimburse the new appropriation.
Death of Major Moore.
In July of the present year the depart
| ment suffered the loss, by death, of William
u. Moore, who was for eleven years its
major and superintendent. During his term
of service he was successful in increasing
the number in the department to exactly
double the number he at first assumed COM
mand Of Affable and courteous in his man.
ners, with a kindly heart, full of sympa-
thy with all in distress, he made for him
sell host of friends His loss was sin
cerely felt by every man serving under
MIN, as We'll as by those whom he served.
The vacancy occasioned by the death of
Major Moore was filed by the promotion of
Richard Sylvester, who was for sixteen
years the chief clerk of the department,
and who, by his personal knowledge of IFS
duties, was thought to be we'll equipped for
the position lis hoped that the good
work OF the department may be rewarded
by the addition of the men who so
soreiy needed for the necessary details, a
well as for patrolling the city and county.
Attention is called to the fact that The
oncefs OF the department are not prop
erly paid as compared with the amount Of
work they are called upon to perform or
the amounts paid by other cities. The Com
mlss1oners ndorse ahe recommendation of
the major and fntendent that these