Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-06
POLICE AT CROSSINGS
BILL DRAWN - GRANT THEM
ANNUAN LEAVE.
Effort to Have4sThSn Placed on Equal
Footing With Members Of
Reealas Force.

Agreeablyto the request Of Representative
Pearre OF Maryland, the District Commits
sioners have forwarded to him the draft Of
bill granting. certain privileges to the
special policemen, stationed at street cross
ings in the city of Washington, District Of
Columbia" For some time past there has
been movement on foot to place these
special policemen on an equal footing with
members of the regular metropolitan police
force In regard to leaves Of absence, sick
leave and benefits from the police fund.
The policemen stationed at street railroad
crossings were provided for in a special act
OF Congress passed some years ago. Their
sa laries are paid wholly by the street rail-
road companies whose tracks intersect at
the crossings designated by the Commis-
sioners for the stationing Of the special
policemen.
Several bills have been introduced in Con-
gress from time to time granting privileges
TO TINS class OF policeman, but have failed
OF final action because Of various defects
Mai Richard Sylvester. the chief of police
mas reported against all bills that provide
for the participation of the special police
men In the benefit fund Of the regular de-
partment. He takes the ground that the
men or the regular force are required to
pass severe physical examination and are
required to do much more hazardous duty
than the street railway policemen. who are
appointed without special examination. and
VIII Sliiply 10 posi- OuIy. MIDI. sylvester
was In favor of creating a special fund for
the crossing policemen. by deductions from
their monthly salaries. The Commissioners
In the bill forwarded to Representative
gest1on In the measure. Mr.. Pearre has
acted as the champion Of the railway police
men. and it is upon his suggestion that the
Commissioners have drawn up the present
bill, which, will be seen by the text
quoted below, grants the special policemen
twenty days leave Of absence, and pro-
vldes for the payment OF their substitutes
during this time out Of United States and
District revenues, on the half and half
principle.
Text of the Bill.
The text Of the bill, favorably reported
by the Commissioners, Is as follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States in
Congress assembled, that each of the spe-
cial policemen stational at street railway
crossings and intersections in the District
of Columbia under the law providing for
such service. shall during each calendar
year be entitled to twenty days leave OF
absence at times to be determined by the
Commissioners of said District, and to not
exceeding twenty days leave of absence
arising from illness; and shall receive from
the source prescribed in said law full pay
during such absences. sum sufficient to
provide for the payment Of substitute serv-
ice for such officers during such absences
Is hereby appropriated to be derived dis
persed and accounted for as are the regu
lar annual appropriations for the support
of the government Of said District.
Section 2-Hereafter the Commissioners
shall deduct 81 each month from the pay
of each policeman, which sum shall be
deposited with the auditor of said District.
to be invested by. him from time to time
sum so created shall be held subject to dis
bursemen on order Of the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia for expendi-
lures for the relief Of any Of said police
men who by injury. received or disease
contracted in the line Of duty only, shall
become permanently disabled as to be
discharged from said service therefor; and
in case of the death Of any such officer for
the relief Of the widow or children of said
officer and for funeral expenses as the
Commissioners shall determine"