Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-09
Urges Free Car Fare in Annual
Report to District
Commissioners.
NEW PROMOTION PLAN
ALSO FAVORED BY CHIEF
Better Pension System Desired.
Gives Figures on Capt.
tails Crime.

members OF the police department OF
the District of Columbia to ride on
street cars free be renewed is recon-
mended in the annual report OF Chief
of Police Sylvester submitted to the
Commissioners yesterday afternoon.
A recent ruling Of the public utilities
commission taking away this privilege
entails upon the police. Mai. Sylvester
says. an expenditure that. in some In
stances. works a hardship.
ITO illustrate" states his report "a
member of the force recently had a
case in court which required his MAX
ing several visits before it>was finally
heard. and the distance and time made
it necessary for him to outlay car fare
and return for each visit
Inroad on Salaries.
The officer who may aiight from a
street railway car to make an arrest
for violation OF law must Of neces-
sity pay an additional car fare after he
has restrained the prisoner. The MEM
bers OF the force assigned TO the vari-
Gus events requiring police attention
incur railway expense. which at the
end Of the month makes inroad on
their salaries. The situation works a
real hardship. not only with the MEM
bers of the force, but 1t falls heavily
upon the family.
1T is recommended that legislation be
had looking to the renewal of this plivi-
iege to members OF the police and fire
departments. and in this connection II
might be added that in it's movements
to and fro. the travelling public receives
an assurance and protection which is not
AFFORDED otherwise. Many members of
, the force going to and coming from their
homes. since the abrogation of the privi-
lege. wear their civilian clothing. instead
OF the uniform which formerly afforded
transportation. which to a large extent
takes away the moral effect which pre-
vailed where there was presence of au-
thority as indicated by the uniform and
badge.
THE officer of class one who receives
but $14 month in payment of
his service found it extremely difficult
to maintain himself and family as mat
ters We're after paying monthly rebate
to the pension fund. an installment on
clothing or discipline penalty. If not for
| physician for family and medicines.
New Promotion Plan.
The report of Maj. Sylvester. which is
for the fiscal year that ended June 80
last. discusses a number of topics of
| interest. among them a suggestion for
new plan OF promotion in the depart
ment. In this connection, it says:
1T has been suggested that the period
OF service of privates of class be re-
ducsd to period of two years. when pro-
motions should be had to class =, and
there is merit in the proposal. Ii the
existing law Is so changed, 1t would cut
the length of service from eight to five
Years before original appointees to the
force would receive remuneration at the
rate of 1870 per annum. There is every
reason to believe that after Ave. years
of service a member OF the force has
become fully equipped and has reached
point when he should perform the most
| energetic work which iss worth the
present maximum salary
Rules for Auctioneers.
The report takes up the question of
the proper regulation of auctioneers. a
matter in which the Commissioners are
much interested at the present time and
recommends that the license fee for con-
Quoting temporary auction places be
placed at a figure that would III some
measure compensate for the damage done
home merchants.
1t is also recommended that no person
under eighteen years of age be allowed
to patroniZe a cluD where ball pool is
played and that legislation be mad con-
ferring upon the police the right to enter
clubs of this character the same as open
pool rooms which under the direct
supervision of the police
Reference is made to The iact tnac
transactions of pawnoroSers VINO have
removed from the District to wltnout Is
limits. owing to reduced percentage o.i
loans as required by the new law. places
the brokers beyond the police supervision
formerly accorded BY law. '.fne DroN-
ers," il is stated. are dependent upon
District patronage. but are no longer
within any requirement OF law To make
daily reports OF transactions to this de-
partment. and any assistance rendered
by them in the locating of lost and stolen
property must be by courtesy
New Manual Needed.
The police force is in need of new
manual, according to Maj. Sylvester, who
points out in the report that the present
manual has not been rewritten or com
piled since 1860.
The former board OF Commissioners
it is stated '.hesitated 10 undertak. tbs
task, fearing that the law pertaining to
the legal effect of the paragraphs o. t.,.
manual might in some way vitiate IS ec-
lectiveness. but subsequent opinions rem
dered by the corporation counsel wee IL
the effect that no such disaster would fol-
low. and, therefore. i is recommended
that board he appointed .for taking up
the various orders of the Commissioners
heretofore issued amendments to the
manual and all else that might be en-
bodied in a work Of this kind for the
benefit of the force. To the end that there
may be- new and up-to-date set of rules
for the government of the organization.
In this connection have to recommend
that the physical examinations accorded
applicants for the street railwaS - cross
ing force be modified by the elimination
of TripIer's Manual so far as il applies To
this branch of the service. the street rail-
way crossing policemen being IN 10 wise
eligible to pension or retirement and
under the rulings of the court aeing but
employees OF the street railway corpora
tions, subject to the orders of the police
department.
Would Care for Skaters
Calling attention to the fact that the