The Washington herald., 1907-05-10
REYNOLDS FAVORS LOCAL GOVERNOR.

increased efficiency. and an enlargement
of its force The number Of working
sanitary inspectors undoubtedly should
be increased, and the scope of the de-
partment extended.
Department OF Police and Fire.
THE department OF police ana fire.
The efficiency and good conduct OF
the Washington police department IN the
performance of regular patrol duty. and
the excellence OF its administration, seem
TO me 10 merit the high praise both
have received. Police administration.
however. IN the large cities Of the world
has of late years extended its RESPONSE
bilities beyond that OF patrol service.
The police force is no longer a band Of
civil soldiers TO catch thieves and break
up mobs. In the best governed cities
Of Europe the criminal division OF the
police service is a we'll organized de-
tective bureau, and is independent Of the
patrol division.
Special Police Bureaus.
"Other bureaus have been added 10
regulate crowds, transportation. and
traffic; 10 license cabs, carriages. ex-
press wagons. trucks. push carts. street
stands, shows, exhibitions. and markets
Some OF these bureaus are already needed
IN Washington. and would locate resp0n-
sihility and promote efficiency and good
order IN street service.
The need of q national police bureau
of information AT Washington has al
ready been recognized by the Commits
sioners and chief of police Its enlarge
ment and extension would be a most i'm
p0rtaut service 20 the whole country
20 Ffra
obligations OF patrol service the police
force should be enlarged. The Commis-
sioners have recommended 20 the Con-
gress an increase in the number Of pa
tr0.men. To meet their recommendation.
supported by numerous petitions for bet
ter protection, and 10 carry out the sug-
gestions that / propose below, an ad-
dition Of leo 10 the force is needed.
Enumerates Needs.
Y suggest the establishment Of the fol-
lowing bureaus under the police depart
ment:
Bureau Of transportation:
This bureau should enforce all ordi-
nances in relation to street traffic, IL
Censing Of cabs, carriages, express
wagons, trucks. push carts, street stands.
and have care Of lost articles II should
aifC EielA LAAAAAtt 1AAtllA4O44 ~ AllE EEADItE~
ment of ordinances regulating the use of
the public highway by carriages, trucks,
automobiles, and bicycles In the con-
siderauon of this subject / have the aid
of William z. Emo, who rendered valu-
able service in establishing the rules of
the road in New York City. In a confer
ence with him and with Commissioner
West and Maj. Sylvester, the Importance
Of such regulations was recognized, and
certain of them have already been put
into operation
Il urge also a consideration of the IN
PRODUCTION Of taxameters to be attached
10 all cabs hired on the street and at
railway stations. made personal in
vestigauon OF the use of taxameters in
Berlin and Paris. questioning police Off
ciais, cab drivers, and citizens, and all
three had unqualified approval of them.
Tax Meters Work Well.
The police stated that the adoption OF
taXameters had driven many dishonest
drivers out OF the cab service. The driv-
ers declared that former conflicts between
them and cab owners regarding the return
Of the full amount of fares had been
eliminated, while citizens generally testi-
fed to the removal Of irritating conflicts
with cab drivers, formerly Inevitable I
may add that the London authorities have
recently voted to introduce the taxa
meter into that city, and that a private
taXameter cab company has been organ
lied In New York. ! recommend that
this Improvement in the cab service of
the National Capital be adopted. l am
glad TO state that Commissioner West is
already giving the subject consideration.
Bureaus of theaters and markets:
This bureau should supervise all the
aters, entertainment halls. common shows.
and public markets. and see to the estab-
lishment and enforcement of all regula-
tons concerning them.
Bureau of Identification.
''The important work done by Mai. Syl-
vester in establishing q National Bureau
Of Identification of Criminals Is worthy
OF the highest recommendation. This
bureau should be officially and perma-
nently established at Washington I have
had occasion to examine the workings of
the national police bureau at Vienna. Ber-
lin. Paris, ana London. The service rem
dered by these bureaus as a national
clearinghouse for the Identification of
criminals has been of great value to law
and order in those countries.
Il wish IN this connection to urge the
consideration OF the finger print system
Of identification now employed in Eng
land, Austria, and some of the British