Evening star., 1913-12-03

the allowance for keep is not an induce
ment
In other jurisdictions the horses used
by the mounted police are owned by the
municipalities, are kept in a central sta
BILE under the care of superintendent,
and forage are all maintained at the
public expense.
Use q the Pulmotor.
The pulmotoA has proved its value in
life-saving and is now a part Of the
equipment in number of the police de-
partments of the country. In cases of
asphyxiation from gas or drowning the
application of the pulmotor has saved
many lives.
Members of the force have been in
structed as to Its application through the
courtesy Of the United States bureau Of
mines.
School Of Instruction.
The creation of a school Of instruction,
to embrace gymnasia, target practice.
legal advice and other features would
be Of service in increasing the efficiency
of the force. which nevertheless has at
tained creditable honor In Red Cross
work. standing in drill and in respectful
treatment of citizens and strangers.
House Of Detention.
While the house of detention is an in
stitution which had it's origin with the
police department of the District of Co
lumbia and was about the first Of its
kind established in this country, it is to
be hoped that the practice Of summoning
juveniles for hearings at the Juvenile
Court may prove so successful as to make
less demand upon 1t.
This institution is intended for the
segregation of children from contaminat-
ing influences that belong to the modern
station It's good influence would be pro-
NOTED if equipped with laboratory, hos
pital room and playground. and by the
services Of an attending physician.
The building occupied for this purpose
is antiauated and devoid of suitable ar
rangements and should give way to
modern Juvenile court and house of de-
tention combined.
Juvenile Court Collections.
Where husbands have been adjudged
delinquent in the moral and legal duty of
caring for wives and children. in numer-
GUS instances they are required to make
weekly payments to the police OF the
several precincts for the sustenance of
those so neglected. While the cause is
ported by the department, the agency for
collection should be made such by law. so
as to leave no room for criticism should
any differences arise.
Child Labor Law.
Two members Of the force have been
employed In the enforcement of the child
labor law by direction of Congress. They
have had Assignments to no regular"
duty It Is believed that If the law max
ing this requirement could be abrogated
it would be in line with economy, as
there has come to pass general observ
ance of the child labor law and, as con-
ditions might require it, needful details
could be made from the police force at
any time.
Ball Pool. {
The proprietor of the ball-pool room
receives a license when it appears that
the residents in the vicinity do not OBJ
iect thereto and is subject to the direct
surveillance Of the police. There are in
corporated clubs where ball pool pre-
dominates. where persons are admitted to
membership for a nominal fee and where
wagers may ne made without the knowi-
edge of the authorities and which ex-
cIude the officers of the law.
Owing to the fact that wagers have
been made and gambling INDUCED in In
some of these places, 1t is proposed, as
step toward a reduction of the evil. that
no person under eighteen years of age
should be allowed to patronize them and
the law be so amended as to permit the
police to have access to them. The age
limit law has proved advantageous in
other instances.
Union Of Police Organizations.
At the present time there are three
distinct police organizations within the
District of Columbia: The metropolitan
police force, the park watchmen and
the street railway crossing police, the
latter receiving their remuneration
from the railway companies. but under
the disciplinary supervision of the
metropolitan police institution.
1t would be of advantage II these
forces were united under one author
ity.
Harbor Police Boat.
The present harbor and police boat
has been in the service of the Dis
trict for sixteen years. and has proved
a very important factor in regulating
the movements of vessels in the har
Dor and in the enforcement of the laws
along the shores Of the Potomac river
and it's branches.
1t should be replaced by veSSel OF
greater capacity and speed.
Hospital Wards at Stations.
Medical attention should be available
at the stations located in the central
part of the District. where a small
ward might be provided for that pur-
pose. This service might be facilitated
by providing remuneration to the po-
lice surgeons or physicians to the poor
for affording this additional attention.
An equipment and service of that char
acter would be q guard against the oc-
casfonal death in stations of persons
brought to them in q state of helpless
fnebriety and other phases of illness
which the police are unqualified to
diagnose or treat
Matrons.
The employment or policewomen has
proved an unquestioned success in sew
erai Jurisdictions. and in the detection Of
crime the matrons OF the District of Co
lumbia department have from time to
time rendered the department a success
full and commendatory service 1t would
be to the advantage OF the department If
1t were authorized to employ additional
matrons. with police authority and en-
powered to serve in the prevention and
detection or crime, when necessary at a