The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-15
POLICE Law INADEQUATE
Suggestions by Major Sylvester for
It's improvement.
pressing Need of New LegisIatioa
set FOrth-Fauits Of the Present
System Concerning Fugitives From.
JuEtIce-some Suggestions About
Punishment for Wife-Beaters.


ment of various laws. some Of which would
be radical departures from existing condi-
ticns He advocates the enactment Of
laws authorizing the detention OF fugitives
from justice, the setting aside Of certain
parts Of me city's parks as Fairgrounds
fer children. the placing upon the street
railway companies fine for excessive
speed of cars when their schedules neees-
state such speed, the accomplishment Of
the whipping post, the licensing Of pri-
vate detectives. the purchasing Of an au-
tonobile ambulance, and numerous other
matters ct less public interest
Regarding the need OF fugitive law. ne
says: Legislation should be secured
which viii permit the authorizes of the
District Of Columbia holding for reason
able period fugitives who may take refuge
here. Under the existing state OF affairs
burglar or a murderer may take refuge
within the District and member Of the
police force, without he be armed with a
warrant originating at the place whence
the fsIon fed, arrests MIN at his peril.
Such provision should be had as would
permit the detention OF a fugitive for at
lest ten days upeH sworn information be-
Ing filed here by our local authorities. upoa
the recept OF a warrant from elsewhere
that a crime had been committed there for
which a fugitive warrant should be issued.
This defect does not prevail IN other we'll
regulated communities and IL is quite i'm
porsant that the District should be equal
y forward in matters % this kind
Major Sylvester then renews mis- recon-
mendatIor for the establishment Of an
inebriaJe asylum, and says:
Hardly a day passes that appeals are
rot made for the care and treatment OF
subjects that cannot be given attention at
The insane asylums or hospitals. In some IN
stances these interested are prepared 10
meet the expense OF such treatment, while
others are not, but under any circumstances
the burdens OF many household would be
jighteEed and many wreck prevented,
were the means at hand Tor the proper
care AID treatment OF his class Of uIfor-
Inmates
Major Sylvester thoroughly appreciates
the restrictions which modern conditions
impose on the youth OF the city, and on
the subject expresses himself in the fol-
lowing language
1.-THE nanys laws and regulations which
affect the occupancy OF the streets AID res
CREATIONS. the playing Of ball, flying kites,
and assemblases, effoetua!ly dampen the
pastimes of the city children and tend 10
install defiance mo the more advanced
youth. Boys driven from pillar TO post in
seeking spots for recreation only find quiet
IN the pool and cardro0u, working q de-
generacy which is to be deplored- This
depar tment receives more complaints re-
garding the small boys than all others
put together. The citizen whose quiet is
disturbed OF window pane broken calls for
the police. The parent condemns the off
Ger and the complainant alike. The mem
Der of the force is directed to invoke pa
rental aid in the first instance and arrest
in the second. It is not desirable that
children should be arrested, however, for
minor Offences as the fright and huniiia-
ton incident thereto only tend to harden,
T not permanently mark the career Of the
young. perhaps unintentional violatoT, a
boys hours for nightly recreation should
be limited, ana his scope for daylight en-
ioymeHt enlarged. Public play grounds
must sooner or later prevail IN the several
sections of the city. The proposition OF
Col Theodore 4. Bingham United States
Army, Superintendent Of Public Buildings
and Grounds. to set aside parks for the
purpose deserves hearty support. But to
make such attractive, there should be es-
tabIished the tennis court, bali field, GRO
quet grounds, bowling alley, swings, etc,
all to be utilized under an active and in
telligent police detail. TIE public bathing
beach is in line with the proposed estab-
Iishments. From an Insignificant begin
ming It has prospeTed and is now an as
sured success lis policing by member OF
the Metropolitan Police Force is an ex-
penditure in a NEST laudable direction
Regarding the 6ning OF motermen for
running their cars at a speed greater
than twelve miles an hour, he says:
THE police are charged with the en-
foreement, among other regulations, OF
those relating to street railway lines
and while there has been q general avoid
i
due to the presence and vigilance OF the
special street railway policemen, there
have been serious accidents at points
along the lines, in many instances at
tributabie to the excessive speed INDUCED
in by motormen in order to attain the
work required by the company schedules
THE inexcusable speed INDUCED in al
times not only causes accidents, but dis
turbs the rest and comfort of residents
living on the street over which the roads
are operated, and make motOrmen so in
clined kings of the road over everybody
and everything IN the way Of pedestrians
or vehicles. Where arrests are made the
employees invariably receive the minimum
Imposition OF fine, for the reason that
they had to pay it. Were the law such
as to make the corporations pay for the
violations, when committed in obedience
to schedule requirements, there would be
fewer cases to annoy the management OF
the roads. the public, and the police"
The abuses OF the private detectives are
again brought to the attention of the
Commissioners, as follows:
There is 10 question but that 1t would
be wise If legislation. were enacted re
strieting the practice in this jurisdiction
Of persons engaged in private detective
pursuits. Anyone may undertake sucl
work without having license fee to pa!
or his character enquired into No one
but the patron who has had eXperinecC
with this class Of practitioners appreci-
ates the misery and extortion whieI
sometimes follow the employment Of ir-
responsible persons wb<. advertise them
selves as detectives. They are specially
sought after by those II matrimonial dis
tress. and not infrequently remuneration
is received from both parties interested
false information furnished, and respect
able character and calling damaged. Tn
law should he such as to require tina
anyone engaged in sIch business shall
have authority to do so. and be response
bic in bond to the District OF Columbi.
for a proper report and conclusion 0
their transactions. IN addition to TIL
foregoing requirement it should be in
oumbent upon them TO pay an annual Ii
eense.''
Both Major Sylvester and Judge Kimbal