The Washington herald., 1908-04-04
District Appropriation Bill
Debated Two Hours.
ONE MAN SPEAKS ON TOPIC
Representative Gardner, in Charge
of Measure. Gives Reasons for Cut
from Commissioners' Estimates.
Takes n Mild but Well Placed
shot at the Local Police Force.

eral debate yesterday. Representative
Gardner. Of Michigan. chairman Of the
subcommittee which framed the measure.
was the only member OF the House who
spoke about its provisions. The bill may
pass to-day, however.
Although the House agreed on Thurs
day to limit general debate to eight hours.
the Committee on Rules. after the session
of that evening. held an exclusive meet
ing and reported a resolution, which was
passed with some trouble, making debate
six hours shorter.
Mr.. Gardner defended the cut of $4,000
for the subcommittee changes OF the
Commissioners estimates. He reviewed
the reductions made in the various de-
partments. The completion OF the Munici-
pal Building, he said. obviated the neces-
sity Of an appropriation Of some s55o.0O0.
The Sl6S.OOO asked for playground sites,
he said. was not granted. because. as the
playground scheme contemplates the ex-
penditure OF some $1.OOoOO0. IT is not now
advisable to start upon II.
Speaking OF the reduction for schools,
Mr. Gardner said that It was caused by
the fact that II seems desirable 10 await
the report OF the commission appointed
some time ago TO inquire into the condi-
tion OF these institutions.
Hits Police Force.
When he came 20 the police department.
Mr. Gardner let himself out, and while
be did not roast il 10 a brown turn or
even to dark yellow one, he did not
hand it a large and beautiful springlike
bunch Of flowers. He said, in part:
There was perhaps no one thing TO
which the committee gave more careful
consideration than this. AS the gentle
man from Indiana has well said. the
press has called attention to the made
Guacy of the police force, 10 the failure
10 properly protect the people Of the Dis
trici; and it was because Of that general
public interest that the committee gave
more than passing and more than ordi-
nary attention to this phase Of the bill.
L want TO say. Mr.. Chairman. that
desire to present some figures along this
line in no sense as a reflection upon the
police department of the city. We have
no quarrel with them whatever as 70 the
efficiency Of the force, or the admins
trstion Of the same: but it is due the
House and due the committee TO make a
statement as 10 why the clamor for 100
additional policemen was not recognized
in the bill.
L may say in the outset that there
were no additional policemen allowed the
bill carrying the same number as the bill
last year. The committee went carefully
into an investigation as 10 the police in
certain cities Of relative size-in other
cities having a corresponding colored pop
ulation.
Because OF Negroes.
1T was contended that it was because
OF the large cOlOred population that there
were so many arrests; that the police
were kept so active in the pursuit of their
duties. and that the lawlessness of that
element in the community required a
larger force.
I'VE are not prepared TO deny that
there is something of truth in these
declarations. On the other hand. the
committee ascertained the cost of the
present police force in the city OF Wash
ington, as compared with other cities, as
we'll as the number OF policemen in this
city.
Among other things we found this:
That Baltimore has a population of sos Oo0
people. that il has a police force OF 701.
that its police force costs the city of
Baltimore $1.95 per capita Washington.
with a population OF Z7S.OOO. has a police
force Of 4S7.
1T now has a much larger population
and a much larger police force.
Now you talk about the cOlored popu-
lation. and We have in Memphis iS per
cent colored; In Washington. 81. In Mem
phis they have. with 10000 population,
seventy-six policemen. at a cost 10 Mem
phis Of Sll4 per capita-a small fraction
more than third as much as it costs the
city of Washington.
Atlanta has a negro population of g
per cent, as against Washington's 81. At
lanta. with Ss.000 population has a police
force of 17S. and a per capita cost of Sis
Richmond has 81 per cent of its people
colored, practically 3s per cent, for il is
actually aOe. It's police force is seventy
one, far less than Washington in proper
ton to population. It's cost is sl.94 pei
capita Nashville, with a population OF
S0.000 and a per cent of colored of 81
has a police force Of seventy-nine-fal
less than Washington proportionately-
and a cost per capita Of Sl.I.
Are They VigiInntG
Now another thing. 1t is said that th'
police here are so vigilant in the matter
OF arrests Richmond, with a population
of 5000. had Sl9 arrests per 1ocO0. al
against Washingtons 1.0S7. Atlanta, witt
its Us policemen. had 1.674 arrests tC
every l0.00O. Nashville, with its 79 police
men. made l.226 arrests to every 10.OO0
Charleston. with 5000 people, made ]. 81
arrests, with a small force of police
Now, it does not fairly represent th,
police force of the city when il is saiC
that the Metropolitan police covers the
whole, nor does it fairly represent thu
police force il the impression were lef
on the minds OF the committee that 1t ha.
the use OF the entire Metropolitan force
There are detailed in and about Jht
White House and grounds forty-fou1
members Of the Metropolitan police, re-
ducing the force by that number Blu
over against that the government police,
oil its reservations in this city. this Capi
tol and Its grounds, the Smithsonian In
stitution and its grounds, the Navy, War
and State Department building, and every
other department in the city which is un
der nation control. the Library of Con
gress. the parks outside OF Rock Creel
Park being pOliced by a force paid Il
part by the national government.
Railroads Police Crossings.
Nov. in addition TO that. the railroad
police the crossings. wherever the Com
missioners determine that policemen shall
be placed. and they pay for those police
Although these policemen are paid by tn
railroads. they are required to report Il
the superintendent of police and are un
der his direction. and IL we did not hav
them the city would have to provid
them"
Representative Tirrell-Do not police