Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
Annual Report Of the Super
intendent Submitted.
ESTIMATES FOR YEAR
INCREASE OF $s5, 800 REQUESTED
FOR 19O4-5.
Argument for Larger Force - The
Juvenile Court-Curfew Law and
Compulsory Education.

Major Richard Sylvester, superintendent
of the metropolitan police force. today
submitted to the District Commissioners
the report of the operations of the police
department for the fiscal year ending June
80 1908, together with an estimate OF the
amount required for the support OF the de-
partment for the fiscal year ending June ~,
1905. and a series of recommendations cal
culated to increase the efficiency and stand
ard of the forces. Major Sylvester, IN his
estimates for the next year. asks for an
increase of SIS, 800 above the appropriation
for the current year.
In regard to an increase In the salary OF
members of the District police force Major
Sylvester calls attention to the salaries
paid in other large cities of the country.
He makes several important recommenda-
tons relative to Juvenile Offenders, ana
suggests legislation to govern newsooys IN
the District The report also contains an
interesting chapter relating to the treat
ment and care for persons OF unsouha
mind in the city. 49,
The report states that the Both day OF
Tune last the District of Columbia had
police force of GAL officers and privates
With regard to the lack of a sulnclent
number of sergeants Major Sylvester say !:
N"There were thirty-five sergeants, one OF
whom had charge of the detective bureau
during the night and two were detailed to
command the pr4vateS on duty at Tue
White House as exterior guaros these
sergeants performing twelve hours outy
each OF the remaining th1rty-tWo SIX We're
mounted leaving twenty-six foot sergeants,
distributed as follows: Three IN the Irsl
precinct, full quota; the same NUMBER
in the second and third precincts; Two
in the fourth. necessltatlns lne e
Dloyment of a private to act as such;
three in the fifth, leaving shortage OF one
in Anacostia; three, or full quota IN .Le
sixth; the same in the seventh, eighth ana
ninth, and shortage OF one IN the u, ten IL
where a private was assigned to NIL the
quota Thus the force is insufficiently su-
pervised to the extent of three sergeants;
1t is further weakened by the ninth ana
tenth precincts lacking one mounted ser
eeant each, and the bicycle corps having
none but needing four. In all there Is
shortage of ten sergeants ms dehcielcy
should be supplied, in order to avoid de-
inouencies which must necessarily follow
incomplete command of the men who patrol
the beats and cover posts.
The Conditions June 80.
"On the Both day of June. 1sO3 there were
$50 privates in the force. or rather $50. as
one vacancy existed on that date. but all
of these were not available for. patrol duty,
the number being reduced 100 by details.
exclusive of fourteen doing detective serv-
ice and sixty-three ON post duty assign
mentS.
Duties of the Policemen.
In referring to the reduced force of pa
trolmen Major Sylvester calls attention to
some Of the exacting duties expected of
the officers, as follows:
They must examine and thoroughly in
form themselves to every part OF their
beats. to the extent of their power prevent
crime examine all doors and windows, re-
mort policy dealers, gamblers, receivers OF
stolen properuy-or report their Suspicious
that they are SUCH daily examine the sta-
ton house records. familiarize themselves
with special and general orders: give close
attention to disorderly houses and state to
their superiors their observations; inspect
hacks report damaged and unlighted street
lamp make note of insanitary matters,
holes in the roadways and sidewalks, DAM
aged trees, deliver personal tax notices. IN
scect buildings, entertainment and other
Dermits: search the assessors records for
Eames of owners of property where the
regulations against mud and snow on the
sidewalks are violated; place lamps to. give
warning at dangerous places and enforce
the laws and the hundreds of regulations
respecting chickens, dogs ringing of pells
sweeping of rubbish, use of water. dis
charge of explosives, locations of signs, OBJ
structions, excavations, plumbing. motor
vehicles, street cars. bicycles, vehicles.
licenses. parkings, electric lights. use OF
Cils, construction of buildings, fences, avn
ings and various other matters. These,
with the regulating OF carriages at recep-
tons and theaterS, the care of children
about the schools and apprehension and
care of several hundred insane persons an
nually, occasion much and at times delicate
work.
The Matter of Compensation.
CT ip,a ixa 70 hoy nj