The times., 1899-10-29

portant branch Of the service, and extend
ing its scope. The people OF Washington
have been educated to believe that they
must report everything they miss to the
detectives without taking into considera-
tion the fact that the police at the nearest
stauonhOuse could attend to the matter
just as well. The members of the force
therefore have not had the time or faoill-
/ ties to familiariZe themselves with outside
criminals and their knowledge is only
local.
The work Of the bicycle corps takes up
considerable space in the report The
major commends the work Of these men
and gives a detailed account OF their or
ganization, and the benefits the depart
ment has derived from their duty Ap-
pended to this portion of the report is
table showing the amount Of fines resolved
from cases made by the bicycle policemen.
/ The revolver practice OF the police at tie
National Guard Armory. which was inaug-
urated a short time ago is commended by
Major Sylvester. He states that the men
have become more familiar with the use
OF the weapon through this method than
they could have become by any other
means The arm which is used by the
I force has been changed several times dur
ing the past two or three years, and they
are now equipped with three kinds of re-
u.
The Public Fairgrounds.
Public Fairgrounds for children is one
/ Of the fayorite schemes Of the present Chief
I Of Police He has often suggested the
/ matter to the Commissioners, and several
times during the year has given out plans
4 for publication whereby he claims the
children can be kept of the streets. The
establishment Of the bathing beach was a
. step in this direction. the major states in
his report and he hopes the work will con-
. tinue.
In many Of the leading cities he states
the newsboys and bootblacks are required
TO pay a license Of 25 cents, and they are
I registered and required TO conform TO such
rules as shall be made by the authorities.
The appointment Of police magistrates
is another one OF Major Sylyester's ideas
for the improvement Of the work Of his
department
The detention OF prisoners in the sew
eral stauonhOuses from Saturday night
until Monday morning" he states "some
OF whom may be subjects for acquittai, the
transportation of prisoners from the sta
tions to the court In crowded vans, and
the detention OF police officers at court
from early morning until late in the day
at a time when they should be procuring
needed rest or protecting uncovered beats
lishment OF magistrates courts at tn,
police stationhouses for the trial Of minol
cases. It is not desirable that the presen
Police Court should be abolished in the
event of the establishment of the magis.
trates system, but IL should be retained
as q court OF appeal for the trial OF cases
by jury.
a Continuous Police Court.
While the police force has grown, th,
population Of the District increased. an,
its many diversified interests changed
necessitaung new and numerous police
building. and health regulations, and mann
additional laws which have doubled IN,
number Of arrests. nothing has been effect
I'd 20 facilitate disposition Of Police Cour
cases. The Capital City Is behind th
times Do this respect Il should set the eE
ample for others. With magistrates sitting
twice day at each stationhOuEe Their
would be q prompt disposition Of cases
unjust humiliation wogld often be avoided
iuEtice would have the advantage Of wit
uessos with the facts fresh in their Miuds
and the police would be enabled 10 rendc
an almost uninterrupted patrol service"
Al important recommendation OF Maio
Sylvester relates 90 the establishment @
a national bureau of criminal Identification
go be accessible not only 10 the inspection
and agents of the General Government serv
b Bee. bat tssery duly certified las CfleeT il