The Washington times., 1903-11-17
His Status Not Properly De
fined III Law.
PAY STOPS IF HURT OR ILL
Railways Provide Wages-District EN-
ploys and Assigns Duties to
the Men.

highwayman. Charles smith. TO lose the
weeks for which be win be laid up at
the Emergency Hospital with COM
pound fracture Of she leg. without wage
or other compensation? This is a ques-
tion which involves the status of the
entire force of street railway police
men. and interests each of them. who
rlay at any time meet with a similar
fate.
The position Of the railway crossing
policeman is anomalous He is not
naember Of the police force. nor is he en-
pieyed directly by the street railway
companies. He is appointed By The Dis
trict Commissioners, after passing an
examination simila- TO that required for
position on the regular force. and is
paid by them. wiz money of the rail-
way companies once each month the
Auditor FOR the District calls upon each
railway fer its Droporuonate part Of the
expense Of maintaining this auxiliary
force OF thirty-cdtt men No accounting
has been made to t,le railway companies
for the money thus expended, though
Auditor Garrison said yesterday that an
accounting could be rendered if asked
and admitted that such a request has
been made. This was a surprise to Com
missioner West. who supposed such an
accounting had been made in the past.
The Chief Sufferer.
In this peculiar adjustment Of inter
ests the crossing man has been the chief
sufferer. The crossing policeman has
twelve hours duty TO perform at the
crossings. and his services in protect
ing life and property are such as TO
save thousands Of dollars every year to
the railways, as Wei as lives to the COM
munity. He IS required to conform 10
police regulations, and to leave his post
70 make such arrests as come within his
notice. or 10 reply to calls or signals OF
distress.
1t was for this reason that Osburn
went half block from his corner, when
he heard the police whistle OF Philip
Steuart, IN time 10 receive the bullet
which endangered his life, and Crossing
Policeman Edwards went a similar dis
tance in time 10 stop a bullet over his
heart. and then make his plucky arrest
OF the stiu ARMED miscreant.
But what provision is made for the
care OF a man Wounded IN such circum
stances2 Not being a member OF ths
regular force. there IS no leave avail
able. not even sick leave A reporter
for The Times asked George T. Dunlop
president of the Capital Traction Com
pany. whose tracks Osburn guarded. 81
the company would make any provision
for the injured man, and was told thai
the company had nothing whatever &
do with the man. that he was not al
employe. and the company would TAX
10 action. The reporter then approach
I'd Major Sylvester. Superintendent OF
Police and was told hat he had NJ
power 10 do anything i.1 the man Of
fcIally. though ne intended making Z
personal contribution for his support
call was then mad on Commissioned
West. who made the same statement a
Major Sylvester.
Damage to Uniform
Time was when no provision was made
even for replacing the clothirg Of
these men. and all damages had 20 be
1aade good out Of their own rockies.
Some time ago. however, II was ,ieclded
that they were entitled 10 the benefit o.
the clothing and helmet fund, establish
ed b. deducting 20 per cent from all re-
wards received. 50 that Osburn is GER
tain Of getting a new pair Of trousers
81 place of those he wore when sf-Ot.
Untn two years ago the fines collect
the general police fund from w,e.cf
money is drawn TO provide extra h5s-
pital care. on the certificate Of tlt
police surgeons. and other eue- -eenc-
needs. for members Of the regular fcrce
The crossing men. however. were not
entitled 10 these benefits. This was s.
manifestly unfair that two years ago
the fines from the crossing men were
converted into a separate fund, which :.
q Il fro
which they are entitled TO draw a.
mucA as s. per week for four weeks
provided there g tilat much In the fund
Osbnrn can. therefore draw as mucl
as 80. when there is that much I'm th'
fund There is now S446S in this fund
His Wages Stop.
BUT there IS absolutely no way il
which a crossing policeman san draw
his wages while incapacitated Tor duty
On April 90 1900 "A bin was introduced
IN the Senate prosiding that member.
Of the crossing force SHOULD be snutle,
10 twenty days leave each year viii
pay, which is the rule Of the MeuopoH
tan police force. end also that thcl
should be entitled 70 the same leaves o
absence on account Of sickness witt
Ike privileges and upon the same terms
and conditions as are allowed 10 mem
bers Of the regular force. In iudorse
1nents on this bin made 10 the Distric
Committee y the senate. Major Sylves
ter and Commissioner John y. WiEh
made IL clear that these nen are Il
reality employees - the street railway
and that the later. ia their opinion
would resent paying an employe f.
time not actually put in "a work BIajo
Sylvester suggests that IL passed th
word shall be changed to may"
The matter came up again in Angus
OF the following year. when an appea
was made by the men to the Comnis
sioners. and the same position wa
taken IN an exhaustive report by AU
dltor Petty 20 the Commissioners. All
Petty susgeBtcd THAT the only remed
las in special legislation. The posltio
was then taken and S. stiu rnaintaine'
that the Commissioner are without az
thority 10 take sucn action.
Mr Vests Views.
commissioner West made this positio
clear by an illuEtration "The District
said SIR. West, ''is largely an emDi0yin
nd Tfehrrafuo~ arafsf flr rho raffru-1s