Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31
Retiring Police Head Tells
of Repeated Bids for
Special Favors.
BARES LIFE THREATS
Major Owns Neither Car
Nor Home; Wears
Suit 4 Years.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

4uIOuSH ulUIIcCL CtlaIlIlelS WdSIll0R-
toms bootleggers, gamblers and other
law violators offered Maj. Edwin B.
Hesse, retiring superintendent of police,
during his three-year administration
of the Police Department, thousands Of
dollars in bribes, enough to establish
his financial independence for life.
Maj. Hesse made this startling revela-
tion yesterday afternoon a few hours
before he closed his desk for the last
time and turned over the keys to his
Office to Inspector Henry G. Pratt. his
successor.
But Maj. Hesse goes out of Office in
virtually the same financial condition
that he took over the superintendency
three years ago-a poor man. His only
reward is his own consolation that he
did good job.
IT came into Office with clean hands. {"
he said, "and go out the same way"
All of the bribe offers, Mai. Hesse ex-
planned, came to him indirectly. Had
they been made to me directly" he de-
clared emphatically, "the person who
made them would have been promptly
knocked to the floor"
Maj. Hesse said he was unable to
estimate his potential wealth had he
wanted to be dishonest. At first he
said the total amount might exceed
5000, 1000, but after some elaboration
he expressed the belief that it would
not reach that figure.
"At any rate" he added, II could
have been a wealthy man If had
wanted to stoop so low as to become
a CRATER. I have been honest, of that
fact I am aware, and a recent investi-
CATION by the Bureau of Efficiency has
disclosed that there has not been a
taint of graft in the department dur
ing my administration"
Letters Threatened His Life.
The fiat rejection Of the bribe offers
is believed to have been responsible
for many of the anonymous letters
Maj. Hesse received during his tenure
as superintendent threatening his life.
Some Of, them, however. he believes
came from 'cranks."
Thirty-five years of devoted service
to the District government have failed
to end0w Maj. Hesse with any of the
worlds wealth. His bank account is
insufficient to provide him with a COM
Portable living for many years, and his
retirement pay of $4,000 year win be
his only source of income unless he
seeks new employment after his health
is fully restored.
He does not own his home, but lives
In modest fat in Southeast Washing
ton, which he rents by the month.
Neither does he own an automobile. nor
has he the comforts of life enjoyed
by many of his boyhood friends who
cast their lot in other lines of endeavor.
Mai. Hesse has never been known
to have any extravagent habits; his
wife is said to be even more conserva-
tive. Both are known to be frugal, more
by necessity than desire.
Wears 4-Year Old Suit.
While discussing his financial condi-
ton Maj. Hesse pointed to the suit Of
clothes he was wearing. This" he said,
"is only years old"
Mai Hesse has been in position de-
manding extreme trust and honesty
nearly all of his IS years of service IN
the District government, He first en-
tered the Police Department as q clerk
back in the late COS at salary OF $500
year.
Salary increases from that time on
were few and far between, and not
until he became superintendent OF po-
lice was his compensation adequate to
provide comfortable living for him
and his WIFE As superintendent he has
received $500 a year.
ID Office Is Low SaIaried.
Incidentally, the superintendent OF
police and the chief of the Fire De-
pdI bIIlcklC, UOIAt ACBdAOCO 90 pOoAeaOAAo "a
utmost responsibility, are the lowest
salaried departmental positions in the
District government. The salary of the
fire chief is the same as that Of the
police superintendent, 5000 a year.
Nearly all of the department heads
in the District government are paid
$1,000 or more year. with several re-
ceiving $4,000. The comparatively low
salary of the heads of the Police and
Fire Departments is due to the fact
that these are the only two depart
ments not under reclassification.
Mai. Hesse has on several occasions
complained of the salaries paid the ex-
ecutives as well as the entire personnel
of the Police Department, but the last
Congress failed to enact bill that
would have raised the pay of the per-
sonnel of both the Police and Fire De-
partments because it would add $780,
600 a year to the District budget.
i