Evening star., 1908-01-25
INCREASE OF POLICEMEN
REPRESENTATIVE CoUDREY'S
PROPOSED MEASURE.
Transfer Crossing Policemen to
Regular Force and Replace Them
by Flagmen Paid by Companies.

Is the local police force numerically in
adequate to properly protect the persons
and property of the citizens of Washing
ton? That is what the District committee
of the House of Representatives wants
to know, and upon a satisfactory answer
to the question will depend it's action
upon an important local measure to be
introduced by Representative Coudrey
of Missouri when Congress convenes
next Monday.
Mr.. Coudrey thinks he has a remedy,
and a good one. for the conditions with
regard to holdups. assaults and the like.
which have occurred with great fire.
quency of late and with which Maj. Syl-
vester says he is unable to successfully
cope. owing to "a lack of men. His bill
provides for the transfer to the regular
force of the special crossing policemen.
whose salaries are now paid by the local
traction companies. but are under the di-
rection and supervision of the Commis-
sioners
Add Nearly Fifty Men to Force.
The Coudrey measure, If enacted into
law. would add nearly fifty men to the
regular police force OF the National CAPT
tai. Maj Sylvester ia his recent report
upon the local reign of terror suggested
maximum increase of only twice that
number
Serious consideration will be given to the
Coudrey bill by the House District COM
mittee, of which the Missourian is men,
ber 1t provides that the special crossing
policemen appointed for duty at street
railway crossings and inters ections> in the
District and holding commissions as such
at the time of the passage of the bill shall
become members of the regular metropoli-
. nd ,oll he occic nod ac a.
in the various classes now provided by
law, assignments to be based upon length
of service.
Section two of the bill provides that the
local street railway companies shall sta
tlon hagmen at the crossings and inter-
sections now guarded by these special po-
licemen. upon direction of the District
Commissioners. This section is designed
to meet the demands of those members of
the House who might object to any reduc-
ton in the aggregate taxes of the local
traction companies.
The introduction of the COudrey measure
follows as direct result of the hearing
before the House District committee last
week. when the temporary and permanent
trackage propositions and the Madden
universal transfer bill were under consd
Grafton At that time Gen. George III. Har-
ries. vice president of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, was ques-
toned closely in connection with this
and which most members of the District
committee consider somewhat unusual, in
form if not in amount, in the way OF
tax burden.
Companies Object to Paying Them.
Representative Sims of Tennessee SEN
ior democratic member of the House Dis
trict committee. suggested 10 Gen. Har-
ries that his company should be glad to
r,ax ha Sal a~ia nf ha crnSS;pu nolinp-
men. tax or no tax, as their presence at
crossings and intersections constituted
protection not only to the public but to
the company. saving many thousands o.
dollars from damage suits growing out o.
accidents. But Gen. Harries somewhat
tartly took exception to this statement
remarkfng that he doubted If the special
crossing policemen saved his company a
dollar year and that. instead of being
help they were often in their own way
His company paid the salaries of these
men because it was compelled to and did
not want the policemen at crossings. 1t
would be vastly more satisfactory to his
company to have its own employees sta
toned at crossings. The Washington
Railway and Electric Company and the
Capital Traction Company paid the sal
aries of the specials, but had absolutely
no authority over them.
AS result of the infornna ton brought
out at the hearing. supplemented with ad-
ditional data secured by Representative
Coudrey, who became very much interest
ed in the subject following the request of
Mai Sylvester for large permanent ad
dition to the regular force the Missouri
ian learned that sentiment in the appro-
priations committee and in the House
over the so-called local reign O.: terror
was probably not sufficient to bring about
any additions to the police organiza ton.
He thinks. however. that there is an eS-
cellent chance OF securing action along the
lines of his bill.
1t is not definitely known Just how the
District Commissioners Will stand toward
the Cou6rey bill A somewhat similar
proposition was put up to them some time
ago and they were not favorably disposed.
However. conditions were different then
and now that Maj. Sylvester has asked
for more men, confessing that he cannot
protect local life and property with his
present force. it is thought likely the
Commissioners may favor the Coudrey
measure. It's enactment. it is pointed out,
would turn over at once to the local force
Of police regulars nearly fifty men. most
of whom are experienced bluecoats,
whereas. even if Congress granted an In
crease of the force in the regular way II
would be some time before the men could
be trained and actually put totwork.
What Mr.. Coudrey Says.
In discussing his bill with a Star re-
porter today. Mr. Coudrey said:
81 see no reason why the street railway
companies of the District should pay
= ,l,, ~, xx-f,n lnt thn1