Evening star., 1901-11-09

tention on the part OF the force. whose ef-
forts were fairly compensated In the num-
per OF arrests made and results obtained. but
good order VIII not be secured I'm the vicin-
lty OF the resorts until there is thorough CO.
operation on the part of the authorities In
however, / desire to state that those OF
montgomery county and Prince Georges
county showed determination to mate
riaEy assist In upholding the law to the
extent of the men and means at Command
knowing the facts. IL Is incumbent upon
those most interested TO secure such leg1s-
iation or effect such ARRANGEMENTS during
the coming season as will result In erfec,iye
remedies being introduced at the opening OF
another year. -
Laws That Are Needed.
Major Sylvester says a fugitive law 10
needed. He also says that the statistic. do
not justify the claim that the carrying OF
concealed weapons has been abandoned,
but, on the other hand. there has been
gradual and decided increase In the number
OF apprehensfons under this charge. The
imposition of a fine does not seem to difnin-
ish the practice. and In the opinion of the
superintendent a JAN sentence. without re-
serve or recourse. should be imposed upon
yiolators OF the law.
Further it is stated there should be a
law making 1t an offense to attempt 20
swindle In the District OF Columbia The
would-be perpetrator Of a confidence game
should not be allowed his liberty simply
because his Efforts were unsuccessful
In this connection il would he well "A
consider the advisability of a law mst;ns
II felony for a person OF evil repute 10
De FOUND with burglars tools in his nos
session. Such law prevails in other com
munfties and there is ample Requirement
for IL here e"t
1t Is stated that the police now have am
PIE authority TO control performances i'm
MAJOR sylvester says it is question
whether the scope OF the law should NOT
De extended so as to embrace bill hoaras as
many complaints have been made against
played P'''eiS "iS-
1t is stated that the law governing the
speed of street cars should be made 10
feach the company as well as the motor
men.
Statistics of Crime.
Major Sylvester treats of MANY interest
ing topics and then comments on the sta
tlstics of crime follows:
1T is not made manifest by the statistics
pertaining to arrests or complaints that
crime in the District has increased in every
respect. The number OF cases of arrest
exceed those of former years, but this is a
result of the more stringent enforcement
OF the police regulations. Authorities diff
Ter as to whether crime increases generally
as the world grows older, but il can safely
De asserted that it keeps pace with popu-
fatton- While poverty prompts violations
o. law, prosperity seems to unite action on
the part or the criminal classes Poverty
operates as a cause for dishonesty, pros
perity opens a more inviting field for the
operator. The individual who steals
through inability to obtain employment is
not so numerous when times are good but
he who makes il business. who Is known
as a professional. finds more opportuni-
ties than when they are hard. Losses are
urquestonably greater during seasons of
abundance, money and valuahles being
more plentiful and more exposed. In this
Jurisdiction there are fewer thefts of great
magnitude than elsewhere with an equal
population. but petit larceny has always
prevailed on an extensive scale"
During the fiscal year the estimated
value OF money and property reported
stolen aggregated s9i,o19; that recovered.
S59.S3f. The total number of cases of ar
rest was 26.062."
Poker Playing With a Rake-OE.
Regarding gambling the report says:
Public gaming houses do not exist in
the District but poker playing is carried
on for the benefit of those who would take
hand under cover, in rooms hired for
such purposes. Our courts distinguish be-
tween card playing for amusement under
social auspices and that for gain, where
there Is what is known as a ''rake-off.''
and the police have been alert to bring the
proprietors or conductors of such places to
justice. In many instances raids and arrests
have been made, but the infliction OF the
HiSHtSL peHdllltS mas not always prevailed.
The only cure for the disease is the ad-
ministration of heavy fines and the police
will continue their efforts to bring about a
compliance with law
Immoral Institutions.
During the year 1t was learned that i'm
moral houses were conducted under the
guise Of massage and bath parlors, and the
department secured evidence against the
proprietors and took them to court, where
society and closed. 1t is quite difficult to
secure testimony against keepers OF this
kind. for reasons at once obvious but the
police have Instructions to continue such
supervision as will tend to their extermi-
nation"
The report concludes with copies of in
Vulnerable letters of congratulatIon re-
ceived by the police department