Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
New Superintendent of Police
Expected to Come From
Army or Marine List.
LOW SALARY IS SEEN
AS BARRIER TO OFFICER
Major Gives Physical Disabilities
as Reason for Resigning
After 40 Months.

A retired Army or Marine Corps Of
ficer, 1t was learned at the District
Building yesterday afternoon, may be
considered as the successor to Edwin B.
Hesse, who has sought to end his color
fIl. but congressional-batt 40
month career as major and superin-
tendent of the Metropolitan police force
through the medium of retirement.
The public announcement that Mai.
Hesse had requested retirement on the
ground of physical disabilities incurred
In line of duty was only few hours
old when speculation became rife as to
who would be named to succeed him.
The Commissioners, however, have given
no thought to the question, and prob
ably will not do so formally until the
retirement board. which must pass on
the application, makes known its de-
cision.
Approval Held Certain.
In view of the report of the Board Of
Police and Fire Surgeons, which ex-
amined Mai. Hesse and found him to be
broken down" there is little doubt
among District officials that his appli-
cation will be approved by the retire.
ment board.
While the Commissioners have not
considered a successor to Mai. Hesse,
they have let it become known that the
whole field Of possible candidates, with
in and outside the police force, will be
canvassed before an appointment is
made. Special consideration. however,
will be given to men with military
records, 1t was said. because of Sug-
gestions from the Capitol from time to
time that service man probably could
90 more to improve discipline in the
department than o man who has not
had such training.
The last agitation for the appoint
ment of O military man TO head the
force followed suggestion last Summer
by Representative Gibson OF Vermont,
chairman OF the District subcommittee
of the House, that a Marine Corps offi-
Ger be named.
Salary Held Drawback.
It Is felt at the District Building how
ever. that it probably would be difficult
to find retired Army or Marine Corps
officer who would be attracted to the
position by the $500 annual salary.
Despite its responsibilities the police
superintendency is one of the lowest
salaried departmental chairs in the Dis
trict service. There are number of
other department heads whose salaries
range from $4,000 to 5000 year.
The low salary paid the Superintend-
ent of police Is due to the fact that
the position does not come under the
Federal reclassification act. Other de-
partment heads in the District service
have received substantial increases in
recent years through administration of
the reclassification act and later through
the Welch act. while the salary for the
police superintendent has remained
stationary.
There is the possibility, 1t was pointed
out, that should a military man be
found who would take the position, the
Commissioners could promise to urge
Congress to increase the salary.
Dougherty Favors Man From Force.
Commissioner Proctor l.. Dougherty,
who has administrative supervision over
the Police Department, Is known to be
in favor of the promotion of a man
already on the force, but in view Of
criticism that has marked the admin
istration of the police superintendent
in recent years there is a question
whether any of the ranking officers
eligible for the position would accept 1t.
Mr.. Dougherty has expressed the opin-
ion that within the department are men
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