The times., 1899-10-29

the land. To this end the Superintendent
of Police was appointed with superntend-
euts Of other cities as a committee 10
draft bin 10 be submitted to the next
Congress for the establishment Of na-
tional bureau Of Identification and to carry
with it an annual appropriation of $4,000
for its support.
4 Criminal Clearing House.
The bureau wiz be conducted as a clear
ing house, its galleries and records being
made up from photographs, descriptions,
and Bertillon measurements Of criminals
apprehended by the authorities identified
with its support When an unknown Grim
inal is arrested his picture, description, and
Bertillon measurement are forwarded to the
bureau and if the same party has ever
fallen into the custody of the authorities
elsewhere his identification viii be secured.
The police officers Of every city and town,
the sheriff of every county, and the warden
Of every penal establishment should add
their criminal information to this bureau
and receive in return such enlightenment
concerning unknown culprits as would en-
able justice TO be administered in all cases,
and full and competent knowledge to be
had Of all criminals by the authorities
throughout the land. Il is thought that
thorough enlightenment would afford a
ready and efficient means of protection to
the thousands of communities in this cOun-
( try.
The Report Summarized.
! In addition to the matters already re-
/ ferred to, reference is made in the report
! to the collection of fines, suggesting the
detail Of an official from the office OF the
collector Of taxes for this purpose; the legal
status Of private detectives with recon-
mendations for legislation with a view Of
restricting their jurisdiction; the practice
. OF massage and palmistry in the District
( and the surveillance that is maintained
over such establishments; the question of
licensing halls and beer gardens, together
. with a statement of the number of free
permits that have been issued for concerts,
/ entertainments, parades etc. the estab-
lishment of a squad Of special policemen
for the purpose Of keeping clear the street
crossings, who are paid by the street rail
way companies, but who are under the
charge of the Superintendent OF Police; the
retail liquor law and the snow law; the
question Of public vehicles and the manner
in which the police have restricted the
drivers and owners of such vehicles; the
regulations applying to the management
and issuance of permits to the owners of
hand organs street pianos. merry go
ROUNDS, and circuses; employment agencies
and the protection afforded the legitimate
business concerns Of this kind against the
numerous frauds.
Reference is also made to the resolutions
passed al the police convention last May
relative to the conviction Of persons found
to be in possession Of burglars tools and
/ Knockout drops. as dangerous criminals;
the retention by the District authorities of
fugitves from other jurisdictions; the es-
tablishment of an asylum for blind per
sons; also the establishment OF a similar
institution for inebriates the prisoners
aid society, which was organized during
the year and with which the police have
been asked TO cooperate, the relief WORK
{ Of the Police Department during the bliz-
zard last winter. and the total absence OF
policy shops from the District Attached
10 the report are number Of letters that
have been received during the year COM
meuding the police for their conduct on
various occasions