The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-20

The District Commissioners viii make
another attempt during this session Of
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 IL hoped that the pay of the
several Iieutenants will be raised from
81, 800 to $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
tipliCiJy Of details which are eXtant today
were embraced in the list Ct their duties.
Their rank is superior to that of private
detailed as a detective. and yet the pay is
the same. II is al inequitable and unrea-
sonabIe distinction. II might seem strange,
but it is nevertheless a fact. that II is in
consistent with good discipline for the
man who at times must be ordered to
know that il his title officially is n& the
same his compensation is that Of the one
who is ordained to order.
Like the lieutenants, the sergeants
have for a score Of years been receiving
an annual salary Of irregular amount
ST. 14O. 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 thar have those OF their i'm
mediate superiors. for the reason that
while the pTiyates have been added to
by Congress from time 10 time, there has
been no corresponding provision for ser
geants.
The enforcement OF new restrictions for
! the good conduct and efficiency OF the pTi-
Yates adds TO their duties, and they must
act as lieutenLlts in all matters Of a pO-
/ lice nature during the daily temporary alb
! sence Of the former. Prevailing arrange
I ments are quite different Ia this respect
I 20 what they formerly were and an intel
: ngent and straightforward performance OF
the duties OF their offices is we'll worth
: the salary estimated for in this report
! The law which created the Detective
I Corps for the District OF Columbia was
| anuulled years ago and since then. under
new legislation. the authorities have been
/ authorized to detail from among the pri-
Yates on the force persons for special ser
/ vice TO the number OF twelve in citizens
/ clothes. as the circumstances might war
l rant who are allowed extra compensation
In addition 10 their pay as policemen no,
| TO exceed $40 = year. In this wise an
! organization Is maintained which IS styled
the Detective Service The Major and
/ Superintendent is expected 20 designate for
this branch Of work those employees who,
! In his opinion, are best adapted to IL by
reason Of experience and skin.
/ These representatives in the past BY
reason Of meagre appropriations, have
been tied down TO home study. and their
| familiarity with the criminal classes has
been limited to local characters and meth
DDS. However. good fortune has generally
been with them in times when the pro-
fessiOnal visited here. and despite their
! meagre national experience the detectives
have -piCkd up some OF the most danger
Gus and desperate crooks in the land
| 1t has been my aim TO extend the IA
| cilities for indivual Improvement IN the
secret service. and 20 that end one or more
! Of their number is detailed to important
] gatherings in other parts Of the country
/ TO participate in detective work in order
| TO familiarize them nationally as well as
| locally The day has passed when IL takes
a thief TO catch a thief. Brute force is an
| Anticipated requirement in the detective
business. In these days honest. intelligent
! courageous operators are employed who
realize that they are the agents OF a bust
ness institution which is constantly look
ing for results.
This community has been educated e
! report any and all losses and mishaps o.
every conceivable kind 20 the Detective Blu
reau. Whether the stolen article was an
umbrella. pair Of gloves. or diamond pin
the case was given to the detectives 10 uu.
| ravel instead Of being assigned to thu DO.
lice at the nearest precinct station. thu.
/ expanding the time and means OF an i'm.
pOrtant auxiliary on trivial matters, Otter
to the neglect OF the more important
by detailing four more pTivates in a de
tective capacity, who are expected TO dis
pose Of minor matters, II is hoped the Older
and original detail will be given abundan
opportunity TO devote undivided attention
to the larger and more pressing cases. A