Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-09
OPPOSED BY MAJ. SYLVESTER
BILL TO INCREASE ANNUAL
LEAVE OF POLICEMEN.
Declares Measure Failed of Enact
ment Last Session and Should
Be Again Defeated.

/ Maj. Sylvester. superintendent of po-
lice is opposed to the enactment of a Dill
| now before Congress which provides for
the granting of annual leave of thirty
days. instead of twenty days. to members
of the metropolitan police force. The bill,
| which was described exclusively in last
nights Star. was introduced in the House
! by Rep csentative Brodhead of Pennsyl-
vania by request
| In reporting upon this measure to the
/ Commissioners. TO whom it has been re-
| ferred for a report. Maj. Sylvester makes
it clear that 1t did not originate with the
| head of the local police department. and
that it does not meet with his approval.
| He says his principal objection to the
measure is that the police force is mad
| equate, and il will therefore be impossi-
bic to permit this additional holiday for
the members. lie regards ii i'll adj
vised to recommend 4 further reduction
OF the available force. as is contemplated
by the bill.
Policemen and firemen." he reported.
do not occupy positions analogous to
government clerks. They must perform
duty commensurate with the eXigencfes
of the situation. and inutyidual pleasures
must be secondary to the protection of
life and property. The policemen of Wash
inston have not only had their pay in
creased. their hours of duty reduced and
a substantial pension retirement provid-
ed. but are allowed. in the discretion of
the commissioners, an annual leave of
twenty days and sick leave of thirty days,
and in case of prolonged sickness an en-
traordinary extension of time such as
does not prevail elsewhere
Maj. Sylvester looks upon the introduce
ton of this bill as an evidence of ingrati
tude on the part of the members of the
force who are responsible for it. He in
formed the Commissioners that the bill
was introduced at the last session of Con-
sress. but failed of enactment.
Maj. Sylvester said in his report that he
feels responsible for the presentation of
a bill in Congress which resulted in
material increase of pay for the local
policemen, thereby placing them on
hrst footing, in that respect. among the
police establishments of the country. 1T
would appear, lie said, upon investiSa-
non, that there are members of the force
who would impair the superintendent
efforts in the interests of the general gov
eminent and the District 1t may be
want of appreciation on the part of the
persons who prompted this bill to be in
troduced. 1t must be considered that
the greater the number of days off grant
ed the police the less effective becomes
the force.
When it is considered that this i'm
mense territory. containing besides the
city of Washington eighty odd villages
and subdivisions. was patrO!led by about
during the day at period when condi-
tons for u complete force on duty were
most favorable the situation NAV be read
lily understood. There were twenty-seven
sick on that day and forty-six on leave. l
have clearer understanding of the de-
mands of the force and the capacity to
respond. than any one else. and in the
face of my pleading for help by an in
crease force. so much needed. this propo-
sltlon should not be entertained. If the
force were numerical! sufficient to en-
force the laws and regulations as it should
be l would gladly indorse any advantage
that might be offered TO improve the
physical and mental standing of the force.
Schooling of the force. compulsory GYM
nasium exercise, diligent training at tar
get cannot be had. for the reason that the
force is so small in numbers"
In explaining what thirty days leave
means Maj. Sylvester said: When a
member is absent from any cause another
member is assigned to his place. There
are Isl officers and men on the force. Ac-
cord each one thirty days and it means
2l.9'O days in the year. an increase of
i.i1O days over the time which they are
allowed under existing law. In order
that each man might have thirty days in
the year. without considering the number
off sick, there would be depletion of an
average of sixty members of the force
on leave for thirty days each and every
month in the year..
Looking into conditions elsewhere: Pitts
burg allows ten days annual leave TO its
policemen; st. Louis two days in each
month: Cincinnati two weeks i'm the year;
New York. sergeants. fifteen days; others
ten days annually; Milwau zee ten days.
Detroit twenty days and Philadelphia
twenty-four days in the year. The MEM
bers of the District force are well off as
to leave and some of them fail to real
iZe it.