The Washington times., 1910-12-01
Central Station Also Re-
queSted In the Majors
Annual Report.
CRIME IN CAPITAL
IS ON DECREASE
Only Five Murders During Year,
IS Against Twenty In 1909,
Says Report

-'ec- airing that the police force Of
Wash ingtOn is Numerically deficient.
MajrI SylvesteE in his annual report
10 the Commissioners today submits a
lengthy argument for an increase
Need OF central station, containing
offices for the headquarters force.
nrepToof valUts. and all facilities for
exDeditng police work is brought 70
the attention Of the Commissioners
In reference 10 the need Of addi-
tional policemen, the major says
THE area Of police jurisdiction is CO.
extensive with the territory OF the
District, and embraces nearly seventy
square miles Included is the CITY OF
Washington. which embraces George
town, and has a combined population
Of 26S. .f66- according to the police cen
sus Of 1903 Beyond the city limits is
a vast territorial section which is ex-
,ensively improved and populated
well-OrganiZed and efficient police
orce Is maintained, but the situation IS
such that IN order TO control affairs, the
directing authority must continually
! borrow from one contingent territory
/ 70, IN 2 proper manner, maintain com
pllance vita the laws and regulations in
/ another says the report
Comparison Is Made.
/ From a police standpoint. however.
as well as from point Of fairness. com
1 parison should be had as 10 the number
1 5f partolmen on beats and posts y-trFl
/ relation 70 the territory or area To be
| Ptroiied- IN the District. the residents
I q tne various villages and towns IN
! the outskirts are subject 10 the same
laws ana pay the same taxes as do thosa
I who reside IL the mare co-Egstea ser-
tons, and Lney are entitled to the sar-A
P,,sies 5l aI9enIlon that is afforded where
1 Sf4hie IN Washington is On the de-
crease according 10 the reuorr win
i u2e last year seven murders we're com
l5.lt.eo lii. a. compared with twenty the
Whites Two IN Five.
/ OF these seven cases" says the re-
port two were charged to white and
i've 10 colored persons, and 1t nav NOT
be out OF place 10 state in this con
nectiOn that since 1855 only four fully
uncieared murder mysteries are charged
against this department"
] Mention Is made Of the moving picture
theateTs, which. II IS said, are conduct
ed usually On a high plane, the princf-
pal oo5ection being to the attend..0ca
/ after nishtfau Of children unaccor7-
/ panied oy parents OF guardians This
iIeature- says the major, should b. COR
Tected, and as It stands IS an argument
| Icf ne curfew law. The excise laws
nave been well enforced saws the reuort-
/ and IN consequence. there is q general
! observance Of them. Attention is di-
rected 70 the elimination OF the cheaD
clubs, where membership could b. 80
Dy any one on Sunday and after mid
night upon the uavmerf OF = s-,si1
/ fee
LEGISLATION Iooking toward stricter
enforcement Of the pharmacy law which
| mended-
Records of Poison
The departments representative de-
tailed &c enforce the pharmacy and
kindred laws reports. that the poison
registers originally arranged and fur
nished by the Board of Pharmacy to
druggists, they being required by law
! TO keep a register Of sales, have long
I since become exhausted and that in
many Instances the records are kept on
scratch pads and in an inferior man
| ners" says the report. While 1 have
! directed that this official insist on a
technical compliance with the law BY
| keeping a record in a book for the pur-
pose, Il IS recommended that the Board
o. Piasrnacy 6e consulted 70 the end
mat means snail be provided looking
/ TO the enforced use by druggists Of a
I uniform poison record
To avoid delays IN finding sales OF
! pOlSOnS II Is urged that legislation be
/ had requiring them to be mum mbered con-
| SecutfTelys the entry and label in each
| case 70 carry q duplicate number, date
! when L was dispensed and to whom
| and by whom"
The Betting Menace.
Attention is directed 10 the number
Of sO-called clubs in which pool is play
ed by those who are not members, It IS
said. but who are granted the privilege
upon the payment OF small fee.
"Once admitted they feel that they
are immune from the inspection of the
authorities" says the report and In
stances Of betting on the games have
come 10 the knowledge Of the police
By this privilege the proprietors OF the
lso-calIed club pool rooms avoid the
cost Of a license. and the prOprietors
OF the open pool rooms suffer an fnius-
tice and the District loses revenue
There should be 8 law against club pool
rooms. and If such cannot be secured
the annual license on each pool tabi-
should be at least s., and in addition
the police should be authorized to make
inspection Of the pool room at any
I time
The police cared for 3-2E7 intoxicated
persons during the year, none Of whom
/ were taken into court, there being no
law IN the District against drum keuness
when unaccompanied by disorderly con-
duct
The number OF insane cases investi-
gated by the Police Department was
397-
Recommendation is made that motor
vehicle be obtained for the use Of the
detective branch OF the service and that
vided-