The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-09
THE NEW POLICE BILL.
Mnjor Sylvester and the Com mission
crs Given Increased Power.

+ That portion of the District of Column
| bia Apprnpriation 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 Gf the force. under a
plan devised by Major Sylvester super
| iutcndcnt. and cOnfers on the District
| Commissioners certain powers no. before
| DELEGATED to them. As approved = Eeads:
THAT the Metropolitan police district
Of the District Of Columbia shall be CO.
extensive with the District Of Columbia,
and shall be subdivided as the Commits
siouers 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
sistant superintendent and such number
Of captains, lieutenants. SerEcants, pri-
Yates of class ;, privates of class |, desk
SerSeants. and Others as Congress may
from time to time provide. Original ap-
pointmentS of privateS shall be made to
class /. and all promotions within the
force shall be made according to such
regulations and after such physical and
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 the police force shall he made eN-
Cept on written charges and after an OPP
pOrtunity for defence on the part of the
person against whom such charges may
he made; but no person so removed shall
be reappointed to any office in said police
force.
THAT the Commissioners Of the District
of Columbia shall require security to be
entered into by the Major and Supsrin-
tendent Assistant Superintendent, cap
talns. iieutenants, and all other officers
who may be entrusted with the keeping
OF money and valua ables
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
and prevention of crime, and while serv-
ing in such capacity they shall have the
rank of sergeants in the force.
That hereafter the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia are hereby au-
thorfzed and directed to deposit with the
Treasurer Of the United States out of re-
cetpts from fines in the Police Court and
receipts from dog licenses, a sufficient
amount to meet any deficiency in the po-
Hcemen : fund or firemen's fund. pro-
vided, that the Chief Engineer of the Fire
Department and the Superintendent, as
s1stant superintendent, any captain or
lieutenant of police, in case of retirement
as now provided by law, shall receive re-
lief not exceeding 800 per month; and i'm
case Of death from injury or disease of
any Ol the Officers named III thlS section,
If he leave widow or children under six
teen years of age, the same shall 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 a widow exceed
$50 per month, nor shall the amount paid
for child exceed SIS per month.
That any person practicing as a pri-
Vate detective or advertising or holding
himself out as 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
trict Jail for period not exceeding eleven
months and twenty-nine days.
That the act approved June q. 1898,
relating to the posting of special police
men, be. and the same is hereby, amend
ed follows:
The special policemen aforesaid shall
possess all 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
prescribe.