The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-04

much as at the legation. except that the
! danger point for the moment happened to
| be there The Superintendent explained
| that in most cities there is a larger or
smaller reserve force to be drawn upon in
| such cases, so as not to weaken the ranks
of and to place additional labors upon the
available force for patrol duty. Major
| Sylvester is of the opinion that this is a
fault of the Police Department at the Ma
! tional Capital which ought not to be al
lowed
According to Major Sylvester's view.
there is the same weakness in the pre-
cinct organization due to lack of men
and he things that there cannot be ade-
Guate protection TO life and property
until Congress provides for more men to
do the work required Continuing. the
( Superintendent said:
When it is remembered that six pri-
Yates are required to complete the patrol
OF given area in twenty-four hours, it is
an easy calculation to determine how
many beats could be established by the
providing of such increase of force At
given time the beats in the various po-
lice precincts, including suburban high
ways, are patroIled about as follows;
Privates, First precinct, Il; Second pre-
cinet. IS; Third precinct. 81; Fourth pre-
cinct, 10; Fifth precinct. IS; Sixth pre-
clnct, 13; Seventh precinct Is; Eighth
precinct, p, and Ninth precinct. 16
When the new Tenth precinct goes into
operation, If Congress should fail to pro-
vide complement of officers and privates
for ii. they must be taken from the other
nine precincts. which would further weak
en- them. But if Congress should grant
the increase. estimated at 100 privates
their apportionment to the ten precincts
would mean the giving of eight men for
the night patrol 10 each Of them
What the Increase Would Mean
If this increase should be given. Major
Sylvester thinks he would be justified in
establishing the eight-hour system Of
service in the department, which would be
of immense advantage in every way.
As means of relief from the conditions
described the Superintendent has asked
Congress first for the men desired. and
then he has been instrumental in having
introduced in Congress a bill which re-
vises the laws relating to the department
and provides for the enactment OF few
new sections. The object Of such legisla-
ton is thus described in a statement sub |
mitted to the Commissioners, and through |
chem to the committees in Congress:
In order that the laws pertaining to |
the Police Department of the District may |
correspond with modern conditions; that |
the ranks and duties of the employees may /
be properly and appropriately defined; |
that defects and discrepancies may be
remedied in a measure at least; that the
police relief fund may be established on
a permanent basis. and that the whole
establishment may be in keeping with its
size, importance, standing and favorable
with departments elsewhere
some Of the laws applicable thereto are
herewith submitted, changed, and amend
ed SO as to accomplish that end"
In behalf of the passage of the rro-
posed bill Major Sylvester says: "The
work was carefully scrutinized by the
Commissioners some months ago. and,
after approval. received the endorsement
Of the Bar Association and Board OF Trade
in one or two minor particulars,
and there is nothing included in these
changes which would entail additional ex-
pense unless the appropriation commit
tees Of Congress so determine when cen
sidering appropriations for The depart
ment year by year as heretofore There
is nothing but what would tend to The
better welfare of the citizens so fa- as
protection TO life and property goes. aud
only that which would elevate the tone
Of the whole police institution. making
matters consistent and avoiding tina fric-
ton which It is so desirable to obviate
where employees Of different rank are
thrown together to work in a common
cause
The bill provides for the organization
1f the force practically as at present
md further specifies that no person shall
le appointed 10 or hold Office in the Me-
ropolitan Police Force %ho cannot read
and write the English language. or who
IS not a citizen OF the United States. or
who shall have been indicted and convict
ID Of a felony.
Il Is further stipulated that all appli-
ants shall he required TO pass an exam
nation in spelling, writing, arithmetic
writing from dictation. police manual. and
PRACTICAL questions, PERTAINING to the Dis
rict OF Columbia. its government and in
;tilutions. under such regulations as may
% prescribed by the Commissioners, and
he applicant must attain an average per
;entage of 20 in order = be a mentally
qualified candidate.
Physical and Mental qualifications.
Another section OF the bill prescribes
hat no applicant shall be permitted to
AXE the examination just described I'M
ess he has first passed satisfactory
physical examination before the board of