Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-24
LORD LoREBURN.
POLICE CHIEFS VIEWS
MAI. SYLvESTER'S ADDRESS AT
NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

Maj. Richard Sylvester, superintendent of
police, has received from the printer copies
of an address delivered by him a few days
ago before the thirty-fourth national con-
ference of charities and corrections. at In
dianapolis. Mai. Sylvester spoke of prison
and police administration.
"A well-regulated and energetic police
department conducted with purity, &C
tivity vigilance and discretion, is principal
blessing to a community he said. Upon
this depends in so great degree, the COM
fort, happiness and security of the people
that too much labor and attention cannot
possibly be bestowed in rendering the sys-
TEN complete. That much remains to be
done in this respect no one will deny. All
ranks and classes must bear testimony to
deficiencies in many quarters which detract
from the security to both life and property.
We boast in vain of those blessings which
are born to us II the depraved part of the
municipality is suffered TO deprive us of
the pleasure of moving about in any direc-
ton after dark without danger OF being
aCCosted II not assaulted by its kind
Crime was, is, and always will be, and 1t
will follow increase in population and ad-
vance with prosperity in these progressive,
II not extravaganza, times, as did excuses
and designations in the period of ancient
Rome. unless the preventive detective and
penalizing measures are nodernized To meet
conditions
The police force should in the first place
have afforded II for enforcement laws that
will restrain as well as punish vice. Laws
doubtfully expressed with severe punish
ment as the leading feature are of poor
avail"
Law Should Be Humane.
Continuing. the speaker argued that the
novice should not suffer punishment while
adroit criminals escape through the devices
of dsreputable practitioners, adding that
the law should be such that humane
and proper distinction could be made be-
tween the first dawn of depravity and the
finished villain, and that punishment should
always be proportional TO the end it is
meant TO serve,
Since the organization of an international
police association. it was declared, wonder
full improvements, morally and physically,
have followed.
The principal police departments of
the United States 1t was explained, have
supported IN Washington for several
years a national bureau of criminal iden-
tification. where the records and Ber-
tllon measurements Of about 10000
criminals are classified and filed to-
gether with information pertaining to
each. When an unknown is apprehended
by the police in one section inquiry of
this bureau Is supposed to reveal the
name and record of the person If he
was ever arrested before. From this
same source the records OF hardened
criminals are furnished for use in the
courts.
When we consider the treatment ac-
corded prisoners by the police today Is
compared with ten years ago, the
speaker said in conclusion, the estab-
lishment of houses of detention through
the efforts of the police. in order that the
Juvenile and first offender may be free
from the communicating influences which
follow confinement with the hardened
classes, the police invoking the parent
90 correct a child for committing a mis-
demeanOr, the padded cell, the patrol
and a score Of other humane features or
appliances originated or inaugurated by
the police. we must accord some common
datiOn. The police Individually should
have encouragement from the good Citi-
zens for their Ineritorious acts, and omis-
sioEs and commissions of the law makers
and law administrators should not be laid
AT their door. The strong influence exert
ed by such an organization as charities and
correction for wholesome non rolitiCal
police organization acts should oe eXeT
cised. Let that organization upon which
all the other branches OF the municipal
ity must depend be free and untrImmeled
in the distinct work II is expected to
perform.