Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-26

low citizens
Twenty years ago I was somewhat
averse to accepting position in the police
department. then rendered me by the Dis
trict Commissioners. But being prevailed
upon by those near and dear to me, final
ly did And in the years gone by have
endeavored to extend charity to my brother
man rather than turn him aside. and II L
have been successful in any degree in these
efforts so as to merit your satisfaction, per-
sonally. l am abundantly repaid for my
efforts.
when 1 assumed the superintendency of
the metropolitan police l was not stran-
ger TO its needs. and have endeavored in
the past five years to adopt those improve
ments, to Dut into effect those facilities,
which might tend to make the police de-
partment of this city a first-class institution.
There is no such thing as an ideal police
department. but these is a police depart
ment which may be free from scandal;
which may be honest in all its dealings;
which may maintain peace and order and
detect criminals. And that / claim we have
in the District of Columbia.
If the recommendations of your super
intendent, supported by the recommended
tons of your various citizens associations
and urged by the District Commissioners
are carried out to men and measures
necessary, feel convinced that the Dis
trict of Columbia will have police de-
partment second to none in the world
which it should be.
Il feel sure that our system is quite
correct, when go before body of 300
or more chiefs and superintendent of po-
lice throughout the world and talk to them
of the situation here and receive as
recognition of my efforts and ideas their
chiefship."
The International Association.
Major Sylvester noted the fact that for
the first time in history an international
association of police chiefs Is in successful
operation. one in which are associated
fIa- oil nf
whom are enthusiastic in the work. In
this connection he mentioned the estab-
ishment of an international bureau of
criminal identification. This bureau means
mere, he said, than the average citizen
understands. 1t means that when a crimi-
nal is once measured by an agent of that
bureau he can. never again escape detec-
ton. Science maintained the proposition,
he said, that mans measurements do not
change after he has attained the age of
twenty-one years. The principal measure
ments taken are of the trunk of the body,
the width and length of the head, the size
of the ear. the length of the finger, fore
arm and feet. With this system in use 1t
will be possible to compile the information
at the headquarters of the bureau, which
have been transferred. from Chicago to
Washington, so that when an arrest is
made anywhere in the world it will be pos
sibIe to give information to whether
the person arrested has ever been measur-
ed before If he has his criminal record
may be produced in ten minutes. This
system is now in use In fifty-eight cities
in the United States.
'It is my aim now, continued Major
Sylvester, ito have Congress extend to the
police. and through the police to society,
that recognition which should have been
given many years agO-SuppOrt to bureau
of this character. 1t is the solution of the
great question, How shall we ever put
down the man who is the enemy OF so
Getty"
In accepting the presents Major Sylves-
ter gracefully concluded:
MY fellow citizens the badge which you
have presented to me / shall endeavor to
wear unsullied: the baton which you have
placed in my hand l shall strike with for
right and justice. and the watch, hope,
will enable me always to be on time.
THE luster that shines from these beau
tful gifts will be the light which shall
guide me in my path of duty, so that ]
may continue to enjoy your confidence and
esteem. And in this proud moment of my
career in this District 1 want to say to
you that in the end l hope to hand them
down to my sons with honored name.
as the best legacy l could leave them"
Then the Tinfoil Badge.
The tinfoil medal was presented after the
applause following the concluding remarks
of the major had ceased. Mr.. Keefer's re-
marks caused some merriment, delivered
as they were from the center of the BAN
cuet room.
I'VE have in our midst he said, "a dele
CATION Of Jackson democrats and automo-
bilists who have listened with great inter-
est to your eloquent eulogisms on this
happy and suspicious occasion, and, while
fully concurring in all you have said we
think that Major Sylvester should be still
further remembered, and in order that it
may not seem presumptuous on our part to
even attempt to add to your gifted oratory
we beg to remind you that were it not for
6emOCra primaries ScOrchjnP
buzz wagons, the magnificent body Of the
capitals defenders over whom the major
ably presides would lapse into a state of
innOCuous desuetude equaled only by that
of Washington's ostracised and most IA
nous and most sought-after citizen-Dor-
sey Foultz
therefore. while acknowledging the
beauty and daintiness of the gifts bestow-
ed by fellow citizens. we decided to
have made an additional badge. Yours
Mr.. Chairman, was nodded of gold; ours
of the baser metal. tinfoil. but that which
ours lacks in quality is made up by guam
tity and is of such a size that even the
G0-mile-a hour 'moblist may see-and see
ing, be spurred on to even greater speed
in order to avoid the dire results of a
clash with the strong arm of the law.
Take it, Mr. Chairman; pin it on the
manly breast of our noble superintendent
1t will be none too large to cover his gen.
erous heart-and say to him that If In the
course of his official duties he finds 1t neces-
Sary to jug a Jackson, chase a chauf-
feur, we do not ask that justice be blind
but that she shall merely wink her eye
and give him one more chance, remember
ing that he cannot help being unruly 1t
is the nature of the beast"
Lieut.. Kenney's Tribute.
Lieut.. Kenney enthusiastically declared,
as he responded. to a general invitation ex-
tended by Chairman Norris for further re-
marks. that Major Sylvester had given all
that mortal man could give to his work
during the past twenty years. When the
major came into the department. the lieu
tenant declared 1t was demoralized and
disorganized From this condition it had
been brought up to a degree of efficiency
and perfection of which the city and coun-
try might well be proud All this, the lieu
tenant declared. was entirely due to the
hard work of Major Sylvester combined
with his ability and aptitude for the duties
required.
This impromptu testimonial of one of the
majors lieutenants met with the hearty
approval of those who had gathered to do
him honor. and the applause, as he con-
tinued. was vociferous
Conservative estimates placed the attend
ance at the reception at over 1000
Some Of the Guests.
Some of those present were: Commits
sioners West and Biddle, Philip c. Att1eck,