The evening times., 1899-08-11

At this time of year there is a great deal
of interest in the forthcoming annual re-
, ports OF officials of the District and Ma
tional governments. These reports seldom
appear earlier than October or November,
but just now the officials who have to pre-
pare them are busy getting data together,
collecting facts, and studying the needs
of their bureaus in order that there may
be duly presented to Congress in Decem-
| Der comprehensive account of their stew
ardship for the year past and intelligent
| recommendations for the year to come.
These duties require much care. prepara-
| tion. and time, and consequently several
weeks at least will elapse before the COM
bined official report of the District Com
missioners, embodying the reports Of the
| different departments Of the District gov
ernment, will be ready for the public eye.
One of the most interesting documents
of this kind will be the report of the Chief
| of Police. Major Sylvester. On the subject
| Of recommendations for the police service
Major Sylvester today informed The
Times reporter that he is now giving the
matter the earnest attention 1t deserves.
Major Sylvester says he will strongly
urge the immediate necessity OF a larger
police force. He will ask that the number
| Of patrolmen be increased to 700 men, and
that to make up this complement l25 ad-
ditional officers be appointed. The present
| force is 525. The year previous the force
numbered 500, but Congress last year
granted an increase Of twenty-five patrol
| men, In addition Congress also provided
for twenty-five street crossing policemen,
: who, however, are not part OF the Metro
politan police Major Sylvester will rec
ommend change in the law, SO that these
special officers may become regular part
| of the force, subject to all its rules and
entitled to all its benefits. The street
/ crossing policemen are now neither eli
gible to be on the police pension roll nor
| to other privileges of the regular force.
| There is no good reason, Major Sylvester
thinks, why these men should not be made
regular members of the Metropolitan po-
lice, as their duty is no less responsible
and important.
In asking for the increase of force, spe-
cial stress will be laid on the fact that
the District of Columbia contains seventy
miles of territory, which cannot be COW
cred by the present number of men. The
present inadequate number of patrolmen
necessitates an irksome system of duty
six hours on, six hours off and station re-
serve, not taking into consideration the
time that officers frequently spend in at
tendance on court.
Outlying Posts Needed.
The police here, Major Sylvester says.
are as fine body OF men as can be found
in any city, but they labor under restraint
that does not prevail in other large cities.
The eight-hour law, he says should en-
!, | brace the police service of the District OF
Columbia. as it does elsewhere. An ade-
} quate increase of the force will permit the
application of this law here. The patrol
men on duty here by day do not exceed
, eighty. while at night the number is 160,
including the reliefs and the reserves.
} Major Sylvester will also advocate the
establishment of what are known as out
: lying posts in the suburban districts The
suburbs of the District, he says, are now
very poorly protected. The outlying post
!, system would be great assistance TO the
/ department. The idea is to hold a party
under arrest and suspicion at these posts
l who have been detected in trying to leave
town or its environment These outlying
, posts would become practically substations,
and the uses 10 which they could be put
| to preserve law, order, and protection can
! be easily understood.
On the subject of precinct stations, Ma
ior Sylvester says one is imperatively
needed at Brightwood or vicinity, where
there has never been one established. At
tention will also be called TO the necessf-
ty of providing new stationhCuses to take
, the places of several which are old and
unfit for such use The Navy Yard station
house is especially Objectionable, and
should be torn down, rebuilt and modern
> lied These quarters are totally made
! quate for the use to which they are put.
, there being neither bunk-room for the Of
fcers nor sufficient cell accommoda tfons.
1t will be recommended that number OF
other old stationhouses be modernized
or replaced with new structures.
Attention will be called to the made
auacy of the police laws of the District.
especially the one relating to burglary.
Major Sylvester will recommend law
compelling the tagging OF all business We
hicles The police would thus be greatly
aided in the detection of unlicensed gro
cery, milk, huckster and other vehicles.
This law was in use by the old corpora
ton governments of Washington and
Georgetown. the I'D. c." and &c. T." tags
being well remembered. The revenue de-
rived through this law supplied the great
, er part Of the current expenses OF the po-
lice force, and if re-enacted now would
more.than defray the increased expense by
the proposed addition to the present force.
Fairgrounds for Children.
i Major Sylvester will also recommend
the establishment of police Fairgrounds
for the children. In connection with these
, grounds there should be a gymnasium and
bathing places The grounds could be pro-
, vided with all the facilities for outdoor
amusements He thinks this provision an
, eminently wise one, as it would keep boys
t off the streets and put them on their good
2 behavior.
Reference will be made particularly to
, the small number of patrolmen on the prin-
{ cipal thoroughfares, like F Street and
3 | Pennsylvania Avenue. Owing to the lin
| tied force one officer now has to cover the
territory which in other cities four or five
officers patrol This condition of affairs