The Washington times., 1907-11-09
URGENT REQUEST MADE
BY MAJOR SYLVESTER
FOR MORE POLICEMEN
lContInued from rs q }

much security for his family through
police efforts as the man who resides
In the heart Of the city and who has as
sistance in call at all times. II the city
of Washington was the extent Of
the jurisdiction of the police the present
force would be ample, but with a settled
area OF nearly seventy square miles a
fierce Of 200 more men could be adVan-
tageOusly utilized
With regard to the insanltary condi-
ton of the station houses. the report
says:
dFor several years the department has
invited attention 10 the gloomy. i'll
ventilated. insanitary cells and cell cor
ridors Mt several Of the station houses
/ They are not proper places To- the con-
fnement Of human beings. Indeed, when
at times they are crowded with IN
fOTtulates. the penalty for almost any
ordinary Offense with which any of them
might be charged is undergone by re-
sratEt in one Of them They are cicaned
and painted and every conceivable
thing is done 10 afford proper air and
I comfort to the prisoner. but il IS I'M
possible u rccOTC- that humane end civil
liked treatment which belongs 10 these
/ days of progress
Seven Precincts Need improvements.
Some Of the station houses have mod
ern cell corridors and cages. but others
have not. The First. Second, Third,
Fourth, Sixth, Eighth. and Ninth pre-
cincts should be provided with the latest
Of these improvements in the interest
Of deccucy and humanity"
Attention IS called to the fact that in
the last year 10 persons were seriously
injured in street car accidents and So
slightly injured, while other vehicles
were accountable for l26 being slightly
injured and 8 seriously. The major,
| therefore, recommends the adoption or
more stringent regulations governing the
movement Of vehicles and the addition
70 the force OF bicycle policemen 10 see
that they are enforced
As a reason Tor the establishment OF
an inebriate asylum, the major says:
Urges Inebriate Asylum.
THE appeals made for the care and
treatment Of husbands, fathers, brothers
and wives who suffer FROM the use OF
sttmulants and drugs are becoming
more numerous, and the same unfortu-
rate condition prevails in the District
today for placing these untorunates as
has for many years Some OF those VINO
make appeals are. prepared and willing
to pay for proper treatment, others are
wholly dependent. That there should
be no such institution IS an tnebriate
asylum in the District Is unfortunate,
TO say the least, and this department
is prompted to renew the recommended
ton Of former years that suCn be pro-
!ded."
The, club poolrooms. says the major,
are mainly patronized by boys and
youths, and in many cases the congre-
eating Of the patrons 5 followed by
drinking and betting on the games.
There should be a law, he says, against
such pOolrooms, and II such cannot be
secured the annual license on pool
tables should be at least So a table.
Modification should be made, he says,
of the billboards, which should not in
clude portraits of burglaries. train
wreCkings, or the attempted portrayal
Of beauty shows"
Carrying Concealed Weapons.
according 10 the report, except as to
violence. The number of cases OF as
sault with dangerous weapons increased
from forty-eight to seventy, as ccm-
pared with the previous year. The
carrying of concealed weapons, ii IS
said, has not diminishet, and It is recon-
uianded that all firearms sold in the
| District be distinctly marked and re-
corded ct the time of the sale
With regard 10 general discipline the
major says that the attention 10 duty
and general demeanCr Of the force has
been of a high character the members
fully approaching evidently the efforts
| that have been made within the last
two years to improve their condition by
way OF remuneration and in the fairness
designed IN the treatment Of cases for
discipline.
The total estimates Of expenses for
| the Police Department for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1909. heretofore pub
lished in detail, is Sl,l39, S5S.35.