Evening journal., 1914-04-08

Virgins Case Echo.
"The Commission should require
each pawnbroker in the city to install
telephone directly communicating
from each pawn Office to the Office in
which is maintained the pawnbrokers'
card index system. Il may be spec
tally interesting to the members of
your Commission and the people OF
Wilmington to know that il was this
system which brought about the cap
ture Of Homer c. Virgins when he
was FIRST arrested In the city Of Phila-
delphia he escaped by but a few
minutes from a pawnshop after his
presence had become known through
the medium Of the pawnbrokers' card
index system. the same system sound
ed the alarm when he reappearcd at
another pawnshop. where he was ar
rested
In recommending sixteen horses for
mounted service. another motor
driven patrol wagon, more motor cycles,
o motor launch for a harbor squad. and
a printing press 70 print department
orders and notices. Mr. Taylor says.
IAN automobile for the use Of the Board
of Police Commissioners and the chief
of police in the transaction of business
directly concerning the police service
should also be acquired
Under the heading of administrative
branch Mr. Taylor says:
''lt is highly important that the COM
mission, as soon as possible. eliminate
scntimcntalism and unnecessary consid-
Grafton in the administration of their
/ Inffna fIhna. olnrt.ufa la fI. arrt4t.a
of the commission have interfered with
the service and make possible misinter-
prctations. Scniimentalism and unnec-
essarv consideration can have no place
in a body such as yours where discipline
must be sustained 10 obtain the cili-
cheney for which it is responsible.
"Ihc members of your commission
should avoid depending upon any iudg
ment except their own. arrived az after
careful hearing and consideration, In the
disposition of subjects affecting police
service
"Any other course affords opportun.
ty for prejudice from outside sources
creeping into honest performance Of
duty on the part of the men. and places
the commission in a false position. The
business of the Board Of Commissioners
is too important TO be treated lightly.
"Stenographic notes should be kept
Of transactions of the Police Board
and of course no person but COM
petent stenographer should have
charge OF this work.
Members of the Board of Police
Commissioners have heretofore mis-
takenly regarded Il as sufficient TO
depend upon reports from subordi-
mates. Under the new system Il will
soon be evident that first-hand in
formation is necessary TO the ad-
ministratiye branch Of the service.
Inspections should never be
scheduled but should be made at
irregular dates and times The mom-
bcrs of the Commission should make
II a point to be present at unan-
nounced intervals at roll calls"
Mr. Taylor submits a manual for
trials and inquiries by the Police
Commission, and he recommends that
such proceedings be impressive and
dignihed He says he has found
that many serious cases in the past
have brought only light penalties on
offending policemen. Superior OH
GERS should not be consulted by the
Board in fixing punishmcnts.
Mr.. Taylor recommended the ap-
pointment of a Board OF Review. con.
sisting of the chief, captain and one
other officer TO examine applicants
for appointment and promotion, 10
make report to the Board.
Urging a school of instruction FOR
professional and physical develop.
ment, Mr.. Taylor emphasizes that nc
member of the police should be e1.
cused from attendance at the school
"Ihe rules of your pension fund as
now constituted operate against ef.
iicient service. The restrictions arc
too high and drastic, a fact which 1:
evident when you consider that the
average age OF patrolmen at present
I'm the service is 54ia years.
"The rules of this fund should b,
revised as soon as possible to MAX,
the period for retirement twent,
years Of service. The present re
quirement is that a member mus
have served twenty-five consecutive
years TO become eligible to a pension
With the appointing age of the patrol
man limited to 81 years. the oldes
age a member OF the force could b'
when eligible TO a pension under th'
new plan would be 81 years. proyid
ing he did not join the force unit
he had reached the age limit, a rar'
, occurrence"
Commission at Head.
Under the heading Of Executive
Branch. MIR. Taylor says:
"rhe chief of police is subordinat
TO the Board of Police Commissioners
This fact should be kept we'll In mind
The chief of police should be requires
TO conduct the business of his Ofiic
strictly with this thought I'm mind
1t is the duty of the members of th
Board of Police Commissioners TO main
tain very strict system of responsible
3 ity in the discharge OF the duties of thi
. Office and at the same time provide fo
p holding the chief OF police rigidly ae
countable under the system. ln thi
system il should BE- provided that tn
chief of police be held personally AN
officially responsible for the strict en-
forcement Of the rules of the depart
lment He should be required TO shoulde
the responsibility for faithful executio
lof all orders issued either by the mem
bers OF your commission OF by himscl
THE chief of police should be held strict
lly responsible for the proper operatio
: land maintenance of every detail OF III
service
Mr.. Taylor outlines many duties il
the chief "He should be required
= make frequest personal inspections {
: every detail OF the police service NJ
: Taylor says. "The proper method {
= Investigating complaint or erin
I should be made the duty OF the chief {
z police, not the actual investigation. m
!, blame for an improper investigate