Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-20
FOR LARGER FORCE
Not Enough Policemen, Says
Senator EIkins.
SCANDAL OF COUNTRY"
Details Of Recent Committee Hear.
ing Given to Public.
GALLINGER HITS AT DRAKE
superintendent Of Insurance Comes
In for Criticism at the Hands
Of Senator.

1T is the scandal of the country that
we have not policemen enough in Wash
ington. remarked Senator Elkins during
| the hearing given the District Commits
sioners by the Senate subcommittee on
District expenditures. during the pre-
pairing of the District bill. The reports
Of the hearing became public today.
The Commissioners made a special plea
for more policemen for the city, and the
bill, as 1t passed the Senate, provides
an increase of thirty-f1ve men. The needs
for more men We're discussed at length
during the hearing
L have read somewhere that instead
OF increasing the police force the House
bill actually decreases it to the number
| OF two men," remarked Senator CALM
ger.
That is true replied Commissioner
West The House inserted provision for
child labor law
/ In the House debates there were some
CRITICISMS made upon the police force.'
| remarked Senator Gallinger, "some dis
| tingulshed gentlemen saying that the po-
llcemen were so numerous that thew were
| tumblng over each other. What have
| you to say as to the diligence and faith
| fulness OF these men, and as to the
| them?'
| Il can testify to that in the strongest
terms remarked Commissioner West
i know from experience what these
men are doing. I know that we have a
| clean force here, free from the condi-
tons which surround the police force
| in many cities
Senator Elkins asked numerous oues-
tons about the details of policemen from
the streets to special places.
Few and Far Between.
! Il can walk farther in this city than
any other I ever saw and not see a no.
hceman, Senator Elkins commented.
How many policemen have you in
Rock Creek Park now?" Senator Gal
| ilnger asked Commissioner West
| Iwo. replied the Commissioner.
Two In the entire park?" continued
Senator Gallinger
Two Two for the entire park; yes. SIR
Two mounted policemen in the entire
park. commented the chairman. ut
seems to me that is an Inadequate num-
| ber."
There are 1900 acres there, and we
nave only two policemen to cover that. -
The reports of the hearing indicate that
the superintendent Of the Districts de-
partment Of insurance was handled with
out gloves by members of the Senate
subcommittee. Commissioner Macfarland
recommended the appointment of an ad-
| ditlOnal assistant examiner at 81 aOO per
year. but Senator Gallineer replied that he
did not think one was needed. The colloouy
| which followed, as shown in the reports
of the hearing. is interesting reading. 1t
| follows:
Questions by Senator Gallinger.
Senator Gallinser-But I want to ask
you about the condition which prevails
in that Office. 1 have called attention to
1t two or three times before. The present
superintendent of insurance has been
supplying the insurance journals of the
country with statements that reflect not
| only upon this committee, but upon Con-
gress, which perhaps you have seen. He
| has taken occasion to send me marked
copies OF papers saying that we are par
simonious and have treated him with
great indignity that we have refused him
money to print his reports, and all that
| sort of thing. 1t is something which
| ought not to have happened.
We had supposed that out of the con-
tingent fund all reports would be printed
Up to 1907 the insurance reports were
printed out of that fund. In that year
the superintendent apparently concluded
that he could spend that money better by
| travelling over the country and making
speeches, telling the people that he repre-
sented the President of the United States
in the work of evolving a model insurance
| law for the District of Columbia, which
| was to be copied in all the states of the
Union. AS result the contingent fund
| was spent and he had no money left with
| which to print his reports. The last re-
port printed, l think. Is for the O6. So II
| his reports should be printed now. they
would be useful only for antiquarans.
Commissioner Macfarland-It comes Mr..
President, under the general contingent
| and miscellaneous expenses appropriation.
but you will recall that that appropriation
| was reduced by Congress.
Senator Galinger-There was a slight
reduction last year. but why should not
| the printing of the report Of the insur-
ance superintendent be included as well as
the printing of reports of all other off,
| Gals of the District government?
Allotment Reduced.
Commissioner Macfarland-It is SO in
cluded. but the allotment made to the in
| surance department was reduced under
the necessity caused by the reduction In
l the general appropriation. Moreover. the
estimate Of the public printer for print
ing the reports for 19O7-S was larger than
| the amounts previously paid.
l / think i ought to say that ] have not
seen any statements of the superintendent
of insurance rejecting upon this commit
| tee or upon Congress.
Senator Gallinger-I have them in my
| committee room. I called his attention to
| them. saying that they had reached me.
| and he informed me that he had sent
them marked to me. So he wanted us to
understand that he considered he had
been very badly treated. I do not like
| that method of proceude on his part
| Commissioner Macfarland-That corre-
| spondence has been without my knowl-
| edge. Mr.. Chairman. but ought also to
say that in SO far as the work done by
| the superintendent Of insurance with re-
| spect to the preparation OF a model in
| surance law was concerned that that
was done by the direction of the Presi-
| dent of the United States. / also wish to
| say that the Commissioners desired to
| have a model insurance law prepared,
| on which work he did spend a great deal
/ of time.
Thinks Congress Capable.
Senator Gallinger-That may be so. but
| think Congress is capable of doing that
| work We have a liberal contingent fund
provided In this bill for one purpose and
another. and l cannot for the Mfe of
me understand why the five or six hun
| dred dollars that the superintendent OF
| insurance needs to get his report printed
| cannot be furnished. II the reports were
| ready, which / fear is not the case, l do
| not see why they should not be printed
under the provisions of some Of these
| contingent funds. l understand that the
| report for 1909 IL not ready for the