The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-26
CONGRESSMAN
HEAR DISTRICT
POLICE PLIGHT
Believe House Leaders viii Act
To Give Capital Needed Pro-
lection From Crime.
By BILL PRICE.

with Chairman Good, of the House
Appropriations Committee; Congress
man Davis, OF the same committee.
familiar with local AFFAIRS as chair.
man Of the subcommittee making ap-
propriations for the District; Chair
man Mapes, of the House District
Committee, and others in Congress
engaged in considering police and
criminal court conditions in this city.
there was strong hope today that
Congress will provide a speedy rem
edy for a portion of the shortcomings
that leave Washington wide open 10
crime waves and riots.
The serious situation has been YER
bally laid before the House leaders
by Commissioner Brownlow and Ma
3or Pullman. They told Congressman
plainly that there must be an increase
OF pay for Washington policemen If
the depleted force is to reach its
maximum; likewise that the force
should be increased as an assurance
of complete protection to the city,
which means protection for the Presi-
dent and Vice President. members of
the Cabinet, Senators and Congress
men and millions of dollars of prop
erty Of the United States Government.
Washington police force will reach its
maximum strength under the present
basic pay of S5.61 per day, which in
cludes the $40 bonus that is not per-
mAnent.
No Prospect Of Filling Force.
The only possibility Of filling the
force at that pay is hard times will
throw men upon the streets seeking
work and that they will be driven to
the police force as a means OF earning
bread for themselves and families. No
hard times are in sight and all pre-
dictions are that unemployed men
will grow fewer and fewer as indus
try reaches the zenith of its revival.
with high pay continuing in. all walks
Of business.
The House Appropriations Commit
tee will find no difficulty in making a
deficiency appropriation that will in
crease the pay. If the force must Re
increased the House District Com
mittee would have to pass legislation
20 that end and the Appropriations
Committee provide the money to pay
the additional men
Pay Of fremen should be increased
At the same time, for practically the
same unsatisfactory conditions pre-
vail in the IRE department. The en-
trance salary in that department is
only $3.50 per year.. the bonus added.
A washington fireman must serve
iVe years before he can be promoted
70 the second class at higher salary.
In Akron, Ohio, a first year private
Of the IRE department is paid $1,000
a year, and after one year is promot-
ed to 81, 500. With great government
al properties to safeguard a Wash
ington hreman's pay is $3.50 per year.
Inadequate Police Force.
There can be no concealment Of the
fact that Washington citizens regard
the police situation here as fraught
with dangers unless Congress acts.
Every Congressman, while living
here, is in the. same box with the
most ordinary citizen except that If
danger threatens he is sure to be
cared for first, while women and chill
dren. often unprotected, come next
There can be no argument as to
what policy should be pursued by
CONGRESS in behalf of humanity and
property in Washington.
That policy should first include suf-
Iicient pay to draw TO the police de-
partment the best men Of Washington
and the surrounding country-strong,
clean. healthy, courageous men, so
that the department may be kept at
its maximum strength at all times.
= More Judges Needed.
The second should be quick provis- |
fon for an increase in the number Of /
Judges OF the Supreme Court OF the |
District and Of the Police Court so |
that all persons arrested for viola
lions OF law may be brought to the l
bar Of justice. The salaries of two /
additional judges at the paltry sum Of |
$4,000 each would be saved three
times over in freeing District jails |
and prisons Of hundreds OF prisoners
who remain there for months before /
being brought to trial. Often limo
cent men are among those incarcer-
ated 90 long. and they are entitled to
have their cases passed upon prompt
~.
It is notorious that the civil dockets
OF the Supreme Court are more than
two years behind. and that the crimi-
nal dockets are desperately clogged.
The United States district attorney
should have all the help he needs to
facilitate cases coming before him,
and Congress should provide salaries |
commensurate with the duties of as
sistants and aids.
san-= Gamma anR AnnAH-A