The times., 1899-10-23
some IMPORTANT NEEDS
Police and Sanitary Departments
to Appeal for More Help.

TO Appeal for More Help.
DR.. Woodward VIII Ask Congress in
His Annual Report 20 Create the
Position OF chief Inspector and
Deputy Health 0mcer-Other Sug-
Eestfons TO Better the Service.
While the reports Of most Of the sub
ordinate branches Of the District govern
mont have all been filed with the Commis-
sioners the two most important depart
ments have MOI yet been heard from. The
annual statement Of the Police and the
Health Departments. which are regarded
as the most important OF the entire Dis
/ trIct government, are still in preparation,
/ but viii probably be issued in a few days.
! The estimates Of these departments which
/ have already been submitted to the Com
I mIssiouers, gives a fair idea Of what the
/ officials in charge viii ask in the way Of
/ improvements TO their respective branches
/ and some OF The changes suggested are
! radical departures from the usual custom
In the Police Department Major Syl-
vesJer has already set On foot some i'm
proyements which viii not interfere, how
/ ever. with his requests for 1901. The most
/ Important Of these changes is the detail
/ Of two policemen TO patrol the territory
/ known in police pariauce as the First and
/ Second districts. as night inspectors, with
! the rank of acting sergeants. These dis
tricts were created soon after Major Syl-
/ yesuer assumed charge of the Police De-
partment and were intended to divide the
/ city. for the benefit of the lieutenant in
/ spectors, whose duty it has been hereto
| fore to patrol the city at all hours in
! search Of police officers who shirked their
! duty The First district comprises all the
/ city west Of Seventh Street northwest
and the Second district includes all east
/ Of Seventh Street thus dividing the Dis
! trict almost equally. The amount of work
which was given the inspectors during the
! daytime, however. precluded their ap-
! pearance on the street at night, and thus
/ the department was left without night
/ inspector. which is one of the most import
/ ant officials. The detail Of the two pri-
/ Yates who Will have acting rank is ex-
pected to herald the request of Major Syl-
! vesteT for the addition Of two sergeants
/ to the force who viii act as night inspec-
TOTS.
He viii also ask for an additional lieu
tenant inspector. This officer will have
! charge of what is known as the suburban
/ district which includes almost all of the
/ territory north of Florida Avenue to the
/ District line. This district has heretofore
/ been under the charge of Captain Austin.
who acts as the assistant to the superin-
tendent The work OF the Office has so
increased, however, that the captain in
spector has been gradually weaned from
the duties he is supposed to perform in
connection with his rank as the second Of
fceT Of the Police Department and deputy
superintendent so that he has no time at
all 10 devote 10 the work in the major's s
l Office and is there very seldom. He also
has charge Of ali the property and equip
meLt of the department and the duties IN
I connection with this position are particu-
larly trying and responsible. Il is the in
tenuou Of Major Sylvester 10 provide in the
additional lieutenant inspector an officer
who viii relieve the captain Of all the out
side duties he has TO perform and allow
him TO devote mis- entire time TO the work
al headquarters The Police Department
/ IS congested at this time Of the year with
! work Almost all the officials are up TO
their ears in papers, and have TO devote
& great deal Of time TO minor details of
the department which are absolutely neces-
sary for the proper protection Of the city
Complaints OF the most trivial character are
received by the major and II is neces-
sary that he shall investigate them, or
his department viii suffer thereby The
necessity Of having a complaint clerk has
grown yearly, until now the appointment OF
such an official is absolutely necessary
Ii is expected that Major Sylvester Will
ask for an increase in the regular clerical
fn~ra Of he Tarlart r,azu+ which will admit
the appointment Of a complaint clerk, whose
/ duty # shall be to answer and investigate
all the complaints which come into the Of
fee. a policeman is detailed for such duty
now, but his attention is called TO other
matters also, and he does not have the time
/ 10 devote 10 the work of attending TO COM
/ plants that the duties Of the position de-
mand 4 number of other changes are sug-
! gested in the report, it is said, some Of
/ which VIII be radical departures from the
usual procedure of the department
In the office Of the Health Officer oue
/ officer is asked for for whom an Office viii
! have to be created. This is the chief inspec-
tor and deputy health officer. The work OF
/ the Health Officer has greatly multiplied
| during the last few years and there is no
| one else who has the authority TO direct
the officials OF the Health Office. Dr
| Woodward has been compelled TO dc
/ everything about the Office, even to the
| minor details and has had a great many
| matters brought to his attention and d
! great many duties heaped upon him that
should be performed by some one else.
The chief clerk, who now acts as Health
/ Officer during the absence Of DR.. Wood
ward is also a very busy man and can
| hardly be expected TO attend 10 the duties
/ OF directing the inspectors overseeing the
I various division chiefs and performing the
/ work peculiar TO his own office, in addi-
tion to attending to the work Of the Health
! officer DIT. Woodward has. therefore
! asked Congress to increase the force by
| the addition OF a chief inspector and depu-
| ty health officer who will relieve both
/ the Health officer and the chief clerk OF
| the work which is now pressing them and
! VIII allow both Of these officers more time
10 devote 20 outside matters Of great im-
/ portance. There are several other changes
suggested by the Health officer, but it is
expected that this will be the most impor-
tant
POLICE STATION FLOODED.