Evening star., 1905-11-09
POLICE STATISTICS
MORE ARRESTS LAST YEAR THAN
WERE EVER MADE BEFORE.

There was never fiscal year in the ms
tory of the department when the police
made a record of cases of arrests that
equaled the number for the twelve months
Just closed" Maj. Sylvester declares in his
annual report of the workings of the poilce
department There were 32.O16 cases, ex-
ceedirg the corresponding period last year
by 2,533 cases. In order that the District
may be spared any reflection which might
come from the publication of these facts.
and that the actual conditions may not be
misrepresented by some enterprisng statis-
tician. 1t will be we'll to explain the sources
OF these thousands of cases. Unlike any
municipality, the police jurisdiction IN
which we reside includes large territory,
about one-nineteenth the size of the state
of Rhode Island. with n population larger
than that of Montana. Nevada, North
Dakota, Oregon, Utah or Wyoming, and
nearly equal to that of the state OF Yer
mont or New Hampshire. Congress makes
the laws for the District of columbia while
the systematizing of traffic. sanitary af-
fairs. construction of improvements Is af
fected by the enforcement of rules regu-
lations adopted and promulgated by three
Commissioners, who constitute the head of
the District government. These regulations
are many and correspond somewhat to city
ordinances elsewhere. Their viola ton con-
stitutes misdmeanor and of the 32,016
cases mentioned. 20,214 were for mis-
demeanors 1854 chargeable to the whites
and 14.6SO to the colored population. Of
the whole number of cases, .42S were dis
posed of by the assistant corporation at
torneys at the Police Court, 1896 dismissed
by the police judges and police lieutenants
and penalties were imposed in %. 1870, or
], 13S more than for the year previous. 1t
may be interesting to know that 6,l33 ar
rests were made by the members of the
force who are mounted on bicycles.
Criminal Records.
The cases of arrests on criminal charges
numbered OBS of which os4 were cases of
conviction. There were 423 cases of crime
charged against the whites and JoJ against
colored offenders.
During the year just closed there was
an increase in crime over the preceding
year. For example. there were 3,SoS cases
of petit larceny reported in 1904 and 1,444
convictions; in 1903 there were 4,611 cases
under the same charge reported and 1,1o6
cases of conviction The record shows that
more detailed and heavier work was de-
manded on the part of the police without
an increase in the force to perform it. 1t
is unquestionahle that the duties of those
charged with the enforcement of the laws
are becoming more severe and eXacting
each year, without provisions of adequate
help to meet the situation.
More Policemen Needed
be at a minimum in this jurisdiction, 1t
goes without saying that the emergency
may arise when the numerical inadequacy
of the force may be emphasized. Crime
has increased everywhere. but in this To-
cality the percentage has been small. When
the socai condition Is considered and the
Districts proximity to surrounding states,
II is freer from depredations than any other
section of the country. Here the police
must work under many difficulties To be-
gin with, the laws interfere with proper
disposition of cases. and the element of
society which must be restrained is difficult
to reform. Where work is not eXacted of
prisoners in institutions to which they are
sent 1t does not result in Improvement, but
rather encouragement to classes who re-
ceive sentences.
'"The Inauguration period was passed
through more successfully than ever before
known. The District was the scene of the
largest gathering that was ever known on
q similar occasion, the railroads transport
Ing over 100000 persons to the capital.
The management of the parade. the security
of the distinguished officials and the safety
of persons and property of our citizens
We're intrusted to the District police de-
partment, and every detail was carried out
without disorder, theft or insult The de-
partment congratulated itself and all con-
cerned in the important duties which de-
volved upon them upon the results. An
extra temporary police force was utilized
and detectives from the several leading
municipalities were employed to do service
in conjunction with the local force. Every
available member of the force and every
facility was utilized. The temporary hos
pltal service under DR.. z. ID. Hickling
creditable provision and was equal to
any emergency.