Evening star., 1901-08-13

the increased draft on their resources,
which are limited in any instance. The
continued petty thieving incident to this
jurisdiction requires strong and jealous
detective service, and every encouraging
facility should be accorded it for ready and
successful action.
Advance for Lieutenants.
''The salaries of the several police lieu
tenants are 1890 each a year, and they
have not been advanced for about fifteen
years, while their duties have increased in
every way. Doubled commands, police
regulations to enforce and twice the de-
mands upon their time energy and intelli-
gence that formerly prevailed Fifteen
hundred dollars would be more in keeping
with just return for the labor performed,
and the same proposition holds good as to
the sergeants, who have not realized be-
yond the original pay awarded more than
score of years ago. They are now paid
81, ,14O, which should be an even $1,000.
Many years ago the law-making powers
established two classes of policemen, the
first known as 'privates of class 1. the sec
ond as privates of class 3 The former
class was established as a probation num-
ber at compensation of $500 per annum'
and hte number of them was in such pro-
portion to those Of class 2, who are paid
81 ,OsO a year, that after service OF two
years they could be advanced to the hlgher
grade of pay. Practicing supposed plan
of economy each year afterward, when the
force was increased. the additional num-
bers were of class generally, so that now
the original proportion is badly broken and
a private of class 1 does not earn his ad-
vancement until he has served as such for
about ten years. Such provision has year
by year served as menace to the best
service discouraging those who have faith
fully labored and coveted the advancement,
which was in the first place allotted to
come after two years satisfactory service
THE MISUNDERSTANDING man is required
to labor just as long, do as much and
grows older all the time, as does the ten
hundred -and-eighty-d y-dOllar man, and yet
must stand the discrimination. Owing to
the limited force it is necessary to operate
the siX-hour changes, that Is, on duty SIX
hours on reserve six hours, again on duty
six hours SO that from twelve to eighteen
hours work is required of the members or
the force out of twentyfour. 1t is not to
be wondered at that members of the force
want eight hours provided as days work,
and nearly half Of the force receiving SIS
month more pay than the others. Such
a condition is not conducive to the best re-
suits. There must be unrest, if not open
criticism.
Additional Desk sergeants.
Two more desk sergeants will be re-
quired for the substation at Tenleytown-
one for day and one for night employment.
These employees were known in the last ap-
preparation bill as station keepers, but the
act approved February 2S 1901, made them
desk sergeants. in order to have authority
in the station house during the absence of
the lieutenant or sergeant, and that an Ofh-
Ger empowered to accept collateral might
always be in attendance. They have many
and varied duties of a police and clerical
character to perform, which 1 will more
fully explain in a supplemental report.
They are on duty twelve hours each. and
now receive $40 year. AS their duties
are increased and they have become MEM
bers of the force to all intents and pur-
poses, as we'll being clerks, their pay
Sh advanced
was years ago to S1.6SO per annum, which
1 sincerely hope may be DONE
Two more laborers are asked for Zone to
have charge of the work at the TenleytOwn
station, one at the substation at Anacos-
tia). and l recommend that the salary of
the laborers in this department be fixed at
$500.
Increase of Bicycle Squad.
Favorable action was had upon the rec
last year that an appropria-
ton of $50 each per annum be allowed as
service to that number of privates
of the force riding bicycles. Under this
provision the men purchase their own
wheels. and keep them In repair through
out the year. AS their tours of duty are
adjusted, with the limited number of
wheels at command. two men patrol during
the day and relief of two men during the
night until II o'clock when one man, max
ing the fifth, completes the day by operat-
This detail numbers five men to each
precinct. or fifty men in the ten precincts.
1t IS advisable that this force be increased
at least ten, which would require further
annual appropriatf ton of $500.
IAN increase of three drivers will be made
necessary by the opening Of the Tenley-
town station house, one for day and one
for night duty, and the assignment Of the
major and superintendent's driver to the
tenth precinct station house. In explana-
ton Of the latter clause the major and SUI
perintendent is at this time deprived of the
use of a driver, and must pay such ex-
pense from his own resources.
by reason Of the transfer of the ambu-
lance service from this department to the
board Of charities four drivers are dropped
from the police roll. Two drivers are as
signed to each Of the ten precincts and one
to the Police Court van.
''The next item Is that of a police ma
tron. At the present time three matrons
are employed under the police appropria-
ton, two Of whom do the searching and
care for the prisoners at the house of de-
women who are not proper subjects for the
latter institution. and who may be held at
the station house.
1T is at once apparent that a single ma
tron cannot give twenty-four hours Of serv-
Ice at the station house; hence this request
for an additional employe in this line of
work.
The Coal Supply.
open, and another station in Tenleytown.
there must be an increased supply of coal
furnished the department. and for this ex-
ira heating an estimate is made for $500 in
addition to the current appropriation. In
this connection 1 might add that the in
creased price of coal will at once emphasize
the fact that this Is an economical RECON-
mendatiOn.
Many of the patrol wagons, purchased
for the department over ten years ago.
have experienced their days of usefulness
and 1t will be necessary to supplant them
by new ones. In order to do so the con-
tingent fund must be added to-
This consideration, the expenses in
volved in an increased police force by way
OF beds. bedding, gas. Ice, and, in fact, the
multiplicity of needs convince me that
$4,000 for the ensuing year will be a small
and close estimate.
Il am here reminded that for the mast
two years Congress cut down the esti-
mates in this respect, which, for the first
time, caused the incurring of deficiency.
Motor Vehicle Desired,
The detective bureau has property re-
covered to secure, or prisoners and wit
nesses to transfer from Headquarters to
other places. and to make prompt and
rapid conveyance Of the same. the trans
nxto fao foL k<