Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13
PLANS FOR POLICE
Commissioner Johnston Con-
sidering Change in Methods.
MAJ. SYLVESTER IN ACCORD
Men on Detail to Be Returned to
Regular Duty-Program to Be
Announced.

commissioner johnston, one or whose
duties is the supervision Of the affairs
Of the police department, is contem-
plating partial reorganization Of the
police method of doing business. He has
consulted Maj. Sylvester a number of
times, it is stated. and has discussed his
plans with Commissioner Rudolph. Just
when action will be taken in the matter
Of making changes is not known, as Com
missioner Johnston has not wholly ia
miliarized himself with the situation.
1t Is said that Maj Sylvester is fully
in accord with the ideas Of the Commits
sioner and is anxious to see the contem-
plated changes made. The new Com
missioner has devoted considerable OF his
time to getting acquainted with the men,
beers and methods of the police depart
ment and he has concluded that a re-
form in the matter of details will work
to the good of the department.
Maj Sylvester has long realized that
the great number of details has weakened
his force, some Of which were made by
the Commissioners without his recon-
mendation. It is stated that eighty-four
members of the department are serving
In places in which, 1t is. thought by the
members of the force should be employed.
Where the Men Are Serving.
Year after year Maj. Sylvester has
called the matter of these details to the
attention OF the Commissioners. his latest
annual report giving the list as follows:
One member of the force is detailed at
the Casualty Hospital, with the detec-
tive bureau as clerks in the absence OF
provision therefor. l about the District
building, / with the disbursing officer of
tho DjSfrirf the de.
tention room at the terminal station, at
the Emergency Hospital, 2 in the enforce
ment of the child labor law. ~ at the
Executive Mansion. as guards with
prisoners from the Police Court to the
workhouse, jail and reformatories; at
the house Of detention in order to per-
form duty for which employees should be
provided, / as hack inspector, / as in
spector of licenses under the assessor of
the District of Columbia. I as inspector
Of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, etc. as
required by law; as inspector of pawn
shops, / with the local Identification
bureau, within the National Park by d.
rection Of the Commissioners, as clerks
in police headquarters in the absence of
other provision therefor. l as photog-
rapher and finger print specialist for the
department, as Police Court bailiffs In
printer for the department. / as sanitary
officer looking after tho insane, 1 guard
Ing the tax collectors moneys and at
the workhouse in the absence Of provision
being made for guards thereat.
Suggestions Made.
The list shows that forty-two of these
men are ep duty at the Executive Man
sion. and Nvhile it is realized that police
out that some OF the officers assigned
70 ho n not
police duty, the statement being made
that some Of them are employed as
footmen and messengers. One Of them
gets the pay Of q detective sergeant, the
extra allowance having been made by
Congress, 1t Is said, to meet the expenses
business. The White House detective.
however. has no extra expense, and some
members Of the force think it an injustice
that the extra compensation should be
paid to a man on duty there.
Commissioner Johnston, it is stated, be-
lieves the six men detailed for duty at
the Workhouse might easily be relieved
and six guards put in their places. Police
men at salary of 500 month. he
thinks. entails a big expense for caring
for prisoners while they are out at work.
Such service could be done by guards at
a smaller salary. He is also unable to
understand why policemen should per-
form duty as bailiffs at the Police Court
and there are other details which he
thinks should not be made.
Some Not Able for Active Duty.
It is pointed out that by relieving the
detailed men and putting them on regular
police duty a substantial increase in the
working force of the department would
be effected. 1t is understood. Of course.
that a number Of men so assigned are
not in physical condition for street duty.
and by giving them light duty they are
in measure on the pension list. The
prospective change, however, will mean a
considerably larger effective police force.
The whole matter is being gone over
thoroughly by Commissioner Johnston,
and 1t Is possible that when he decides
just what he Is going to do in the matter
of withdrawing details he may suggest
how the positions are to, be filled.
The Most Tasteful Floral Effects
I ".