Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28
FEW POLICE RETIRE
Status of Pension Qualification
Troubles Force.
NO INCREASE PROVIDED
Fiscal Year to Begin Without Many
Changes.
VACATION PERIOD IS NOW ON
Harbor Police Working Overtime.
Many Men on Sick Leave-White
Caps to Be Donned.
10 INCREASE PROVIDED
VACATION PERIOD IS NOW OF


surprises in the police department at the
beginning of the coming fiscal year as mas
been the case in past years.
Congress failed to provide for an In
crease this year. There are not many In
the department who are anxious to get
pensioned.
Heretofore about the beginning of the
fiscal year many older members OF the
force were anticipating being pensioned
Now that there is some doubt about larger
pensions being continued there is not re
usual number of applicants.
There are practically no members of
the force asking for retirement at this
time was the comment of Maj. Sylvester
last night. The men are not wholly sat
sfed with the status of the retirement
fund and are willing to let we'll enough
alone
Pensioners Are Troubled.
Nothing has yet been done in the matter
of the ninety or more police pensioners
who were ordered to be examined. The
men have been examined. What Is to be
done with them when the result of the ex-
aninations reaches the Commissioners Is
not known.
About one dozen pensioners live at
points distant from this city. These are
to be examined by physicians who are Of
ficials of the cities or counties in which
they reside
A number of pensioners hold lucrative
positions. some under the government and
others with private corporations. 1t is ar
gued they may be able to perform duties
in their places of employment, although
they are incapacitated for police duty.
Some who are drawing pensions. it Is
stated. who may be called to return to the
police department for active duty. will be
unwilling to give up their pension and
other employment. Maj. Sylvester told a
Star reporter last evening that he had not
yet received the result of the eXamina-
tions. The result. he said, will be sent to
the District Commissioners before 1t
reaches the police department.
Harbor Police Busy.
Commodore Sutton and members Of the
harbor precinct are the only policemen
who have had to work overtime during
the heated period.
The number of drownings in the present
season has been greater than usual. In
several instances the members of the
cradle dragging for bodies. not being per-
mitted TO give up the work during the
hottest part of the day.
If you think dragging for bodies Is an
easy task" said a member Of the crew
to Star reporter. Just. take hand at
once. and you will find what it means"
The harbor police are kept busy during
the excursion season, when the small boys
visit the river and go swimming. Their
services are much in need. Two days
ago the members of the crew had a scare.
1t was reported that several fifth precinct
policemen were in distress on the river.
They went out in a launch" the har-
Dor police were told, and are more than
twenty-four hours overdue"
Several members of the crew steamed
down the river in the launch Maj. Syl-
vester in search of them. They found the
crew in disabled boat below Alexandria
and towed them home.
Vacation Time Now.
This is the season when members of the
police force enjoy their annual leave, al
though they cannot all get away at one
time. Twenty-Five were away from duty
yesterday-about the usual number per-
mitted at a time-and others will follow
when they return.
There are many anglers and gunners in
the department. They will take their va
cations later. Several own naphtha boats.
and pleasant outings on the river are en-
joyed.
Mounted Sergt ]. J. Murphy Of the
tenth precinct. Sergt. ]. E. Hartman of
the ninth precinct. and Detective Sergt.
on vacation. No captain is off duty
There are twenty-six members of the
force on the sick list. Sergt. Bryan of
the White House squad is quarantined
| and off duty because of sickness in his
home The third, fourth and ninth pre-
cincts are the only precincts in which no
sickness among the officers was reported
yesterday.
Police captains. mounted men and BIZ
cycle men during the coming week
will don their new white caps. The
| caps to be worn by the captains will have
the insignia in front. with turn-down
visors and black bands. Mounted men
will have the bell crowned cap. with blue
band and yellow service stripes. The BIZ
cycle police will have rundown visors
and silk cords on their caps. There will
be no change made in the headgear Of
| the sergeants and pr!vates. The helmets
worn by them, Maj. Sylvester states, are
light. well-ventilated and useful in case
of trouble or fire.