The times., 1899-03-05
FUNDS TO IMPROVE
TIE POLICE FORCE
A New Building for Depart
ment Headquarters.
Many Urgent Needs Recognized by
the Late Congress.
A Provision for TNrenty-SiN Addi-
tionnl First Glass PriVates
and One oaiccr.

This increase in the police force provided
for in the District appropriation bill passed
by Congress yesterday. although small
when compared with the additional num-
ber of men asked for. is still very crafty
ing TO Major Sylvester, Chief of Police. He
is naturally disappointed that the increase
was not greater. but consoles himself with
The thought that it compares more than
fsyorably with those of previous years. In
only four instances since 1881 has larger
increase in the force been provided for. ani
in those instances the additions were per-
haps more than now. The increase asked
for was 1O2 men. That number included
one lieutenant, enc sergeant, and 100 pri-
Yates. OF these latter, fifty were to be of
The first and fifty OF the seCond-class. This
would have brought the full roster of the
force up TO 6iS men, which would have
permitted the establishment OF what would
have been known as a Pennsylvania Ave
nue., Seventh Street, and an f Street
squad This has long been a pet idea of
the Chief OF Police, and ne had hoped that
the late Congress would give him the means
for realizing the plan. The idea was to
have the three principal business thorough
fares patrOlled by distinctive squads Or
ganized after the fashion of the Broadway
squad in New York.
As it is. however, Congress provided for
an increase of only tWsnty-siX men. OF
these one is a sergeant and the remainder
are TO be pTiVates of the first or lower class
The increase Will be a material benefit to
the District but will not permit extensive
improvements in the regular force and de-
tectiye branches OF the department.
When il is taken into consideration that
the number of men on the police force tif-
teen years ago was only 225, and that the
full complement today, including the ad-
ditional men provided for, is 51. it can
readily be seen that the increases have
been rather liberal. The work Of building
up the police force is and has been neceE-
saTily slow, as Congress has never ben
inclined to grant an appropriation of suf-
ficient size 10 make any single increase
materially felt. But the fact is that in
fifteen years the force has been almost
doubled. Everything taken into consider
aticn. the action of Congress is most graf
flying and will probably lead 10 better re-
suits. Last year when the appropriation
bill was before Congress there was TO
single additional man provided for.
Aside from the increase in the force. the
Police Department Jared very well, bitter,
in fact than the other municipal depart
nents. An increase OF $1,000 was g-anted
for the contingent fund; that is, it was in
creased from $50 eco 10 So. 000 Out OF this
fund all expenses for the prevention and
detection of crime are met. Heretofore
the cry has been that the appropriation
was inadequate TO permit the department
TO properly cope with crime. The increase.
while not a large one, viii greatly relieve
the forced economy of the department in
q work that is absolutely essential TO the
preservation of Law and order.
What was possibly the next most needed
appropriation, or rather an increase of ap-
preparation, was for repairing station
houses. There are nine of them in the
District exclusive of the one at Anacostia.
Most of them are and have been for some
time in a deplorable condition. Efforts
were made recently to put them in good
repair, but as the fund provided was so
small the work had TO be abandoned. Out
OF the nine stations only three were over
hauled, and those possibly not TO the ex-
tent needed. The appropriation for the re-
pairs es it now stands is $4,000, which is
an increase of $500 over the appropriation
OF last year.
The question Of a suitable police station
~ Anacostia has long been agitated. Con-
gress has not been willing TO appropriate
enough money for the erection of a station
house and the department, in lieu OF own
ing its own struture, has had 10 rent one.
purpose was so small that only an inferior
building could be secured. This fact was
strongly urged upon the Appropriations
Committee. with the result that an allow
ance of 1850 annually for the rent of a
suitable station was made. With this ap-
preparation in hand the department can
now secure a, fairly good building.
An allowance of $500 was also made
for renting new police headquarters. The
II has been hoped for some time that
more ccmmodious and more centrally 10
Gated home for department headquarters
would be provided. Where the new head
quarters will be located has not yet been
sscided, but now that the appropriation
1as been made no time will be lost in
putting it to Major Sylvester in his
Recommendation to Congress asked for an
appropriation for a central police station
IN which it was the intention TO locate the
headquarters of the department. This was
knocked out and the rent allowance pro-
Vided as a substitute.
The other appropriations which affect
the Police Department are one of S2, 600 for
the transportation of paupers and one of
$500 for the enforcement of the game and
fish laws. The former appropriation is
quite an aid to the department and gives
fl an exclusive fund for deporting paupers
and stranded persons from the District TO
their homes or other objective points.
Heretofore the money for such purposes
was drawn from the fund for the transpor-
iation Of prisoners and paupers. That was
properly a Police Court fund. Now the
sanitary officer. who disburses all moneys
for the transportation Of paupers, will have
an exclusive fund on which to draw.
Major Sylvester when seen last night In
reference to the appropriations for his de-
psrtment. expressed himself as greatly
pleased. He had hoped for more, but con-
Eidered himself lucky in getting what he
did. He contemplates several improve
ments in the various branches OF his de-
partmeut, and now that he has additional
funds at his disposal will proceed TO put
them TO the best advantage. In summing
the matter up, the major. after a little
figuring. remarked that an appropriation
OF nearly 0,000 was not 50 bad after all.
British Band Arrives.
The British Guards Band. led by the re-
doubtable Dan Godfrey, the Garter King
OF English bandmasters." came on direct
10 Washington after arriving in New York
nv,