Evening star., 1902-08-19
NEW RULES ADOPTED
SUGGESTED EIGHT-HoUR SYSTEM
OF POLICE DUTY.
Major Sylvester's Recommendations
Submitted to Commission
ers-Change in Hours.

adopt the eight-hour system for the police
department.. take effect September 1. The
superintendent has given the matter con-
siderable attention, having ascertained
what he could regarding, the so-called
eight-hour systems in other cities. This
afternoon he transmitted to the Commits
sioners letter setting forth his recon-
mendations In the matter. The system,
which is similar to that in vogue in Chi
caSo, is explained in the superintendent
letter to the Commissioners, which is as
follows:
Il have the honor to recommend that the
| regular hours for patrol duty for the pri-
Yates Of the metropolitan police force of
the District Of Columbia be changed to
read as follows:
Eight o'clock am. to 4 o'clock pm; 4
o'clock pm. to Il o'clock pm; II o'clock
pm. to o'clock am; all with reserve.
Further. that in order to secure TO per-
sons and property IN the District the same
If not superior protection from a numerical
standpoint in the disposition of the force,
the several precinct commands be COM
posed Of four sections of privates Sec
tions to be designated and employed as
follows:
m. to 4 o'clock pm.
Section b, street duty from o'clock D.
m. to II o'clock pm.
Section G, street duty from II o'clock p.
m. to 3 o'clock am.
Section D, shifting section between such
hours as the emergencies or conditions may
require.
Reserve Duty.
Half Of section A. or as much thereof as
may be necessary, pm. to Il pm.
Half Of section B, or as much thereof as
may be necessary, II pm. to am.
"Half of section c. or as much thereof as
may be necessary, 10 am. to pm.
Half Of section D. or as much thereof as
may be necessary. 4 am. to 10 am.
Half Of section D. or as much thereof as
may be necessary. pm. to 6 pm.
1.-The sections designated for street and
reserve duty to alternate weekly, changing
every Monday.
"turther, that only in case of sickness
shall any member designated for reserve
change In the service in any way, at any
time, prove less efficient than at present the
resumption OF the existing hours of duty
shall be had; that the change Of system
shall not In any detail or respect interfere
with requirements for prolonged or extra
ordinary hours Of duty at such times as the
occasion may require"
Under the new order all patrolmen are
placed upon an equal footing. Men on post
duty Will be required to do reserve, the
same as those who do regular street duty.
frequently Discussed.
The question of adopting the eight-hour
system has been discussed by members Of
the police department for a number of
years and has been commented upon in
the annual reports Of the chief. In last
years report to the Commissioners the
superintendent recommended that when
the public interest will permit the new
system, with reserve, be adopted. The re-
port added: That period will have been
reached when the force called for in the
estimates shall have been provided. and IL
is confidently predicted that the results
a long step toward giving the District the
finest police equipment and service In this
country. With its establishment there
should be less sickness and disability and
more creditable police representation
than that obtained under the existing sys-
tenn.
Nearly Always on Duty.
Under existing conditions, the report
says. member Of the force gives the Dis
trict almost hts entire time. The police
day begins at 8 o'clock am. when a MEM
ber win answer roll call. go upon the
street and patrol until 1 o'clock pm, when
therein ''en reserve" until o'clock pm.
when he is relieved from duty for six
hours At midnight he resumes work. and
continues until o'clock am. when his
day or begins and continues until 9
o'clock pm. At that hour he goes on
duty until I o'clock pm. the following
day, when he again goes on" street, to
remain there until 9 o'clock pm; then fol-
lows reserve duty" until midnight, after
which he Is ION patrol until 6 o'clock in