Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-06
REFORMS in PORTO RICO
American Policemen to Be Install
ed in San Juan.
General Fred Grant Selects Uniform
aud Equipment-R Rules for tho Gov.
ernment orthe Force Engaged I'm
Taking Census.


San Juan, Porto Rico, Dec. 24.-The
idea of having American policemen in
Porto Rico's principal towns, which
was set forth in General Henry's out
line of policy when he took charge OF
this island. is already bearing fruit.
Upon the first OF january, $780, this
new arrangement will be active in this
city. Upon recommendations of Gene
rails Henry and Grant, the Mayor and
Municipal Council of San Juan have
appointed an American as chief Of the
new police force.
The municipal officials OF San Juan
have decided to employ at the outset
ten American policemen, including their
chief, and II is announced that these
men will be selected from the army.
Their pay will be fifty dollars in gold
q month. and If they prove themselves
to be efficient, they will eventually draw
seventy-nve dollars a month. The se>
lections from the army will be care
fully made, and good men can be Sc
cured. There is no lack of volunteers
for the service; the pay alone Is enough
to attract them, while many men would
gladly accept this more interesting ca.
reer of n city policeman. when cons
pared to the monotony of barrlck life.
The selection of men for this purpose
from the army has provoked consider
able dissatisfaction, and has been the
subject of much comment. An order
was issued to commanding officers to
ascertain which of their men would
volunteer for this service; and. also.
to recommend those who, in their opin-
ions. were the best men for the work.
This will have the effect OF taking
n " fFnt mi &c n n
their best non-commtssioned officers
and drill masters. The salary Of fifty
or seventy-fve dollars as compared to
twenty-five Is n potent factor. Good
nom commissioned officers are hard to
obtain, and only army officers know
how important such men are in the
regimental organizations. Regular
army officers are then inclined to be
unfavorably disposed towards the ac-
ton that takes from them their best
and most desirable men. for just these
men Will have to be recommended, and
Will probably be selected to join the
police force.
1t is argued that excellent men for
this purpose of policing can be OBJ
tanned from the States, and that in
all events. IL the selections must be
made from the army, they should be
made from volunteer regiments, whose
members will soon be mustered out
anyway. and who could supply police
men without curtailing serious loss to
the regiments and batteries of the reg
ular service. General Eenry-s obliga-
tions as Governor General are many,
and are toward the cities and people
whom he controls. as we'll as toward
the army which he commands. The
number of men thus to be selected Is
not great, and General Henry is sure
ly proceeding upon course which he
considers will bring the greatest good
to the greatest number. The best po-
lcemen can be obtained from among
the best soldiers; f men were brought
from the States for this duty they
would in the first place not be accli-
mated, and they would have to be
taught much that the man with four
months experience behind him already
knows.
POLICE UNIFORM.
General Grant has determined upon
n neat and suitable uniform for the
new policemen. The coat Is to be of
light brown duck. faced with blue. and
the trousers of white duck or linen.
Cream-colored canvass helmets and the
regulation broad-toe shoes will be
worn. Each man will wear shield,
upon which will be Inscribed: "San
Juan T. r. Police No. -" The batons
will be OF rosewood. with brown belt
and scabbord, and sc calibre Smith &
WetSson revolvers will be used
the mayor has asked General Grant
for the large building al 103 Sol street,
formerly occupied by Spanish officers,
for headquarters for the American
force. Telephone and other convenient
ces will he put in, and when a police
man Is needed at any place in the city.
he can easily and quickly be obtained.
Call whistles for assistance will also be
used.
While the new chief will have no au-
thority over the native force, he will
nevertheless be their mentor Thirty
native policemen will be discharged,
and it is the purpose of the chief to
have his American men instruct the
balance of the natives in the full du-
ties of an efficient policeman. This will
be done by example and object les
sons. 1t is a fact thht the native police
men do not live up 10 the letter of
their instructions. Physically. they are
weak and some of them are puny. Citi-
zens do not realize that the majesty
of the law Is behind them so men Of
ten resist arrest and the policemen are
set upon and maltreated and their
daily life has It's full share of trouble.
General Henry has officially said that
he will invariably sustain any and all
representatives of law and order who
are compelled to use force in the proper
discharge OF their duties. When this Is
generally known 1t will help, with the
examples OF moderation and fairness to
be given by the American men, to rem
der the native police much more effi-
cient than they are to-day.
DETAILS OF REFORM.
The details of the new reforms are
as follows. They were obtained from
the new American chief of police:
THE city will be divided into four po-
lice districts and the men will patrol
from the brow of the hill on the north
to the harbor on the south. No police
man will be allowed to smoke or drink
while on duty, and loafing in cafes and
other resorts will not be tolerated for