Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-29
RECEIVES BLACK EYE
SYLVESTER CONDEMNS BILL TO
INCREASE POLICE LEAVE.
Chief Says Members Of Force Fail to
Appreciate Present Privileges
Report Approved.

1t was authoritatively stated at the
District building this morning that the
Commissioners will report adversely upon
the bills recently introduced in both the
Senate and the House providing thirty
days absence with pay to the members
OF the metropolitan police force, which
have been submitted to them for a re-
port. The superintendent of police, in a
report to the Commissioners on this pro-
posed legislation, severely scores such a
proposition, and censures the members of
his command who have been instrumental
in having the bills introduced.
Major Sylvester said:
The members Of the District force are
well off as to leave, and some Of them fail
to realize it," He then recalled the legisla-
ton obtained, last year to increase their
pay and giving them other benefits, and
again stated that he believes the police
are lacking in appreciation.
Commissioner West to whom his re-
port was submitted, recommended that an
adverse report be made upon the bills and
the other two Commissioners have assured
their approval Their official report will
be transmitted to the Capitol tomorrow.
So indignant is the superintendent of po-
lice at this legislation that old officials at
the District building today ventured the
remark that If the major knew what po-
liceman was responsible for the bills he
would have him TRANSMITTED also-off
the force.
Privileges Under Present Law.
Under the present law the local policeman
gets twenty days of annual leave and thirty
days of sick leave, and in the case of a.
prolonged and serious illness the sick leave
is extended. In his report, the superintend-
ent of police says: THE greater the number
Of days consumed on account of leave and
sickness, the less the strength of the al
ready limited force"
when a member ia absent from any
Cause" he continued, another member is
assigned in his place. For example: IF the
six members at the Police Court should take
thirty days of leave each, six other men,
bers performing patrol duty on the street
would have to be assigned in their places.
Officers, post details, such as at the railroad
stations special details, such as detectives,
on leave sick. and patrollng. aggregate 727.
Accord to each thirty-days and it means 3D.
$40 days In year, an increase of I,2IO days
over the time which may be allowed under
existing law. In order that each man might
have thirty days in a year, without consid
ering the number off sick, there would be
depletion of an average of sixty members
of the force on leave for the thirty days
each, every month in the year. And as
great majority of the men take their leave
in the summer season, in period of three
months it can be readily understood what
condition would be in the way of reduction
to the force. In the last fiscal year 456
members of the force had 10, 126 days sick
leave, and in all 13, 122 days leave of alb
sence."
Looking into the conditions in other
large cities" Maj. Sylvester added pitts
burg allows ten days leave with pay dur
ing the year; st. Louis two days in each
month; Cincinnati two weeks in a year,
New York, sergeants fifteen days, others
ten days annually; Milwaukee ten days
annually; Detroit twenty days in the year.
and Philadelphia twenty-four hours each
thirty days. You can readily see why do
not approve of this application for thirty
days leave.