The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-24
STATION IN
CITY HALL
New Scheme That May Soon
Be Presented in Council.
WOULD BE TOTAL CHANGE
The Idea is to Fit UP Station in the
Basement Of the City Hall and
Abolish the Present
Ones.

L 6 i. It,
Present Indications point to the intro
duction in the Council, and possibly the
| Police Board, at an early date, Of scheme,
which, IL adopted. will result In the revo-
lutlonlzation Of the police department OF
the city and the Inauguration of an en-
tircly new system, which may show
decided Improvement over the plan that
has been In vogue for years.
1t is proposed to establish in Richmond
what Is known in police parlance as the
elght-hour system. This means that In
stead Of operating as now the department
will BIO placed on n new basis, the men
being required to slave only eight hours
each day, whereas they now work rcgu-
larly nine hours.
Instead OF three districts with station
to each district as there are now. there
will be In the future, granting OF course,
that the plan carfies, only one district.
which will embrace the entire corporate
limits, and one station.
This Will be centrally located. pre-
sumably and preferably in the City Hall.
RETURN ALL OFFICERS.
BY the abolition of the three districts.
none Of the offices of captain will be done
away with, while probably all of the
sergeants will also be retained. But, in
stead OF a captain being held responsible
for certain district, as is now the Gus
tom, he will for the period of eight hours
each day be held accountable for the do
ings in the entire city. and he will have
the management of many more policemen
than he now has.
The plan doesn't contemplate any
change In the executive head OF the de-
partment. for by those who are most ar
IDENTIFY advocating the system 1t Is real
lied that no better or more capable per-
son could be secured to fill this naturally
necessary position. In word, the duties
OF the Chief Will be pretty much as they
now are. with the exception that he will
be brought In close touch with the de-
partnent.
The agitation of the eight hour system
Is the result of the repeated demands for
more policemen in the city. Certain Inter.
ested city officials have lately been ,nves-
tigating the pilice systems of different
cities, and 1t has been discovered that
the modus operandi In Richmond is quite
different from the present system in
most cities over the country. It is claim
ed that fewer patrolmen are on the
streets In Richmond. than in other towns
with department the same size and
working under different system, as :,
result OF which the proposed change will
be agitated.
CHEAPER SCHEME.
1t IS argued that the elght-hour system
is much cheaper. More patrolmen, 1t Is
claimed, could be put on the streets for
less money than under the present policy,
while the men would be better fitted for
duty. In a word 1t is stated that thel
Richmond plan Is antiquated and inefi-
Client, while the new system would prove
an eminent success
Time after time, year after year. the
Board OF Police Commissioners come to
the Council with request for more men.
They are not given simply because the
city doesn't see its way clear to paying
| the additional expense. It has been adj
mitted that the streets are not sufficiently
patroled, and that more policemen would
| prove boon to the community In the
| way Of protection, but other departments
have gotten away with the spoils.
And SO it has happened that the coun-
| cilmen, realizing that more men are need
| ed on the streets. havebeen looking about
| for some system for reaching this result
without putting more men on the pay
roll. And at last it is claimed that the
| plan has been worked out and will If
| tried, prove mammoth success. estab-
! fishing all that is claimed and wing the
people better protection for the same
| money and without additional men.
CITY HALL EASEMENT
To be concise, the new system embraces
an expenditure of few thousands for
the purpose of fitting up a suitable cen
trail station, but this sum. It's argued,
would soon be repaid to the city. 1t is
proposed to remodel thc basement of the
City Hall. makinf?ait into an up-to-da.c
police barracks, with cells sufficient for
the retention of those prisoners who may
be taken In during the night or day.
BY those who have investigated the
matter it is stated that these cells could
be erected for comparatively small
amount, and that no other expenditure
would be necessary to put the system in
operation ssE
It is proposed to do away with the
three stations, cehtra lizing the men at Il
central station. For illustration sake,
It Will be stated that 100 men are active
ly' engaged In patrol duty, outside the
captains and sergeants.
DIVISION or FORCE.
] Under the eight-hour system the hun
| dred men would be divided into three
squads, not necessarily an equal num-
Der for each Of The three divisions of the
day, 1t Is recognized that as many Off
~ ~. "te n.y. lleeued IN The day as at
night, consequently 1t has been suggest
ca that the hundred be apportioned as
| follows: Forty between p. M and 10 p
NJ and - p. NJ. and s "A. NJ. This would
leave twenty men for the day duty, from
A. NJ, until A p. M -
INC change will contemplate the reduc-
ton Of three sergeants. two being used
on me-, each watch and three In the station,
Inc Watches would be as follows,
DAY watch, from s A. NJ. TOD - Nr
Evening watch. from 45P. NJ, to 10 p. M
Morning watch, from - to S A. M,
/. VENEZUELAN GUNBOAT-
DETnDhIrN pu