The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-15

| portant changes were made in the police
force. with regard 10 the performance Of
police duty, which have probably done much
to increase the efficiency Of the force.
Early in the year the Superintendent made
arrangements to have members OF the de-
partment stricken with disease or injured
In the line Of duty treated without ex-
pense TO themselves in enc or more OF the
| hospitals IN the city. This arrangement
was very gratifying to the policemen, who
| heretofore have been compelled to pay for
! hospital treatment
Other changes, with comments by Majo-
Sylvester. are as follows
For two years preceding August last the
| bicycle squad comprised four privates
mounted on wheels. who trSversed the city
| portion Of the District in The performance
Of their duties. This small troop, with
! large territory to cover was abolished and
a wheel patrol established 70 reach OF the
precincts.
The practice Of removing bodies cf de-
ceased persons who may have died without
| medica! attention, or otherwise, and
drowned bodies from the place where
! found 10 the mOrgue. in patrol wagons vas
discontinued, not only as a sanitary meas
ure, but in order that the vehicles might be
INTENDED
| they were not intrequently required for the
| transportation Of a prisoner when thus en-
\ gagged
1t was deemed eXpedient 60 revoke an
/ order which required the priyates assigned
| as detectives TO make out written deiai-e ed
morning reports Of their peregri nations and
work for preceding twenty four hours
/ Much OF their time was employed in pre-
| pairing these papers. which included many
I At al
important matters, which IL was improper
to have presented in such d manner. neces-
! saTily had 10 be excluded. The requirement.
] IN measure, had the appearance OF shaEen
| confidence in the operators. situation at
once antagonistic TO reliable .sryice
1t became necessary 10 give special in
structions TO protect persons attached 10
foreign legations from embarrassment and
| disrespect at the instance Of he rowdy
element. The Government guarantees and
! owes TO those who come 10 Washington
I from abroad in an official capacity i'm
Inunity from trespass or disturbance at all
| times, and il is only 10 be regretted that
| the police force is so limited numerically
as not TO permit Of a closer and continuous
surveillance OF the neighborhOod in which
| the legation buildings are situated
The limiting Of members OF tae force
TO prescribed areas. known as P'ecincts.
for the performance Of general police duty
IS necessity. Responsibility for good
order in defined districts requires that
/ those assigned TO the task give such terri
tory their undivided attention. bur iu the
/ course OF years the several precincts be
/ came 50 distinct as police colonies as to
engender kind OF rivalry. and when a
criminal escaped from one to- another pur-
/ suit by the police officer in the one was
relnquished when he reached the boundary
! line OF the other. or until he had permits
/ sion from The Heutnant thereof TO enter
1 such subdivision in search Of the escaping
| criminal. Such unbusinessliks restrictions
were promptly removed. so that members
| OF the force might be az liberty TO pursue
| a criminal anywhere and at any time in
| order to apprehend him. The abolition OF
| this embarrassment has borne most salts
I factory results.
! The subdivision Of the District OF
| Columbia into two police divisions. num-
! bered / and p the former containing the
First, Third, seventh. and Eighth precincts.
| and the latter the Second. Fourth Fifth.
sixth. and Ninth precincts. was accom-
pliyhed. The lieutenants inspectors. en-
ployed previous thereto in detecting
| derelictions on the part OF private in the
night time. were assigned to the supervision
! Of these divisions and 10 >he direct routine
communication between the Major and
Superintendent and the several lieutenants
Changes have been made from time TO
time In the uniform clothing with a view
to obtaining serviceabIe goods well made
and comfortable garments. Some difficulty
has been experienced in obtaining a prop
er fit but as a general thing the uniforms
wear and appear better than those in other
cities. As a protection TO the eyes against
reflected heat, il was found advantageous
to adopt the low vizor caps Of a military
pattern for the officers.
1T became necessary IT. October 1898 to
direct that members OF the force who were
detained at court or elsewhere from carly
morning throughout the day. with a tour
Of duty awaiting them or return to the
station in the evening be permitted ex-
cept IN extraordinary cases OF emergency.
to have recreation and rest commensurate
with the hours of their detention. a con-
tinuOIs duty being detrimental 70 their
health and efficiency.
AT that time officers were required to
keep their beats free from crime and dis
order, continued reports OF such being
records against individual members and
operating 10 their disadvantage in the line
Of efficiency. Later &c was deemed adyis-
able to strengthen the rule by making SER
geants responsible for repeated failure on
the part OF pTivates 10 perform a satisfac-
tory service. Working on these lines the
sergeants were advised against old meth
DDS in pursuing defined routes while exer-
cising supervision OF their several pre-
cincts and instructed 10 retrace their
steps and follow irregular procedure in
maintaining a performance of work on the
part Of the subordinates. While in all
| bodies OF men there are malingerers to be
found, it is a satisfaction to know that the
District OF Columbia police force, possess
Ing an inadequate number of men. the
members thereof are generally intelligent.
| respectful, and conscientious in the per
Torrance OF duty.
AS a result of an improved telephone
service, embodying the prompt coneentra-
ton and dissemination OF facts pertaining
to violations OF law, the regulations per-
tanning TO the same were made adequate
on the hypothesis that time and prompt
| ness or action are of more avail than all
else in the apprehension of wrongdOers"
To achieve the best results as found in the
qualities Of Heurich's Mserzen. Senate and Lager
the best malt and hops be used IN brew
ing. combined with the facilities for storage to
give the beer the proper age. Phone ga Ar
lington Bottling CO., for case OF the best
beer hrevved