The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-28
SYLVESTER WANTS
BIGGER SALARIES
Submits Department ESti-
mates for Fiscal Year.
MCFARLAND FAVORS HIM
Requests 40 New Privates With Sala-
ries at Sooo a Year-Duties
of Policemen.

Major Sylvester's estimates of the
money needed to properly equip and
operate the Police Department of the
District during the next fiscal year were
submitted to the District Commissioners
Yesterday, showing that at present the
policemen are underpaid and too few
in number, and that more money is
needed for the pay of the higher Off
Gals of the department.
District Commissioner mcfarland
said yesterday he had discussed the es-
Inmates with the major and thoroughly
agreed with him in his position that
more men and money should be allowed
the department intrusted with the work
Of preserving order and peace in the
National Capital.
The most important individual salary
Increase asked is for Captain Boardman.
who is now paid $500 a year as cap
tain and assistant superintendent"
Wants Salary Raised.
In asking that the salary be put up
from s1,sOO to $500 a year. Major Syl-
vester says in his estimates:
The captain and assistant superin-
tendent possesses that authority I'm law
which secures for him the respect OF
the men Immediately under his control,
and the whole force If necessary. He
gives the Secret Service an impetus, and
intelligent action, which could not be
expected of an officer of lower RAM.
wanting in explicit authority. In the
Cbsence of the Superintendent. through
leave or sickness. he becomes the act-
Ing head Of the department. and havinc,
been promoted from the ranks. his ex-
perience enables him to properly direct
tie ICrce as well as his particular
branch OF the service
He must possess exceptional qualif-
cations; give his time night and day
to the work in hand: be a student OF
crime and proper director of the ma
terial under him; possess frmness and
ready capacity for the solution Of deli
cate problems; be honest respectfui
and willing, kind and strong; be able
TO read human nature in its many
phases nave an acquaintance with the
law OF his own and other jurisdictions:
a full knowledge OF the men under MIN,
and so assign cases committed 10 his
charge as TO obtain the best results. be-
SIDES having familiarity with Grimm
oiogy and metric system OF mea sure
ments. police Photography, and methods
employed elsewhere"
Asks 40 Privates.
Another striking request is the addi-
ton of 10 privates to the police force.
such an addition calling for an increase
Of SllS.4o0 in the police appropriations.
In speaking OF the need Of the addi-
tional men, and the justice Of paying
every policeman not less than $500 per
annum. the major makes the following
explanation:
This police jurisdiction is not a nu-
nicipallty; IL Is a. territory comprising
about seventy square miles. As repre-
Sentauves Of ali the civilized narirns
reside here, there is always room Tor
international questions TO arise. and
many delicate matters are brought to
the attention Of the officers for adjust
ment. There are many police regula
( tons, promulgated by authority of law
as we'll as statutory enactments, 10 be
enforced"
The mayor, who receives an annual
salary Of $4,000. gives. in his estimate, a
list Of expenses, showing how easy II is
for a policeman TO live on $500 a year
Here IL IS:
For family OF five-average number
Rent. at SIS per month, S2l6. uniform
| $50; groceries. $420; fuel. $50; clothing and
shoes. SO; insurance Gin police relief as
sociatiOn), Sl2: deducted for pension
fund Sl2. Total, $s15
This would leave a balance of SIS to
| pay doctors bills and meet other emer-
! gencies which might arise during the
year"
a slight increase is also asked I'm the
salaries of the police surgeons. four in
number Chief Clerk Kemp IS recon-
mended for a 500 increase per year.