Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-08

2s5 privates of class two. at s12O each. 81 800
5 telephone operators, at 5000 each $3.50. 300
81 desk sergeants, at s240 each. .... $3.50
IS laborers. at s12O each. 1850
20 drivers. at $l2o each. ................ 3,l2o
For fuel NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5UO
Repairs to stations. Observation-Disclosures. 25O
Purchase Of site for station house in
Anacosta NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2,ioO
Converting the old mergue attached to the
old sixth precinct station into a stable. 1000
For construction of q target range, gym
precinct station NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5000
For house of detention NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1000
For harbor patrol tsalares etc) ........ - $50
x1ss,
Less total decrease OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $40
$lS3, $50
"A picture Of the local situation is not
correctly had until the observer realizes
the many attentions demanded of the small
police force in the District Of Columbia, a
territory as distinct in Its social conditions
and in the character of it's surroundings as
any in the world declares Maj. Sylvester.
The population Is generally law-abiding,
but there are vicious elements-the petty
pilferer, the dishonest servant, the disturber
of the peace, the intolerable crank and
others-and when these are included with
those who violate the many regulations OF
the Commissioners the aggregate of arrests
equals those of some Of the larger cities.
where minor regulations do not prevail. The
systematic regulating of the capital city
and the neighboring towns and settlements
accounts for the high figures.
Distribution Of Force.
ION the Both day of June, 1905 the DIS
trict of Columbia had a police force of 500
officers and privates. On that date there
were 6S4 privates in the force, but all of
these were not available for patrol duty.
the number being reduced So by details,
exclusive Of 20 doing detective service and
81 on possibility assignments. simple
mathematical process would reduce the
available force for street patrol, bicycle
work and mounted service in the suburbs
to 437, from which those sick. numbering
%, and those on leave under the law 80,
and suspended, should be taken, leaving,
reliefs, employing the greater force in the
night on the principle that marauders move
| under the cover OF darkness. the deduction
is 80 privates were patrolling the 50 square
miles of District territory during the day
time, and during the night the greatest
number on duty at any time was 1870. This
reduction of the police force necessarily i'm
poses on those who remain more incessant
extended and irksome duties than befalI
the policemen in the average city"
Details of Work.
Maj. Sylvester then takes up in detail
each of the branches Of police work, and
comments briefly on the business of the
past year. The hack inspectors depart
ment. the house of detention Humane So
each discussed. OF the accomplishments of
the local bureau of Identification the report
states:
"One of the improvements Of recent yea RS
| is the establishment of the local dentifca-
! ton bureau, wherein are collected and ar
ranged, according to the BertilIon system Ct
measurements and photographs, the several
thousand cards of the local department In
addition TO these cards important arrests In
all parts of the country are noted here and
information concerning them collected This
bureau Is in charge of a member of the
force. He also takes Bertillon measure
this jurisdiction"
With regard to the harbor police. the
statement is made that owing to the linn
TIED strength of the command and the fire.
quent demands made upon it night crew
should be provided. These men enforce the
harbor regulations, laws against gambling,
the game and fish laws, recover bodies pre-
vent accidents and perform a commenda BILE
work.
when a police force as limited as the
one in this Jurisdiction patrols an area as
extensive as the District of Columbia" the
ma jor continues, many important feat1res
which should belong to a weIl-conducta5
| police department cannot be put into effect.
For a number Of years a school Of nstruc
| ton for the members of the force has been
contemplated, likewise the maintenance of
| a gymnasium but after the members have
| performed their tours of duty, done reserve
| duty and responded to emergency calls thay
are Al no CDHulllOn TO attend school or
naSium under compulsion.''
Redistribution of Force
| Included in this report is the draft OF
| a bill for the extension and Improvement ri
| the police force of this District The chair
| man of the committee on the District Of
| Columbia in the House of Representatives
| Mr.. J. w. Babcock, conferred with your
| superintendent ON this subject, as i under
| CT nd he RI rS,tf6 thn ~
| as result of the favorable attitude eY-
pressed the measure was arranged to meet
| present and future conditions. for awhile
| at least. Ihere Is no change in the juris-
| dfction recifed In the proposed amendment
! and no change indicated In the pay or title
| Of the major and superintendent Those
| are proper subjects. 1t is believed, for the
consideration of the Commissioners IA :
| vorable recommendation for slight in
| crease in salaries.for the officers and other
| members of the force are made in the esti-
| mates Of the department for the next ifs
cal year.
"It being deemed necessary to include a
| new rank In the organization, the title as
sistant superintendent and captain, it Is
recommended be changed to that of in
| spector. which would be in accord with
! their legal duties and positions of similar
Importance in large cites 1t Is proposed
tc include the police surgeons in the regu-
lar establishment, with q view of continuing
their services to the care and treatment
OF sick and injured members OF the force
and the examination of alleged iunatics
taken UP by the police.
Captains to Command Precincts.
IAN important change Is that of award
ing to the officer In command OF precincts
and stations the title OF captain Their
commands warrant It. and II corresponds
with that given In other locations where
similar duties are required. At this time
and for many years. after the close OF the
day. when the active duties Of the lieutcn-
precincts and stations have been left to
the care OF sergeants as the next ranking
officer, but owing to the increased demands
made In every line Of polics work ana the
force on the street being under Their al
rections, the responsibility had to be d.
vided Of caring tor the business II the