Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
LARGER POLICE FORCE
Sylvester to- Renew Call for
More Men.
PATROL NOT SUFFICIENT
Detail for Clerical Work Has I'm
paired Service.
LOOKS TO CONGRESS FOR HELP
Believes Figures Submitted Should
Demonstrate Necessity for En-
larging Present Force.

1t is the intention of Maj. Sylvester.
superintendent of police, to renew his
recommendation for an increase In the
number of policemen for next year. He
was somewhat disappointed al the failure
OF Congress to adopt the recommendation
he made las. fall, but he thinks he will
have better luck in the future. The de-
failing Of so many members of the force
for clerical and watchmen's duties. the
superintendent says, has worked to the
detriment Of the police supervision of the
city.
THE various villages and towns in the
District do not get adequate attention
for want of an organization strong
enough numerically," says Maj. Sylvester.
For instance, Benning has two privates
on duty for sixteen hours, when there
should be three for twenty-four hours.
and these are deducted from the regular
patrol. The same holds good as to
Deanewood, lexington and Harlem, and
the patrol force proper. among them
Brightwood, Center Market, Cleveland
Park, the coal dump (where most'of the
fuel is landed for the DistricD, a station
doorman at one station only; lexington;
18th and Fl streets northeast, at the
electrical railroad depot; Langdon, Long
bridge, railroad loop, the new bridge,
with patrol wagons, as station clerks,
The Union depot and in vicinity of rail-
road improvements.
Weakens Patrol Strength.
while all this is necessary. it detracts
from the patrol strength to the extent OF
over hundred members of the force
and should so be reckoned with.
! "Then there are two clerks with the
detective Office; two at the Emergency
Hospital to report pOst-mortem state
i n
casualties: thir1y-seven served at the
Executive Mansion as guards; two ae-
cOmpanied the two prison vans; ono
was hack Inspector. and four" did duty as
guards at the house of detention. The
assessor has another a license in
spector; the law required one in
SpectOr of pharmacy and dentistry; tive
inspected pawnshops and junk dealers
two were detailed to protect Rock Creek
Park and to prevent speeding fire and
accidents therein; seven served as clerks
or court attendants at headquarters, be
cause clerks are not provided; one oper
ated as Photographer and in charge OF
the criminal bureau; one as printer fol
Ofi1cer to care for the insane; the dis
bursting officer and tax collector each had
one to guard the finances of the District
in all aggregating seventy eight members
of the force.
Wide Area to Protect.
"Forty-five sergeants. mounted and or
foot. supervise the force of patrolmen
day and night on the various beats and
through the county section. Coming
down to the bone and sinew, those who
do the practical, outside work. the pri-
Yates. they numbered 65S on the. first day
Of July. 1908. but this organization was
depleted in the total strength by deduct
ing first the post assignments already re-
fQ IN
toned, IS; sick. 70; on leave under the
law. %; suspended, L; leaving for actual
patrol service. 400. This body was used
In four sections. affording about 100
privates for patrOling throughout the day
time and 200 during the darkness. when
the populace is least prepared to protect
life and property.
I'm the face OF the facts presented as
an argument for an increase OF the force
in number, a mixed population of about
10000 people. segregated in the cities of
Washington and Georgetown and eighty
odd villages besides, many of which would
have it's own mayor and police Organiza-
ton in any state or other territory; with
a police Jurisdiction Of nearly seventy
square miles and a force making by far
the greatest showing of any. according to
conditions: the most eminent men, cost
lest buildings, most vital interests of all
kinds to watch over and care for, is not
this an unfortunate commentary for the
richest, proudest, most beautiful and
courageous country in the world, as rep
resented at the seat of government
Believes Figures Sufficient.
1t is the opinion of Maj. Sylvester that
the showing made by the figures pre-
scented should serve to give the city more
adequate protection. The addition of a
few men each year, he says, would be of
material benefit, but the last Congress-,