The evening times., 1899-10-28

prisoners must likewise be transported
many miles at times to court and places OF
confinement. The city rowdy and criminal
finds refuge in these outlying sections to be
interrupted by patrolmen, who by hard
travel, occasionally get over their large
beats. While fathers and brothers employed
in the city are engaged in their daily tasks.
mothers, wives, and children are left at
home partially protected. This should not
be the case in the District of Columbia.
With the proper police patrol in the county
portion OF the District, the number Of Of
tenders who would succeed in escaping this
jurisdiction would be reCuced to a mini
num-"
The mounted squad of the police force
was put to work in the county when the
bicycle service was established. With the
six additional mounted men asked for it Is
the opinion Of the major that the county
roads will be afforded more sure and con-
stant attention.
The difapidated condition Of the Fifth
and poor sanitation Of the First precinct
stationhouses make them lilly adapted for
the occupancy by public servants who must
devote more time within their walls than
they Go within those of their own homes.
The former building was erected in 1858
and owing to the limited appropriation for
repairs the Commissioners have never b.en
able to reconstruct it; although where TO
begin and where to end would be prob
lem. The unsanitary condition Of the first
precinct has been noted before in the
columns Of The Times and the report
only contains a recitation of the facts that
have been mentioned.
Designs have been prepared for new
building for this precinct and have been
approved by Commissioner Wight. A num-
Der OF the other stations need extensive re-
pairs and appropriation is requested for
this purpose. The question of fuel, con-
tingent expenses, and storage rooms for
property is discussed at length. The
necessity OF providing large amount to be
used for the detection and suppression Of
crime and the general needs Of the depart
ment are especially brought out.
Need of More Men.
A great deal of space in the report is de-
voted to statement OF the inadequacy OF
the present force. The general public is
not aware. Major Sylvester states, that It
frequently occurs that a man who went on
the street at midnight and reported at the
station at a. m. is only given sufficient
time to breakfast or a cup OF coffee and
sandwich before proceeding to the Police
Court, where he is expected to give evi-
dence in a case which detains him until
after noon. when he reports its dispos ton.
gets his dinner, and patrols the streets
again from O'Clock p. m. until midnight.
On June 80 last the force numbered
500 priyates: 163 of these were de-
tailed or sick or in some manner on duty.
leaving 337 men for patrol service. Only
one half of these men were on duty at one
time. 1t will be observed from this that
in the District Of Columbia, the fourth
largest police force area in the United
States. has about two patrolmen to the
square mile, or one policeman to 1853
people performed street duty on the last
night in June of the fiscal year 1899. The
arduous duties of the policeman and the
fact that he spends the major portion of
his time attending to his work Is thor
oughly reviewed and commented upon A
suggestion is also made for a reorganiza-
ton of the police force. including an al
justment of the salaries and titles of the
police officials.
A review Of the work of the bicycle squad
shows that s13,456 in fines were collected
from offenders arrested by the bicycle men
for violations of the fast riding and driving
regulations alone. The change in the arms
of the force from a large to small calibre
revolver and the excellent results obtained
are noted together with an account Of the
practice that has been indulged in by the
various members of the force during the
year.
The need of inebriate and blind asylums,
and public play grounds for the children fs
also discussed, together with a suggestion
for the establishment of national bureau
of Identification.
TIE licensing of bootbiacks and newsboys,
the collection of fines in the Police Court,
the status of private detectives, public halls
and beer gardens. permits for paradss, en-
tsrteinments, etc, public vehicles. hand or
gans, street pianos. fairgrounds. cir
cuses and employment agencies are all dis
cussed ard commented upon in the report.
The establishment of the spscial street
crossing squad is noted and table show
ing the number of men on duty at the va
rious crossings is also given. The various
special laws relating to the District and
their enforcement is discussed at length
and long list of the changes that have
been effected in the organization of the
force during the year, which have beer
noted from time to time in The Times is
given.
Many Arrests Made
With regard to crime. it is stated that
there were as many arrests made in the
DiSS tSt uuitH5 tuc year as III Tue CITY Vi
st. Louis, where there are half a million
more people. This includes the arrests
made for violations of the police regula-
tions and the vagrancy laws as well as
the United States statutes. In other cities,
it is said, the authorities do not devote
as much attention to the cases of intoxi-
cation and multiplicity of regulations doss
not exist as is the case with Washington.
During the last fiscal year there were 25.-
923 cases of arrests, Of which .619 per cent
were convicted Comparing the number of
colored and white persons arrested. it ap-
pears that there was a smaller number Of
the former than in the year previous. At
tached to this portion of the report is a
list OF the crimes for which the persons
were arrested and a roster Of the danger
Gus criminals that have been apprehended
during the year.
The report closes with an account of the
relief work performed by the police during
the blizzard of last winter. the non-ex-
istence Of policy shops in the District, the
policemen's fund. and list of letters of
that have been received
during the year.
With regard to the policemen's relief it
is noted that in this city former members
longer subject to the orders OF the super
intendent. 1t is the opinion of Major Syl-
vester that large proportion of the 10
men carried on the rolls could render the
District efficient service when special po-
licemen are needed and he recommends
that an amendment be enacted to the ex-