The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-05

to Tighten the Burdens az the Men
Under Hini-ChaHGes Tint May he
Effected - More Money Needed.
in the Police Department OF Washington
Is again receiving the attention of Major
Sylvester. Chief of Police. Major SyIyss-
ter. in his annual estimate Of the ex-
penses of the department. asked for 1so
additional men. with the understanding
that if his request was granted he would
be- able to iuaUgurate the eight-hour sYS-
TEN and to enforce q much higher stand
ard of efficiency among his men But
only forty of the number asked for were
granted him. This addition brings the
numerical strength OF the department up
- ST. officers and men These figures,
however, are misleading, as from this
number must be deducted a great number
Of formerly efficient officers who have
grown Old and unfit Tor police duty Only
small proportion of these men can be
retired on account of the limited fund
available, and as a consequence the force
Is weakened by the necessity of carrying
on the police rolls men who are Incapable
of performing police duty. Some of them
are given clerical positions at head
quarters and others are on detailed and
post duty.
for patrol duty which viii be somewhat
increased when the additional men pro
vjded for The fiscal year beginning July
J. are sworn in, is only about 315 men.
This provides only 151 men for street
duty during the hours of the night and
half that number OF IS men. as the maxi
mum number 10 be found on the beats at
any time during the day. This quota has
frequently been spoken of bF police Off
Gals of other cities as being ridicuIously
small considering the territorial area OF
seventy square miles, embracing valuable
Government and private property and i
city containing population of nearly
three hundred thousand people. with the
unusual incentives for the presence here
of cranks and criminals OF all kinds. In
speaking OF the work of his men, in con
nectien with his desire to put into effect
an eight-h0ur system, Major Sylvester
described in a recent report the daily
routine Of one Of his subordinates:
Should the Commissioners recommend
and Congress grant The increase estimated
for l6o privates, SAID Major Sylvester,
superintendent 10 the ten precincts would
mean the giving OF just eight more for the
night patrol 20 each of them, or an addi-
tios Of eight to each Of the several com
mandS, as above stated The greatest In
cen5ive for such increase should be the
possibility Of inauguIating the e!ghJ-hour
system
Under existing conditions a member Of
The force gives the District almost his en-
tire time. The police day begins at 3
q clock a m. when = member viii answer
roll call, 90 upon the street and patrol
until ! o clock p m. when he reports Off
a the station and remains therein on re-
serve until - clock p m. when he Is re-
Heved from duty for six hours At mid
night he resumes work and continues I'M
Ill o clock q. m when his day Off be-
gins and continues until O'clock D. m.
Al that hours be goes on unzil midnight
then follows reserve duty until ! o clock
u. II the following day, when he again
goes on street, 10 remain until o clock
L m then follows reserve duty until
midnight. after which ne is on patrol uI-
I'll o'clock in the morning.
That member, under the regulations
governing his conduct, IS required To be
respectful. cleanIy in appearance and
dress, prompt and firm; TO constantly
patrol his beat. be able to give inteIIi-
gent responses 70 all enquiries. pay his
just debts; TO be honest and sober. pre-
vent crime. arrest offenders. keep a
memorandum of suspicious houses and
persons and Of all matters of police in
IeresJ: to arbitrate complaints concern
ing growing ROSTERS and barking dogs.
be kind 10 individuals incapable OF car
ing for themselves. attend iuquests; re-
port accidents. attempts at suicide ami
mails estray, abandoned infants. dead in
fants dead bodies found drownings,
dead animals. dangerous pavements.
roadBays. buildings, and bridges. doors
and windows found open, damaged trees
and boxes. fires. fire plugs DANA ged.
filthy streets, alleys. and cutters. per
sons found sick. damaged hydrants,
lamps not lighted or damaged. pumps
out OF order. permits examined sewers
damaged. filthy sewers. suicides. water
mains and pipes damaged, and other
matters too numerous to mention.
in this wise the whole force operates
day after dag and night after night. In
some localities it is dangerous for a pri-
Nate 10 continue street service alone, and
il the nighttime his beat is doubled-that
il. Two men cover il. insufficient force
prevents this course being followed in
many places where It Is desirable TO do
50.
Major Sylvester was much disappoint-
ed al The fixture Of the last Congress to
provide the additional men needed but
nos. that the rush Of work occasioned by
the naugUration is over he has under
taken the task Of arranging a schedule