Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07

increased to correspond with the sala-
ries Of public school teachers.
That authority be secured from Con-
gress to make rules and regulations
governing the administration OF the
recreational activities.
That the Fairgrounds owned by the
District be made more serviceabls to
all OF the people by the installation OF
more benches. electric lights ana fur
Their park treatment
That provision be made for band
in District-owned Playground
Police Department.
The police Jurisdiction OF the District
OF Columbia corresponds with the
boundary OF the District Of Columbia.
and covers an area OF s. 245-lOo0
square miles. Besides the city of Wash
ington. the District contains eixty-odd
villages with a population estimated NJ
$4,000. connected by roadways, many OF
which would require a separate con-
stabulary were they within the limits
of state or territory.
Disposal of Force.
The police force consisted of / major
and superintendent, / assistant superin-
tendent. inspectors. II captains, Is
lieutenants. 4S sergeants and $40
privates. OF the total number OF
privates there were. on the first day
of July. 1914. 1s sick. IL on leave OF
absence. ] absent without leave. IS de-
tailed and n assigned to post duty.
force for the entire District to 4S4
privates. When this number is con-
sidered with reference to hours OF
duty and reliefs, the effective patrol
force for the entire District is made
up of about 10S men throughout the
daytime and about ZIG men throughout
the nighttime, which is the period when
experience has taught that the great
est amount of service devolves upon the
police agency.
OF the number on post duty. two
privates devote twelve hours each at
Benning. three at Brookland. three at
Brightwood. three at Langdon; seven
are divided between the two bridges
over the Potomac river, four are as
signed to the three railroad functions
and stations, two at Tenleytown,
twenty-eight at the Executive Mansion
and others have like assignments.
Other members of the force are de-
tailed to the Office of the assessor. the
hospitals, the courts, office of the col
lector of taxes, as clerks enforcing the
child-labor law, at the house OF deten-
ton, in investigating and preparing
papers for commitment OF the insane,
in the inspection of pharmacy and In
other forms OF detached and miscel-
Ianeous duty not germane to patrol
service.
The Commissioners and the superin-
tendent of police have gone thoroughly
into the matter of details with view
of reducing the number of detached
employments to the minimum.
Changes in the Force.
During the year the changes in the
force number 81, s OF whom resigned.
4 were removed as result Of trials.
died and IL were retired under the
provisions Of the existing pension law
Discipline.
In line of discipline it is pleasing to
note that under the great and many
demands made upon the force the de-
pertinent of the members was excel
lent.
Increase.
There has been an increase Of but
two individuals in the police force in
the past eight years, while the popula-
ton and property have been steadily
increasing within that time.
Duties.
The District police force is not only
called upon to perform the usual du-
ties of such organizations in cities. but
to meet delicate questions continually
arising under the laws and regulations
pertaining to the seat of government,
which must have unusual attention.
The bicycle and motorcycle service
has performed a commendable work,
being primarily employed in the en-
forcement Of the speed law and the
traffic regulations. There have been
many changes in the traffic regulations
with a view to simplifying the rules
s<.l. ~
pedestrian travel must be had, and
generally the police have satisfactorily
secured an enforcement OF the same.
The thoroughfares being wider and
the intersections greater in Washing
ton than in any other city, adds to
the problem, but zones OF safety, mad,
of iron piping, weighted and properly
lighted in the nighttime. have been
established at interSectfng streets, to
the great satisfaction of the waiting
public and the better security of life
and limb.
Traffic Casualties.
The total number of traffic casualties
during the year ended June 30. 1914.
was 2,204, of which 932 were due to
motor vehicles, 157 to bicycles, IL to
steam railroads, 603 to street railways
and 49S to other vehicles. OF these ac-
cidents, Sc resulted in death, there be-
ing 4 less fatalities than the previous
year and very satisfactory reduction
in the number of casualties in many
ways. In motor vehicles, there was an
increase of % accidents for the year.
in bicycles there was a reduction OF
%, in steam railroads there was a re-
duction of Z, in street railways there
was a reduction of 141 and in all other
vehicles there was a reduction of 81
over the previous year.
Many accidents to pedestrians are
due to their failure to cross at the es-
tablished crossings at intersecting
streets. and others by their failure to
observe the signal of the traffic po-
direction of traffic. The department
has had lines established at the more
important street intersections. with a
view of affording a constant object
lesson as to what is desired of pedes-
TRANS in order to afford them greater
safety, and also to the end that auto
mobiles may stop at the outer lines
when SO signaled by the officer at the
With a view Of Improving conditions
about the curbs in the congested dis
.ricts. which for the past two or three
years have been SO obstructed with
vehicles as to prevent patrons
Of business houses from approaching
their destination, the Commissioner
have effected several changes in the
traffic regulations, which provide for
only a temporary parking of vehicles
effort is one in the direction OF prog
-ess.
The major of police renews his rec
IN, that the spAed Law -