Evening star., 1902-01-01
MORE POLICE M { N
Representative Jenkins Says a Hun
dred Additional Are Needed.
BOTH DISTRICT COMMITTEES AGREE
Trouble is With The Appropriations
Committee.
MONEY SHOULD BE GIVEN

One hundred more policemen for this city
and a Encouragement Of committee handling
OF District affairs In Congress are two fea-
lures which impress Representative Jenkins
of Wisconsin being vital at this time,
one for the present and the other for the
future welfare OF the District OF Columbia
As a leading republican member OF the
House committee on the District OF Column
bsa Mr.. Jenkins has for a number of years
been a close observer OF the attitude OF
Congress to the District. and has also kept
himself posted regarding the detailed work
ings of the municipal government Of the
capital. In discussing these matters with
Star reporter today Mr.. Jenkins said:
Need n Hundred More Policemen.
Emphasis should be laid upon the fact
that the police force Of the District is not
large enough by at least 100 men. I sppre-
ciate the situation fully as a member of
the District committee, but am powerless
to remedy the condition because the Dis
trict committee has no Jurisdiction or con-
troll over the purse strings / am very
much pleased by the position taken by Sem
ator Mcmillan in regard to this matter.
THE people OF Washington are unjust
sufferers from the fact that all of their in
terests In Congress have to go before two
committees-one the District committee
which is the legislative committee and the
other the appropria tions committee. All
that the District committee can do is to
legislate. That committee can recommend
that the police force of this city be In
creased by 100 men, and as the needs are
so apparent there is no doubt Congress
would so legislate. But when that is done
the new officers cannot be hired until the
appropriations committee recommends
appropriation sufficient to pay these extra
100 men.
THE appropriations committee is not
brought i'm contact with the people and
their wants as the District committee is
III the appropriations committee had the
power Of legislation as well as that of ap-
preparation unquestionaby IL would be more
just to the people of Washington will not
say liberal, for ii is a question OF justice,
not liberality. The appropriations commit
tee occupies the same position as that OF
cashier i'm a bank. They are put in place
to say no. While | want to be as careful
OF public money as any one, do not think
that the people Of Washington or OF ..ie
country at large are fairly treated. and
speak advisedly from knowledge Of legis-
iation.
Everybody Interested I'm Washington.
Every representative in Congress and
every citizen of the United States is inter-
ested in Washington. 1t is the ideal city
of America. Wherever there is a family
in any part of the country with money and
time to spare for a trip, they hasten to
Washington, where there is more to be
seen and learned than In any other place
in the United States. 1t is more than the.
capital city of the greatest nation on the
globe, and no one can reasonably object to
its being substantially improved II is a
crying shame to find out the least amount
that will be required to operate the city,
and then for the purpose of making a little
cheap political capital to scale that amount
down.
1.-The general government must pay one
half. and can well afford to pay the
amount needed. II is very discouraging to
the executive officers of Washington to be
compelled to manage this great city with
such small appropriations. 1t is like the
husband giving to the good wife $40 a
month to run the home when he can we'll
afford to pay the needed Sl00. The appro-
priations dealt out to this city is on the
same plan as a man who quarrels with a
bare-footed newsboy on a cold day rs to
whether he shall pay or cents for a
paper, and then squanders $40 before bed
time.
There is an immense amount of money
appropriated by the national government to
no good purpose that would bring splendid
returns If used to beautify the city OF
Washington.
"A little more liberality on the part of
the government would greatly stimulate
and encourage the property owners of the
District. do not sympathize with all the
complaints made against Congress. People
should be more united with reference TO
their legislative needs, then much more
could be accomplished.
Hest Governed City I'm United States.
'.As far as the local police force Is con-
cerned, IT is a splendid body Of men, aad IL
is only repeating what others continually
remark to say that this Is the best governed
city In the United States. / am reliably in
formed that the average policeman in this
city works thirty-six hours out OF forty
eight. Now here Is a chance for the hui
manitartan to get in some good work
There is a growing demand for the reduc-
tion of the hours of labor, and IL is a sad
commentary on the national government
that right here at the seat of government
men whose duty it is to protect life and
property and be continually exposed should
be compelled to work the police officers
of this city are compelled to work Their
health soon becomes impaired and thus Sc
riously Affects their mental powers SO that
they are not capable Of doing as effective
work as would be the case IL they were al
lowed proper time for rest. There are no
other class OF men anywhere compelled to
work as do the police officers of this city
While IL is true there is a large number of
men In the force, that number is totally in
adequate TO the needs of the District There
are many things going on in Washington
constantly which need police protection
ana men are constantly compelled to take
assignments on these emergency matters
whether 1t should be their time off duty or
not "