Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-05
GUARDIANS or PUBLIC
Special Agents Of Railway Com
panies in Session.
WELCOMED BY Mr.. WEST
Opening Address by Maj. Sylvester,
Superintendent Of Police.
DUTIES OF THE CoNsTABULARY
business Session to Occupy Two Days,
Remainder Of Week Devoted to
Pleasure.
WELCOMED BY Mr.. WEST
DUTIES OF THE coNsrABULARY

Sleuths from all over the United States
and Canada assembled at the Ebbitt House
today for the tenth annual meeting OF the
Association Of Railway Special Agents. an
organization Of the railway police Of the
country. The association of necessity works
in close cooperation very often with the
metropolitan police Of the various cities.
Each railway has its own police force or
ganized, and tie tendency is yearly to draw
| into closer affiliation with the police force
of the country generally.
The gathering was welcomed in Washing
ton today by Commissioner Henry L. West
who spoke briefly. The principal address of
the day was made by Maj Sylvester, who,
as the president of the International Asso-
citation of Police Chiefs. was personally
known to nearly all of the hundred or more
members who attended the meeting.
The president Of the organization is w.
G. Baldwin, much better known throughout
the country as Bill Baldwin Of the Nor
folk and Western coal and iron police. He
was not present, and the meeting was pre-
sided over by F. M Schaffer of the United
States Express Company of Cincinnati. The
preliminary exercises were brief. Prayer
was offered by Rev. Geo. F. Dudley of st.
Stephens Church. and after the welcome
had been expressed by Commissioner West
the address of the morning was delivered
by Mai. Sylvester
Maj. Sylvester's Address.
He said in part:
THE protection of passengers on railway
trains, of railroad employees and property
not only property of the corporations. but
property In transit-is a work which has
grown to stupendous proportions in the
United States. 1t has become 80 extensive
mud INN oafr ~, m };rrr re
railroad lines that their successful main
tenance must, in the great measure, depend
upon the intelligence, energy and courage
Of those who are organized as a corps Of
special agents. or railroad police depart
ments. In fact, the existence of the latter
institutions systematized and Differed
somewhat after the municipal plan, with
over six hundred individuals authorized as
principals, is most convincing evidence
of the necessity therefor and the value
thereof without going into the many details
which are encountered in the pursuit of the
villain who shifts a switch, ties a track or
breaks seal.
'"Those who travel with the ease and
comfort that characterizes the modern rail-
road facilities little realize the discom-
future, anxiety and disagreeable problems
which confront those who practically con-
duct them-who are charged with prevent
ing the tampering with the rails, switches
and kindred appliances, aside from pursu-
ing those who prey upon the laden freigh.
cars and shops.
Wrecker and Robber.
'Tn this progressive age, with everything
modernized, the train wrecker and train
robber adopts up-to-date explosives and
professional maneuvers to steal from the
debris Of a demolished express car or to
gain access to the passengers baggage.
The sneak poses as a gentleman in the
parlor car and the thief duplicates checks
to secure trunks. Waiting freights are
hy0y ir,fn ia }t4 It,
are carried away and sold These and
other emergencies are presented to YOU 10
guard against and fathom.
Your Jurisdiction Is not confined to the
city or town where your companys head
quarters may be, but it embraces hundreds
and even thousands of miles of territory
You must be here today and there tomor
OF the municipality, the sheriff CT the
county, the constable of the village. Par
ticulars must be forthcoming for the use
iightenment OF juries. The municipal po-
lice proceeding upon the broad and proper
ground that dynamiting hobo, train
wrecker or car burglar is a bad man for
any community; that he is one who would
not hesitate to burglarize store or a
homelan enemy to society-feel 1t
bounden duty to aid in the apprehension
and conviction Of such criminals, and be-
heve are at all times glad to cooperate
with you in this labor for the rubli, good.
Joint Duty Imposed.
Tt not infrequently happens that pas
senger at a railroad depot Is robbed, and
the joint duty Of clearing the case, secur-
ing arrest and recovery of the property is
demanded. In cities the police arrest and
prosecute hundreds of cases where the rail-
road companies and you, their agents, are
interested. The city police watch your de-
pots and yards. Within brief time 1 call
to mind the case of a notorious thief who
was successful in obtaining from our Penn
syivania depot several hundred dollars
worth of baggage, which he forwarded to
PARKWAY Texas. The police Of this Die
trict pursued and arrested the party and
recovered the property. This without ex-
pense to the railroads. but in line with CO.
operation with you along the policy of reel
procty.
ut is to the credit of you, gentlemen,
that through annual meetings of this kind,
whereby you are enabled to know each 9TH
er personally and exchange ideas for the
betterment of your service, you have OBJ
served the value which attaches to distinct
organization and carried 1t into effect.
Many of you now haye graded, systema-
tized and disciplined forces at command.
Some of them are extensive, constituting
police departments. This has more forci-
bly, brought you In contact with the mu-
nicipal forces and secured for many of
you recognition within the International
Association of Chiefs of Police as enthu-
siastic members
s.The police of the country are building
to a higher standard. and adopting facili-
ties which in time will have woven web
through which the escape of a criminal
will be most difficult. The adoption of the
photograph gallery, the metric measuring
system and the finger print as an adjunct
has been most gratifying In progress and
results. So with YOU in your work-you
should have at hand and in practical work.
ing order the modern devices and facilities
whereby your cooperation with the police
may be made thorough. The United States
government, through the War Department,
has realized the Importance of this, and put
into execution like appliances with view
of aiding and securing aid from the police
authorities. and 1t behooves your members
to add their intelligent action and energy
to a contamination of the splendid work
which is being attained In this particular.
Business Sessions
The association will remain in WASH