Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-16
.FAVORS CROSSING POLICE
HOUSE COMMITTEE DOES NOT
HEED COMMISSIONERS.
Unanimous Report, Despite Oppose
ton, to Bill to Increase Wages and
Extend Other Privileges.

Representative olcott Of New York made
to the House today the favorable report
OF the District Of Columbia committee or
the bill introduced by him relating to the
posting Of special policemen at street rail
way crossings in the city.
Mr Olcott explains that June "a. 1893
Congress provided by law that 1.-THE
Commissioners Of the District of CO.
lunbia are hereby authorized and re-
quired to station special policemen
at such street railway crossings and in
tersections in the city OF Washington a
the said Commissioners may deem neces-
sary. the expense Of such service to be
paid pro rata by the respective compa-
MES"
In 1901, he says. this provision was sup
plemented by the addition OF the follow
ing:
The special policemen aforesaid shall
possess all the powers and authority now
conferred by law upon privates In the
metropolitan police force. subject to such
regulations as the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia may from time to
time prescribe"
Now, by the Olcott BILL 1t Is proposed
to add tho following:
And the special policemen aforesaid,
from and after the passage OF this act.
shall receive as compensation for their
services a sum equal to the salary re-
ceived by regular members of the metro
politan police force OF the District of Co
lunIbia twlo have served the same length
Of time). payable in equal monthly install
ments, as heretofore provided They shall
be allowed thirty days sick leave and
twenty days annual leave and in fixing
said salaries credit shall be given said
special policemen for the time they have
served in such capacity in the same man.
ner as Is now given to regular members
OF said metropolitan police force
Mr.. Olcott says that the enactment OF
this legislation appears to your committee
to be SO clearly an act of justice to a
faithful and meritorious class of public
servants that it should require little argu-
ment to commend 1t to the favorable con-
sideration of the members of the House
Of Representatives.. 1t has received the
hearty approval Of many of the prominent
business men of the city. whose location
at the various street railway crossings
has enabled them to become acquainted
with the readiness faithfuiness and skill
with which these special policemen have
discharged their duties to the public at
all times. Their numerous letters Of COM
mendation are now on file with the COM
mittee. The Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia, however. do not ap-
prove Of the purpose Of this bill
Notwithstanding this, however, the
committee were unanimous in favorably
reporting the Dill.
THE railroad companies are affected
financially, but neither the District of
Columbia nor the government is.
The information that the committee
has received from merchants and others
whose places of business are in the VI
cinity Of these intersecting crossings con-
vinceS the committee that the work per-
formed by these men is at least as oner-
GUS as that of other members of the
force
"A fair comparison of the duties per-
formed by the two classes OF policemen
will show their work to be most difficult.
Not only are they called upon to per-
form all the work now exacted of the
regular force except reserve duty. but.
in addition, they are required to regulate
traffic, guard crossings at the busiest
points in the city, assist the weak. aged
and infirm to pass dangerous points In
safety, and are required at all times and
in all conditions of weather. to stand
at their respective posts without means
of protection. As they are stationed In
the most populous sections of the CITY,
and as the public know that these police
men are permanently stationed at GER
tain points. they almost Invariably turn
to them. in cases of necessity, knowing
where they can be found.
IF this bill is passed they will in so
far as pay Is concerned be put on an
equal footing with the other members of
the force. They will not have any pen
siona hla status