Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-09

SUGGESTS ADDITIONAL FORCE

An inebrate asylum where persons ar
rested on the streets under the fnfiu-
| ence Of liquor could be taken for treat
ment instead of being lodged in cells.
| and where other persons who suffer
| from the use of stimulants and drugs
| can be treated, is one of the most I'M
| portant recommended tons in the annual
report of Maj. Richard Sylvester, super
intendent of the metropolitan police force.
| which was submitted to the Commits
sioners today. Maj Sylvester says the
| sufferers from alcoholism in the Dis
t4ct are increasing in number every year.
and declares 1t Is very unfortunate that
the city has no asylum or hospital for
| their especial care. He contends that a
police station Is no place for such per-
sons
His report covers the period during
| the fiscal year ended June 80 last He
| dwells at much length on the Inadequate
number of men on the local police force
| and made strong appeal for 100 add
| tional privates. He explained that often
| in the daytime, when a number OF po-
| licemen are on duty at the Police Court
| and others attending to some other nee
essary detail duty. there are only two
and three policemen patrolling an en-
| tire precinct scored the so-called club
| should be secured either aboishing these
clubs or imposing an annual tax OF 10
| on every pool table operated In the DIS
trict. He says that In addition to this
high license, the police should be author
| ICED to make inspections Of these clubs
at any and all times
Maj Sylvester Is also opposed to the
general class of bill posting displayed on
billboards throughout the city He is
particularly opposed to the blood-curdling
posters depicting crime. hold-ups and
other blood and thunder" shows. He
claims these pictures have the same eff
feet on the youthful mind that the dime
novels have and many boys have been
known to impersonate the desperate
which the poster represents. He suggests
a law to regulate and relegate the sensa-
tional misleading and exciting object les
sons that deface bllboards and add no
substantial patronage to the houses that
employ them. He says that portraits
should be in the category with burglaries,
killings, train wreckings and the at
tempted portrayal of sensational beauty
shows.
Amending Pharmacy Law.
Another recommendation made by Nal
Sylvester in his report is one calling
for an amendment to the pharmacy law;
which would make 1t a violation for any
one other than a licensed druggist, physi-
clan, dentist or veterinarian to have IN
his or her possession any narcotic drug
except upon the prescription Of licensed
physician. In speaking of the pharmacy
law enforcement during the past year he
said the agent of the police department
intrusted with this work made 1.2O6 ON
cial visits to drug stores, physicians ana
other places where drugs are sold or dis
pensed during the year, and investigated
nine ty- nine cases brought to his atten-
ton through his own or other efforts.
This official made fifty-one arrests. Ac-
cordng to the major the sale OF cocaine
has been largely reduced under the opera
ton of the new pharmacy law, but us
use continues. and there are many who
dispense the drug under cover, and he is
determined to break up this illegal ana
secret sale.
Attention was called to a number of So
called clubs located in various sections OF
the city In which liquor is sold He said
that within the past two years these clubs
have been charging very small Zee for
membership and they have been great
source of complaint and called for con-
siderable attention on the part Of the po-
lice He declares "speakeasies" continue
to operate, despite the alertness of the
police and called attention to the grow
ing popularity of rushing the GROWER"
which practice, he claims, should be re-
stricted. The major is also Of the opinion
that barrooms should not be permitted to
establish in residential neighborhoods.
Duties Of the Policemen.
That the duties Of a policeman are many
and that the force under Maj. Sylvester's
command has been busy during the past
year is evident from the following state
ment showing the amount of miscella-
neous work during the fiscal year done by
the police: They reported upon 3,989 &C.
cidents, took up 379 estray animals, found
10 abandoned infants and restored them
to parents or legal guardians; 81 drowned
bodies were cared for, 1904 dead animals
reported for removal. presented 2,577 in
stances of broken pavements and 2,439
dangerous holes, PA dangerous buildings
and 20 dangerous bridges. Doors and win
dows of the citizens residences were
found open and secured In 2,2O2 cases. and
attended 755 times at fires. They found
1441 persons sick in the street and rem
dered assistance, examined 500 permits,
advised the water department of 5S4 dam
aged water mains and 713 water pipes
They entered up nearly 1900 gas, cleo
trio and naphtha lights not burning, at
tended inquests and reported 90 suicides
These include but part of what fur
nished material for special reports"
Estimate Of Expenditures.
Maj. Sylvester gave summary Of the
amount Of money required to run his
department during the next fiscal year.
the total of which Is 81, 139, S5S. IS, and
the details of which have been printed in
The Star at the time the police depart
ment estimates were submitted to the
Commissioners. He also outlined in de-
tail the amount OF area included in the
District of Columbia and the territory
policed by his department. He says
Washington proper consists of city and
eighty towns. villages and subdivisions
with an aggregate population, according
to the police census. of 329, sol. Accord
ing to the figures there are 731 men on
the police force, and in explaining the
great amount of work devolved upon
them and the grelS handicap of such a
small force he said:
| ASIDE from the watching of property
the preserving of the peace and the ar
resting of criminals the police are charged
with the enforcement of several hundred
regulations, which are promulgated BY
the Commissioners, the governing power
| of the District o. Columbia, and which
are intended to systematic traffic add
| cleanliness and health to surroundings
| prevent disagrceable noises, conduce to
| regularity In the manner of improvements
| and many other things which are ex-
| pected to rebound to the welfare of the
community and country at large.
In order to accomplish what Is ex-
| pected and what should be done a we'll
| organized police force is maintained but
| 1t is deficient in numbers. The situation
is such that. in order to control, the di-