Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
REQUESTS A CHANGE
MAI. sYIvEs1ka SUGGESTS RE-
uLAss1FIoA74oN OF POLICE.
Salaries From se9p 70 81, 200, in Three
Separate classes, Recommend
ed-An Increase.

The Commissioners today forwarded to
the chairmen of the Senate and House Dis
trict committees copy OF letter re-
ceived by them from Major Richard Sylves-
ter, superintendent Of the metropolitan po-
lice force, requesting that section 1 Of the
act approved February g. 1901, relating to
the District police. be amended so as to
provide for three classes of privates in the
police force. with salaries respectively of
$780, $1,000 and 1920 year.
Under the present law the privates in the
metropolitan force are divided into class
"a class and class e. with annual sala-,
ries of $500 $500 and $3.50, respectively.
No graded system of promotion is pro-
vided under existing laws. and that is one
of the principal objects Of the amendment
proposed by Major Sylvester
The Commissioners state in their letter
to Congress that they appreciate the condi-
tons in the police force which lead to this
request for increase of pay, ETC., but at this
time they do not desire to do more than ac-
quaint the committees with the circum-
stances. In the hope that when later a for
law is laid before the committees it will re-
ceive favorable consideration.
The Amendment.
The amendment proposed by Maj. Sylves-
ter. providing for a graded system in the
for prtvates, is as follows;
THE privates in the METROPOLITAN police
force shall be divided into three classes, to
be known as privates of class one. priyates
OF class two and privates Of class three
ana shall receive compensation as follows:
Pr1vates of class one, $9O0 per annum; pri-
wates OF class two. 8 ESQ per annum; pri-
Yates OF class three, 81. 200 per annum
Original appointments OF priyates shall
De mace TO class one as heretofore pro-
Mded' ana promotions from class one to
class two shall be made In the order of an
pointment to the police force after tuo
years service as private Of class one. nro
vlded the conduct and Intelligent attention
10 outy OF such privates shall justify such
promotion; further, that promotfons from
class two to class three shall be made after
nVe years service as privates Of class two.
provided the conduct and intelligent atten,
a,on 10 GUY OF such privates shall justify
Reasons Assigned.
In setting forth his reasons In support Of
the proposed amendment Mai. Sylvester
says:
The numerical disproportion between
the privates In the existing classes of one
ana Two has been growing more pro-
nounced for the past twenty wears ana ~
has had a tendency to discourage those of
CLASS one who expect to receive an ad
vance in pay after several years faithful
service, which is the case in well-conduct
ed municipalities The same argument an
plies In the case Of privates of class two.
There should be some recognition for these
men after a commendable service of five
years as members of class two at sl.OsO
per annum. - |>'
There is no doubt that 1t was the original
intention of Congress, when the two classes
were created, that pr emotion should be
made In reasonable time 1t being about
the end OF two years at that period. but
To-Day 1t matters not how meritorious NAV
De the work, the private of class / is for
tunate If he be promoted at the end of eight
or nine years to be q private of class g. In
the meantime he performs the same duties
for the same hours and does like reserve as
mis- brother In the upper grade but re-
ceives less pay.
The average policeman, as stated in INV
annual report to the Commissioners. begins
to deteriorate physically after eight or ten
years OF exposure, and when his dream of
advancement is not realized disappointment
Is consequent and disbursement to some
extent must naturally follow. With house
rent to meet, summer and winter uniforms
TO provide, which in the city, of PhiIadelphla
are paid for by the municipality, and an
occasional penalty to pay, little is left out
OF the salary with which 10 obtain the nee
essaries of life, let alone the laying away
for rainy day.