Evening star., 1899-07-22
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"The present efficiency of the police force
Is due more to the efforts of the late Col.
A T. Britton than any and all things else
combined exclaimed an old police officer
to a Star reporter. when Col. Britton be-
came member Of the police board he soon
found that each lieutenant ran things in
his own way and TO suit himself. regardless
Of what was done in other precincts. There
was no such n thing as system, and police
matters suffered from it. It was not long
before he brought about reforms. Up to
that time ne two policemen had the same
kind Of a revolver. 1t was he who required
them to provide themselves with proper
weapon. and all of the same pattern.
police officer has but little for re-
volver, but when he does have occasion to
use enc he needs a weapon that can rem
der a service. When the law-violating
classes know that an officer is properly
armed they have great deal more respect
for him But the greatest reform he
brought about vas in the matter of uni
forms Up to that time the police depart
ment purchased the cloth for the winter
and fannels for the summer uniforms from
the cloth mills direct. Each officer was
given so many yards. which he was re-
quired to pay for in fnstallments. and he
had 1t made up by any tailor he desired.
The uniforms. therefore, had indepen-
dent look about them, no two Of them be-
ing made up alike, though paper pattern
was given each officer when he got the
cloth The expense also was an important
item. The tailor work, which. for the rea-
sons stated. was necessarily unsatisfactory,
often cost more than under the contract
system the whole suit. including the cloth,
now costs. Col Britton contended that
there was nothing about a police officer
that demanded that he should not wear
ready-nad5 or contract-made clothing the
he MAJ of hrr do
partment clerk and others, especially
the expense would be reduced to the wear
er 40 per cent. Strange as 1t may appear
now, the officers who wore the slGuchiest-
looking uniforms We're the most forcible
DIRECTORS to the innovation. 1t took Col
Britton long time to get the contract
made uniform introduced. but he finally
succeeded, and the appearance Of the men
was much improved in consequence. Through
his efforts in the matter of uniforms Col
Britton saved thousands of dollars to the
police force"
My experience as department clerk has
been" observed well-known official to a
Star reporter, chat the half hour from 3
to half-paSt 3 is the most trying on depart
ment clerks. When half-past 3 has arrived
they seem to brace up. and when the clos
ing hour has arrived they are in good shape
again. In a great majority of cases the
first couple OF morning hours in the work
of clerk are occupied in laying out and
getting ready. as It We're, the work of the
day. BY IL o'clock the work is we'll in
hand, and from then 10 about O'Clock there
is scarcely any let up, though. of course,
there are now and then triflers who do not
do much wcrk at any time and who con-
seGuenty are never tired out But the
tritter is the exception. for my experience
Is that the great majority of department
clerks are workers, and work just as hard
whether their work is overlooked as not
The clerk, whether he is willing or not gets
interested in his work. and it is the general
aHDllcn OF clerks 10 keep their work from
p!IinS up on them and keep their desks as
clear as possible \ steady pull, therefore,
has q positive effect upon them, and, with
out intending il, they show signs about 9
o'clock Of what they have ACCOMPLISHED
The next half hour drags somewhat on
them, resist il as they may though in the
great majority Of cases the clerks are will
ing TO admit it. AS the time for closing
approaches they necessarily have to get a
move on them, for their letters have to be
signed and the records and papers restored
to their places or the files.
There IS scarcely any let up on those
clerks who are employed In examining ac-
counts, pay rolls or vouchers for as a rule
they rarely nave to write letters. their en-
ure time being taken up in examinations
and approyals with memorandums TO be
hled with the papers in cases where they
md that everything does not show UP as
those who do the least writing for the let
ter writers seldom show the fatigue that
examiners show. The file clerks and those
VINO have charge Of records are pretty well
tired out by 3 o'clock, for outside of the
mental work they have a lot of physical
work TO do in getting out and returning pa
pers TO the files, in which stepladders.
benches and boxes play an important part
for an expert file or map clerk has to pos
sess the skill of an acrobat in many in
stances to successfully perform his work
ThAra a ra In N-r0a hrap
ment what is known as task work-that Is
clerk has TO pass upon. check up or ad-
dress certain number OF letters or papers
each day. The task Is generally fixed to
suit the capacity of the slowest clerks en-
gagged on the work. SO that 1t is rarely any
trouble for the fast. or even the ayera ge
clerks to keep up with the procession.
But whether fast or SLOW, nearly all clerks
give evidence of the fact that 8 O'Clock
has arrived
X II
The bicycle teacher is one of the things
that were. as a profession" exclaimed
wheelman to a Star reporter. "and except
in an amateur way he Is never seen on the
streets any more. The fact is that every
one who wanted to learn to ride the wheel
mas learned. and there is no more need for
him There We're several hundred OF them
IN service IN this city two or three years
ago, where there IS not one now. Most
men could get along with two or three les
sons in the yards connected with the bicycIe
stores. and Il was seldom that they We're
ever seen on the streets in charge of teach
Crs. with ladies, however. it was different
They could ride we'll enough in the yards
but feared 10 go on the streets except with
teachers.
The majority of the teachers were young
colorec men ard they received for their
services from - 10 - cents Der hour Some
OF them mad so many engagements that un-
less special appointments were made In adj
vance they were not to be had at all
knew OF al least twenty so-called teachers
who enjoyed an income of from 81 to s,
i.ef day iOT two seasons. ! notice two or
three OF them chasing brooms up and
down the concrete on the avenues now
they having become members of the yhite,