Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

It is quite evident that this number is In
sufficient to give to the community the
protection to which 1t Is entitled and
Congress should heed the appeal for any
increase In the force Comparative ng-
ures show that the District of Columbia
has only II patroImen on duty to each
1000 acres Of land-half as many as ST
Louis and much less than cities like Bal
timore, Pittsburg. Cleveland and Buffalo.
The Pension Fund.
1t is highly important that the police
pension fund be permanently established
on a fair and just basis. At the present
time about $4,000 year are paid out to
former police officers and firemen. this
sum being made up in very large part by
the fines in the police court, the receipts
from dog tags, and in much smaller de-
gree by the contributions from the men
in the service. There Is not, however,
any graduated schedule by which the pen
sion list can be said to work equitably
and automatically, and unquestionably
many Inequalities have crept into the
list The commissioners, under authority
of law, in the summer of 1908. undertook
to adjust these differences and naturally
encountered strong opposition wherever
reductions were suggested The time is
fast approac ching when the entire amount
prove inadequate to meet the growing
demands upon the pension fund, and the
fact that the increase will be steady and
will in time reach a considerable sum
ought to be appreciated by Congress and
proper provision made for meeting the
expenditure. The pension fund has already
been adopted in about forty municipali-
ties, and it is claimed that its estab-
lishment acts as an encouragement to
the strict and faithful performance of
Wa r,,;e 81 Oh u
submitted to Congress proposed draft
of new pension law. but the bill has
not yet been acted upon.
Highway Traffic.
The major and superint endent of police
has effected a noticeable improvement in
vehicular traffic in the District and the
commissioners have from time to time
placed in operation regulations to aid
him. A law possessing many good fea
lures and lacking in others regulates the
speed of vehicles. which is carefully en-
forced. The great growth in the number
of motor vehicles has required close at
tention and made amendments to the
regulations necessary from time to time
The proposition of the superintendent of
police to establish traffit, bureau where
all public vehicles snail secure numbers
and licenses, and all complaints be re-
ceived, is worthy of approval when an in
creased police force will permit. and his
recommendation that all drivers and
chauffeurs of public vehicles shall pay
nominal license and only be given the
same upon approval of the police authori-
ties would avoid a promiscuous represent
tation in the public hack service and
bring it To a high standard.
Other Matters.
TT, a.au.. ;.,1 "a. a.;.
by the purchase of one motor patrol
wagon. which is doing good work in one
district. Others should be likewise equip
ped and police headquarters should be
afforded a motor vehicle for detective and
other emergency calls. The unpaved
roadways in the suburban section make
it necessary to appeal for motor cycles
for the use of the police in those locali
ties.
The police department has record for
faithfulnesS to duty, is free from the in
fiuences which work to distrust. and its
has aimed to secure for
it every advanced Improvement in order
to meet the progressive conditions; and it
is a pleasure to note that in recognition
of his efforts is an officer he was again
chosen by the heads of the police organ
iZations of the country as president of
their association for the tenth yearly
period of succession.
The commissioners look with favor on
the proposition of the superintendent of
police to have Congress contribute to the
aid of the National Bureau of Criminal
house for information pertaining to the
of criminals who may be
unknown to the authorities and for the
keeping Of records regarding them which
may be of use to the courts in the dis
position of cases.
Treatment Of Lunacy Cases.
During the year 1914 lunacy cases were
a decrease of 81 cases as
compared with the preceding year. OF
the 1914 cases, $40 were certified to be Of
mind by the physicians making
the examinations and were admitted to
the Government Hospital for the Insane.
an increase of 3 cases as compared with
the preceding year. Thirty-two independ
ent or pay patients were admitted to the
asylum during the year, being an increase
of II over last year.
The number of persons taken into Gus
tody by the police on charge of insanity
was 121. a decrease of 60 cases as COM
pared with the preceding year. OF these
rs We're certified to be insane. { were sent
to the Washington Asylum Hospital for
observation and treatment, and IS were
released as not manifesting sufficient
symptoms to justify further detention.
OF the $40 persons admitted to the in
sane asylum a jury adjudged IS not in
Sane % were discharged by the superin-
tendent of the asylum before trial, most
of whom were nonresidents who were
transported to their respective homes by
the Board of Charities. 10 died previous
to their hearing in court. were dismissed
by the justice presiding upon motion of
16 We're admitted upon duplicate
permit. eloped before trial, and 24S were
tried and legally committed to the asylum
for curative treatment
During the year 20 transient or non
resident insane were admitted to the asy-
lum. most of whom have been returned to
their homes by the Board of Charities.
Authorized Guides.
The Commissioners have taken occasion
to transmit to Congress draft of bill
providing for guides in the District of
Columbia and defining their duties.
At present number of private guides
operate in the District of Columbia and
represent themselves by the titles wash
ington City guides" United States Cap
itol guides and Official guides and
wear badges to that effect. These badges
are misleading and convey to strangers
who visit the District of Columbia and
to many residents of the city the erro-
neous impression that the wearers are ap-
pointed by the District authorities in ac-
cordance with law and that their badges
are official vouchers for their liability