The evening times., 1900-10-12


tention-TAe New Headquarters.
Richard Sylvester, Major and Superin-
eendent OF Police, submitted TO the CON-
missioners. today, his report of the opera
tions of the Metropolitan Police Force for
the fiscal yea. ended June so. In this re-
port Major Sylvester says IN part:
''At the close of the dscal year, ended
june 80. 1900, the Metropolitan Police
Force of the District of Columbia. con-
sisted of 571 officers and men: l superin-
tendent. 1 captain. 8 lieutenant-inspectors
heutenants. 30 sergeants and 525 pri-
Yates That number embodied an increase
provided for at the beginning of the year.
of l sergeant and % privates. or, one
eighth the addition for which estimate was
made. as essential for a proper patrol OF
the vast territory embraced in the Metro
politan Police District.
ITO the casual observer the preceding
figures would indicate an adequate agency
FOR all practical and potential police pur-
poses within the District of Columbia, but
when it is understood that the privates
perform the patrol duty; that their ef-
fectiye number for such work is that which
remains after deducting those who may be
sick, On leave, detailed to special service.
and at post assignment, an entirely differ
ept condition is presented
''rhe force thus reduced in divided into
four reliefS during twenty-four hours,
pne-fourth OF those available traversing
beats the fore part of the day, an equal
soatingent the after part of the day, and
bI.o-haf of the entire force doing like
Eise during the night time. In other
words the commands are doubled after
lark over those Of the day on the princi-
pie that persons and property are more
liable to attack under cover of the dark
hess than at any other time. Frequent
Enquiries from legislators, citizens, and
officials prompt this explanation, but in
brder that those interested may have a
slearer insight into the workings of the
force and that some conception may be
bad of the incessant. untirins vigilance
fequired OF limited organization, il
might be interesting to have the facts
presented numerically.
On the last day of the year the dispo-
pition of the 571 members was as fol-
Iows: At headquarters, 1 superintendent,
! captain, and lieutenant inspectors; on
patrol duty, lieutenants, 26 sergeants,
end S1o privates, the remainder of the 57I
being employed or reduced in this man
her: Assigned to posts-that is, where no
patrol service is performed-57 detec-
Sent On annual leave 80.
ut will be seen that SIS privates only
were walking BEATS They were not all
engaged al one time. however, the sys-
tenn utilizing about seventy-eight privates
throughout the day and 157 during the
night, a ridiculously small quota for a
territorial era of seventy square miles
embracing valuable Government and prf-
Vate improvements and containing pop
plati0n of nearly 300, 900 people. A fur
fher deduction NIGH be made to show
the average representation of patrolmen
to the square mile or the population to
each policeman That calculation is al
most readily apparent to the student and
places this jurisdiction in a lamentably
weak attitude when compared with other
municipalities.
New Precinct.
About the first of the year when a
new precinct will likely be in operation,
If Congress should fail TO provide a COM
plement of officers and privates for it.
support must be drawn from the precincts
above enumerated. On the other hand
should the Commissioners recommend and
Congress grant the increase estimated for,
560 privates, apportionment to the ten
precincts, would mean the giving of lust
eight more for the night patrol to each
OF them or an addition of eight to each
OF the above commands as above stated.
The greatest incentive for such increase
should be the possibility of inaugurating
the eight-hour system.
Under exciting conditions member of
she force gives the District almost his
entire time The police day begins at 8
O'Clock a. NJ. when q member will answer
roll call, 60 upon the street and patrol
until o'clock p. m, when he reports
'on at the station and remains therein on
reserve until & o'clock n m vban ba =
relieved from duty for six hours At mid
alght he resumes work and continues IN
Iii o'clock a. NJ. when his day Off be-
gins and continues until o'clock p N.
AT that hour he goes on until midnight,
then follows reserve duty. until 1 o'clock
p n. the following day when he again
goes on street to remain until O'Clock
D. ~. then follows reserve duty until
midnight. after which he Is on patrol un-
Ill 6 o'clock in the morning
That member. under the regulations
governing his conduct. is required to be
respectful. eleanly in appearance and dress,
prompt and firm: to constantly patrol his
bert be able to give intelligent responses
to all enquiries, pay his just debts: to be
honest and sober. prevent crime. arrest
Offenders, keep a memorandum of suspi-
cious houses and persons, and of all mat
&ers Of police interest: to aTbitrate COM
plants concerning Growing rooSters and
barking dogs; be kind to individuals inca
pable of caring for themselves. attend in
quests, report accidents, attempts at sui
eide. animals astray. abandoned infants
dead infants dead bodies found, drownings
dead animals. dangerous pavements, road
ways, buildings, and bridges, DOORS and
windows found open, damaged trees and
boxes. fire plugs damaged, filthy streets,
alleys. and CUTTERS persons found sick,
damaged hydrants, lamps not lighted or
damaged, pumps out of order, permits ex-
amined, sewers damaged, filthy sewers.
suicides. water mains. and pipes damaged,
ana other matters too numerous to men
tion.
Command of Tenth Precinct
Congress made appropriation for a
new stationhouse, to be erected in the
northern suburban portion of the District
during the ensuing year, and plans were
promptly submitted by the department