Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-14
TO REORGANIzE FORCE
DRAFT OF BILL TO CHANGE
POLICE SYSTEM SUBMITTED.
Gives tho Commissioners Absolute
Authority as to Removals
Important Changes.

A vastly different police department VIII
be that within the District of Columbia
If Congress in it's wisdom should see fit to
pass the act entitled IAN act to amend
section one of an act entitled An act re-
iating to the metropolitan police force or
the District of Columbia" which proposed
amendment was prepared by Corporation
Counsel e. Fl. Thomas. and with the ap-
prevail of Major Sylvester was submitted
to the Commissioners today. In some OF
its essentials the newly prepared statute is
in line with the draft of a bill looking to
the same end drawn up a few weeks ago
by Major Sylvester, but the form of the
production of the corporation counsel. If
passed by Congress, will place In the Com
mfssioners exclusive jurisdiction and con-
troll over the police force. BY this more
than anything else, 1t is hoped to do away
with the continuous pickering after trial
board proceedings and to remedy the de-
fects. now SO plainly evident, due to pre-
vious loose legislation.
Salaries Readjusted.
In paragraph one Of the proposed amend
ment 1t is provided that the metropolitan
police district of the District Of Columbia
shall be co-extensive with the District of
Columbia Paragraphs two, three and eight
as drawn by the corporation counsel make
lice force as was contemplated by the draft
OF bill prepared by Major Sylvester. to-
gether with new assignments OF salaries
for each grade, as follows:
One major and superintendent at S4,Voo
per annum, one assistant superintendent at
s. 500 and such number of inspectors at
81 SEQ surgeons for the police and fire de-
partments at s1.s00, captains at $1,000, feu-
tenants at S1,350, sergeants at 1.2oo
and nrvates of classes one, two and
three as the Commissioners may deem nee
essary-the prvates to be paid $500, S1,OeO
and $1,000 respectively Appointments to
the police force, II Is provided, shall be
made first TO class one, and after q prOba-
tionary period of service of three years
promotion must be made to class Two, and
in five more years to class three.
Power of Removal
In addition to the powers vested in them
by law the Commissioners, by the terms
of paragraph 4 of the proposed law. are
given power to enforce, under such penal
ties as they may deem necessary. "all need
full rules and regulations for the proper
government. conduct. discipline and good
name OF the metropolitan police force; to
fine, suspend. with or without pay. and
dismiss any officer for any offense against
the laws of the United States. or the laws
and ordinances Of the District of Columbia,
whether before after conviction thereof
IN any court: provided, that no person shall
be removed from the force except upon
written charges preferred against him in
the name of the major and superintendent
to the trial board or boards. and after be-
ing given an opportunity to be heard in
his own defense"
Special policemen and additional privates.
however. may be removed without cause
and without trial.
In paragraph five. after making provision
for the formation of the police trial boards.
plans are carried out for the elimination
of much Of the disagreeable aftermat tn
which row follows a majority of police
trial board cases, it being provided in this
portion OF the drafted bill that the Com
missioners are granted absolute, exclusive
and final Jurisdiction to review. approve,
reverse amend, alter. or change any find
Ing of such trial boards or boards; provided
that the Commissioners shall not be re-
quired In their review of the sentences and
findings of such trial board or boards to
take evidence. either oral written or docu-
mentary, nor to hear counsel, and they
shall have power to remand any case
against any officer to the trial board or
boards for such further proceedings as they
may deem necessary" The members of the
police force now known AS desk sergeants
shall cease to be known as such. it is pro-
vided, and they shall become members of
class one of the department.
Police Surgeons.
In letter accompanying the drafted bill.
the corporation COunSel explained con-
corning paragraph seven, that police sur
geons must have been actual residents of
the District for two years prior to APP
polntment and duly qualified under the laws
of the District to practice medicine and
surgery.
Further the surgeons must have been in
active practice for three years to meet the
requirement of the lunacy law for the tenn
porary commitment of alleged insane per
sons to the Government Hospital for the
Insane This Is necessary, because the pO-
lice surgeons are called upon to examine
large number of such persons. The police
surgeons are also made members of the
metropolitan police force and subject to its
rules and regulations.
Sudden withdrawal or resignation of
members of the force is guarded against in
the ninth paragraph, 1t being specified. ex-
cept on permission of the Commissioners
and on pain of forfeiture of salary or pay
which may be due. that one months notice
of resignation or withdrawal shall be given
to the major and superintendent.
It Is provided that the new act. If passed
by Congress. shall go into effect July l.
1906 The Commissioners already have tho
assurance of members of both the Senate
and House committees the District of
Columbia that the bill will be presented on
the opening of the coming session and that
its interests will be actively furthered.