Evening star., 1915-02-07
POLICE DEPARTMENT.


for the last fiscal year show decreas.
In accidents as compared with those Of
the preceding year In his annual re-
port Maj. Sylvester said:
The total number of traffic casual
ties during the year ended June 30
1914. was 2.152. of which s19 were due
to motor vehicles, 157 to bicycles. IA to
steam railroads, 577 to street railways
and 485 to other vehicles. Of these
accidents, SO resulted in death, there
being one less fatality than the pre-
Hlous year, and very satisfactory re-
duction in the number of casualties in
many ways In motor vehicles there
was an increase of 16 accidents for
the year; In bicycles there was a re.
duction of %; steam railroads. there
was a reduction of {: street railways
there was a reduction of 16T, and in all
other vehicles there was reduction of
81 over the previous year
Many accidents to pedestrians are due
to their failure to cross at the estab-
Jished crossings at intersecting streets,
says Maj Sylvester. and others by their
failure to observe the signals of traffic
policemen
That an increased force for the har-
bor precinct is imperatively needed is
the opinion of Maj. Sylvester. but at
this time the superintendent does not
see MS way clear to take men from
other precincts.
Owners of river craft and merchants
along the line of the river are anxious
to get increased protection, and it is
probable that a move in that direction
will be made in the near future.
1T would be a source of great salts
faction to the owners of property along
the river front and to the owners of
boats of various kinds if this service
could be increased" Maj Sylvester told
the Commissioners.
The harbor precinct has been a
source of some embarrassment to the
department in that there has been a
numerical insufficiency of men to take
up the many and growing duties which
must be performed along the Potomac
river and its tributaries"
Detective Howard Vermillion and Po-
liceman Lushbaugh, the latter a mem
ber of the sixth precinct squad, were
given an official trip to Spotsylvania
Court House, Va, last week. They
went there to look at negro who was
under arrest on suspicion of being the
one wanted in this city to answer a
homicide charge.
1t was only the previous week that
the detective went to lower Maryland
in search of the alleged murderer. and
found it necessary to employ a yoke of
oxen to pull the police automobile out
of the mud. The man under arrest was
not the one wanted
Privates C. c. Saunders and A. NJ.
Haycock of the first precinct were off
duty one day last week on account of
sickness in their families.
1t is more than probable that Com
missioners Brownlow. Newman and
KutZ will be guests of the Policemen's
Association at an entertainment and
smoker scheduled for the might of
1iarch IL. The affair will be held at
Pytbian Temple.
1t will be an affair for only members
of the association and a few friends,
the object being to give the members of
the board of District Commissioners
an idea of the class of men who are
connected with the association.
Otto Hauschild. president: George W.
Sellers, secretary, and Edward Curry.
member of the executive committee of
the Policemen's Association. had a
pleasant conference with Commissioner
Newman last week on the question of
an adequate pension and retirement
law for the department.
The question of providing for the
Immediate relief of those now on the
pension roll was discussed and the
representatives of the association pre-
scented tentative plan for their relief.
Commissioner Newman gave the COM
hittee every assurance that he would
give his assistance to the efforts that
Jaw. and members of the committee
think the outlook is more promising
than ever.
Privates George Kelly of the eighth
precinct and Milton Warren of the
seventh precinct were elected members
of the Policemen's Association at the
last meeting of that organization.
Ben H Johnson. No. 1 precincts ex-
of sickness and returned to duty.
Private Tom Oriani of the first pre-
cinct, who has been off duty for some
rheumatism. is still confined to his
home. The popular member of the
first precinct command is receiving
visitors at his home on I'd street.
Private A H. Ellis of the first pre-
cinct took two days vacation last
week. He enjoyed his holiday at home
with his family.
Sergt. ]. r. Hood of the second pre-.
cinct is spending a week with rela.
tives in Chattanooga. Tenn. The ser
geant took number of prisoners from
this city to the penitentiary at Allan
ia, Ga, and stopped at Chattanooga or
the return trip
Private C. E. Ladow of the second
precinct had holiday Monday of las
week, pay day. and his companion.
suspect that he took the holiday to dl
some late winter shopping.
Private ]. r. Ashton of the thirt
precinct is still on the sick and disa
bled list. About a month ago he twist
ed his ankle and was unable to walk.
Private George B. Wheelock of tn,
third precinct was on the sick list las
week.
Private Melvin Cox of the fourth pre-