Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
CRIME IN THE DISTRICT
LARGE NUMBER OF CASES FOR
MINOR oFFENsEs ONLY.
Decrease in Violations of Criminal Law
Good Police Record-Area
Patrolled.

Criminology is the subject Of a chapter
of the annual report of Maj. Richard Syl-
vester, now in the hands of the District
Commissioners for reference to Congress-
ut is unfair" says the major, ito con-
slider Washington to be the District of Co.
lumbia, or the District of Columbia as iden-
teal with Washington, yet thousands of in
telligent people throughout the country are
uniformed as to the distinction, as to the
form of local government and as to social
conditions. 1t is not generally appreci-
ated that the District is "a territory en-
bracing an area of about seventy square
miles, and that Washington city is the prin-
cipaI city therein, with numerous villages
and towns scattered here and there, all
embraced in one extensive domain, for
which Congress makes laws, and for the
conduct and Improvement of which Con-
gress appropriateS annually several mil
lions Of dollars, of which 80 per cent is
from general government revenues and 90
per cent from revenues derived from Dis
trict taxes.
District Population.
1.-The population is about 100000 of which
about 204 600 are white and 9S,391 colored.
During the fiscal year which ended June 80,
1904 there were 90 4S3 cases Of arrest made
in the District, representing %, 7s9 persons.
Of the total cases Is, 209 were against the
whites and 14,274 against the colored, and
2 $50 of the entire number of persons were
unable to read and write
ION the faces Of these returns the stu
dent would conclude that the District is
an undesira BILE place of residence, but 1t is
evident that such is not the case when it
is understood that over 90 per cent of the
cases were for petty violations of law, and
of the police regulations promulgated by
the local government. There We're 1,141
charges of cruelty to animals, 8,491 cases
duet nP 20 OF d~fN
1888 of intoxication, 1872 Of intoxication
and disorderly, 1884 of petty larceny, 2,137
Of vagrancy, 30 for violating the building
regulations. 50 for failure to pay board. As
cases under the dog law, 343 for alleged
violations of the pure food law 127 against
hackmen, 59S for. Noncompliance with the
health regulations 1888 for failure to OBJ
serve the police regulations. such as driv-
ing on the wrong side of the street, sweep
ing into the streets, and similar cases; 40
for failure, to remove snow from the side
character, in all aggregating 2S.462 cases.
There being no law against simple in
toxication. those detained for Or this us cause
were released by the police after they had
"sobered up" except where the charge
was "ha bitual," when they were held for
the court.
Criminal Offenses.
There were 1,O21 cases Of arrest for GRIM
inal offenses, and of this number 100 were
held upon hearing in court, the remainder
either being adjusted by refusal TO prose-
cute or by failure to maintain the charge
While there was a general increase in
crime in the larger cities, the District main
tanned an excellent record in immunity
from professional thieves, pickpockets, bur-
glars and bank blowers, and the authorities
We're quite successful In the apprehension
of local marauders and in the recovery of
stolen money and property There was
decrease in criminal violations In this 3ur-
isdiction, there being y substantial falling
off in the number of seports made to the
police for all manner If criminal offenses,
while the number of arrests and convictions
was but one less than Cor the prior year.
Crime always was and always will be
committed, not only In the District of CO.
lumbia. but throughout the world. Society
everywhere has organized against 1t, and
chosen as its representatives for this pur-
pose the police. 1t S, therefore, proper
that the good citizer should uphold the
officers of the law in their efforts to pre-
vent crime and in tho detection OF those
who commit it. rather than decry their en-
deavor and methods. 1t is impossible for
the police to pursue the work for which
they employed without, at times, an
noying many who are innocent OF wrong
doing, IN trying to apprehend those VINO are
guilty This, together. with the enforce
ment of regulations for the comfort OF
community. makes its impossible fog them
to please every one.