The times., 1901-03-09
THE NEW POLICE BILL.
Major Sylvester and the Com mission
crs Given Increased Power.

That portion of the District of toium-
ba Appropriation bill referring to the
Police Department as passed at the last
session of Congress, has been printed for
use of the department. 1t provides for
the reorganization 0f the force. under a
plan devised by Major Sylvester. super
iutenGcnt. and Confers on the District
Commissioners certain powers not before
delegated to them. As approved it reads;
THAT the metropolitan police district
of the District of Columbia shall be CO.
extensive with the District of Columbia
and shall bc subdivided as the Commis-
siouars of the said District may from
time to time direct The Metropolitan
Police Force shall consist Of one Major
and superintendent one captain and as
sstanJ superintendent, and such number
Of captains, HeUtenants. ScrCeantS. pri-
Yates of class >, prVates of class l. desk
serEeauts. and Others as Congress may
from time TO time provide Original 3p-
pointmeutS Of priVates shall he made to
ciass !. and al promotions within the
force shall bc made according to such
regulations and after such physical ard
mental examinations as the Commission
erS of the District of Columbia shall pre-
scribe: Provided, That said Commission
crS shall fix the limits of age and height.
and shall prescribe the duties of all Off
GERS and members of the police force:
And provided further, That no removal
from tl' ponce 1OrCe snail be made cX-
Cept on written charges and after an op-
portuuity for defence on the part of the
person against whom such charges may
he made; but no person so removed shall
force
That the Commissioners Of the District
Of Columbia shall require security to he
entered into by the Major and Suparin-
tendent. Assistant Superintendent cap
tains, lieutenants, and all other officers
who may be entrusted with the keeping
Of money and valuables
That the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia are hereby authorized
TO detail from time to time from the pri-
Yates OF the police force such number of
priVates as may in their judgment be nee
essary for special service in the detection
ana prevention of crime, and while Serv-
ing in such capacity they shall have the
rank of sergeants in the force.
I hat hereafter the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia are hereby au-
thorizcd and directed TO deposit with the
Treasurer of the United States. out of re-
ceipts from fines in the Police Court and
receipts from dog licenses, a sufficient
amount to meet any deficiency in the po-
licemen'S fund or firemen's fund: pro
yided, that the Chief Engineer of the Fire
department and the Superintendent, as
Slstant superintendent, any captain or
lieutenant OF police, in case of retirement
rs now provided by law, shall receive re-
lief not exceeding 500 per month: and i'm
case of death from injury or disease of
any of the officers named i'm this section
IL ne leave a widow or children under six
teen years of age, the same SHAH be for
their relief during the period of widow
hood, or until such children reach the age
of sixteen years; provided, that in no case
shall the amount paid to widow exceed
$50 per month, nor shall the amount paid
for child exceed SO per month.
That any person pTaCDClng as a pri-
Vate detective or advertising or holding
himself out such without first comply
ing with the provisions OF law relative
TO private detectives shall be guilty of Il
misdemeanor and subject to a fine not ex-
cceding $3.50 or imprisonment in the Dis
tricJ Jail for period not exceeding eleven
months and twenty days
That the act approved June "a. 1898,
relating to the posting Of special police
men, be. and the same is hereby, amend
ed follows:
The special policemen aforesaid shall
possess ali the powers and authority now
conferred by law upon the privates in the
Metropolitan Police Force. subject to such
regulations as the Commissioners of the
District Of Columbia from time to time
ny. yilt