The Washington times., 1911-06-13
SYLVESTER URGES
BETTER HOURS AND
PAY FOR POLICEMEN
Intelligence of High Order
Needed to Cope With
Crime, He Says.

ROCHESTER, N. Y, June Burg
ing shorter hours and better remunera-
ton for policemen and calling attention
10 the fact that the increased intelli-
Rence Of the criminal has made it neces-
sary N the policeman to be keen
student, and has resulted in his calling
heroming a profession, Major Richard
Sylvester, head of the Washington Po-
lice Department. today addressed the
International Association of Chiefs Of
Police. in session here.
Major Sylvester declares that the in
creased aNility of the criminal makes It
imperative that policemen work unceas-
inelv for scientific and uniform sys-
TENS throughout the country. This S
imperative in order to obt9in complete
identificatinns uf criminals a branch of
the work in which Europe is far ahead
Of the United States. and in which we
can only hope to compete by co-opera-
ton.
THE days of The three-card msnte
dealer. the sawdust gamestcr, and the
lottery swindls- are past said Major
Sylvester, but in their places, we have
skilled forgery artists, educated ma
nipulatOrs OF ac, cunts scientific sup
pliers Of high explosives. An advanced
intelligence, superior qualifications and
experienced training are now police re-
ouirements to handle such perplexing
problems.@
the association will continue its cam
potgn to have Congress define anarchy
and restrict immigration. declaring that
Europe dCdges much of its police work
nv unloading its criminals on our shores.
IrSorses Moving Pictures.
He declares the moving picture is an
aid to education. but must be properly
censored. asserting that he has d
but little trouble with the proprietc Sf
sTch shows in Washington. He es
that proper moving pictures be ib-
tied in prisons
He also calls attention to the fact that
the police departments are giving great
aid to the Postoffice and War Depart
ments throughout the country, and de-
plores the fact that policemen are not
permitted passes on trains, lack of such
transportation placing them at disad-
vantage in pursuit of criminals. He asks
the association to bring the matter to
the attention of Congress.
Discussing the troubles Of policemen,
he called attention to the fact that in
$1,000 to 600,006. the aggregate police
force is less than 35, 900, "every unit Of
which is but human, so it is but reason
able that there should be some mis-
takes. If there was a realization of
what they have accomplished for the
benefit Of society there would be a more
liberal spirit to promote recommends
tons made by us. Persons on the out
side have no conception of the troubles,
unjust charges, and determinations
with which we have to deal"
One hundred and thirty-four depart
ments use the Bertillon method of iden-
tification and sixty-nine the finger-print
system. This, says the major, is not
enough to make a real system Of advan-
tage to the entire country, and is, &C.
cording to his remarks, the weakest
point in the American police work. He
urges all departments to affiliate with
the Central Bureau of Identification in
Washington. There are about fifty DIFF
ferent arrangements for working police
men in l60 cities, and he hopes this, too,
will be systematiZed. There is a grow
ing similarity of uniforms. and he ia
vors the demerit plan of Furnishing Of
tenders against discipline rather than
fines, which deprive the members OF
policeman's family of his support.
Praises Juvenile Court.
Juvenile courts are praised by the ma
jor, who says the one in Washington
has worked so well that an effort is now
being made to procure house of deten-
tion and juvenile court combined, at a
cost of S15OOO0. He deals with the juven-
ile problem at length. but declares SEN
timent must not be allowed to interfere
with duty. Hold out incentives; don't
fine; train, don't punish" is his creed
for permanent reform.
He declares that this system makes
less work for the police, and that most
of the juvenile troubles may be laid at
the door of the parents, asserting that
many times correction may be obtained
bv reporting cases to the parents of Of
Tenders rather than to the courts.