The evening times., 1900-01-20
SALARIES OF POLICEMEN
Congress to Be Asked Again to Au-
thorize an Increase.
The Pay Lower In Washington Than
in Many Other Cities-Privates As
signed 10 Detective Duty Receive
More Pay Than Sergeants-RecOm-
mendations of the Superintendent.

The District Commissioners will make
Congress to secure an increase of pay for
the officers of the Police Department and
the detectives. According to the present
schedule the latter receive as much pay
as the lieutenants and more pay than the
sergeants, yet they are only privates de-
tailed for special work.
In other cities the lieutenants and de-
tectives receive more pay than any OF the
grades of the force in this city. In some
cities the pay of the precinct or district
commanders, as they are sometimes called,
amounts to as much as the pay of the
Major and Superintendent here.
In his recommendations to the Commits
sioners on the subject, Major Sylvester
says: 1T it hoped that the pay of the
several lieutenants will be raised from
81 800 to 81, 500 per annum. These salaries
were stated before the precincts or dis
tricts which the lieutenants command at
tanned their present important dimensions,
and before police regulations and the null
tiplicity of details which are extant today
Their rank is superior TO that of a private
detailed as a detective, and yet the pay is
the same. 1t is an inequitable and unrea-
sonable distinction 1t might seem strange,
but it is nevertheless a fact. that it is in
consistent with good discipline for the
man who at times must be ordered TO
know that if his title officially is nGA the
g - .h,V 1F h.,
who is ordained to order.
Like the lieutenants, the sergeants
have for a score of years been receiving
an annual salary of irregular amount
81 ,140 Time alone would justify the max
ing of the pay $1,000 They enjoy liberty
from duty but one day in three and their
responsibilities have increased in greater
proportion than have those of their i'm
mediate superiors, for the reason that
while the privates have been added to
by Congress from time to time, there has
been no corresponding provision for ser
geants.
The enforcement of new restrictions for
the good conduct and efficiency of the pri-
Yates adds TO their duties, and they must
act as lieutenants in all matters Of po-
lice nature during the daily temporary alb
sence of the former. Prevailing arrange
ments are quite different in this respect
10 what they formerly were and an intel
ligent and straightforward performance of
the duties of their offices is well worth
the salary estimated for in this report.
THE law which created the Detective
Corps for the District of Columbia was
annulled years ago, and since then, under
new legislation. the authorities have been
10 detail frpun aunaug tho nri-
Yates on the force persons for special ser
vice. TO the number of twelve in citizens
clothes as the circumstances might war
rant. who are allowed extra compensation
in addition to their pay as policemen not
TO exceed $40 4 year. In this wise an
organization is maintained which is styled
the Detective Service The Major and
is expected TO designate for
this branch OF work those employees who,
in his opinion, are best adapted to IL by
reason of experience and skill.
These representatives, in the past. by
reason of meagre appropriations, have
been tied down to home study, and their
with the criminal classes has
been limited TO local characters and meth
ods. However good fortune has generally
been with them in times when the pro-
fessionai visited here and despite their
meagre national experience the detectives
nave plChu up some OF Ine most DANGER
Gus and desperate crooks in the land
1T has been my aim to extend the ia
cilties for indivual Improvement in the |
secret service. and TO that end one or more
Of their number is detailed to important
in other parts of the country
to participate in detective work in order |
10 familiariZe them nationally as well as |
locally The day has passed when il takes |
a thief TO catch thief Brute force is an |
requirement in the detective |
business. In these days honest. intelligent, |
courageous operators are employed who |
'ealize that they are the agents of busi- |
less institution which is constantly look |
ng for results.
This community has been educated to |
'eport any and all losses and mishaps of |
very conceivable kind 10 the Detective Bu-
eau. Whether the stolen article was an
pair of gloves, or diamond pin
he case was given to the detectives TO un-
avel instead Of being assigned to the pc
ice at the nearest precinct station, thus
the time and means of an i'm
,ortant auxiliary on trivial matters, often
o the neglect of the more important.
by detailing four more privaies in a de-
ective capacity, who are expected to dis
,ose of minor matters, ii is hoped the older
nd original detail will be given abundant
opportunity TO devote undivided attention
o the larger and more pressing cases. At