Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
maj. PRATT WANTS
/ WIDER ACTIVITIES
FOR LOCAL POLICE
Supt. Would Strengthen Mar
cotiCs and Dry Laws
Enforcement.
BETTER DANCE HALL
SUPERVISION URGED
Larger Force and More Powerful
Motor Equipment Are Also
Recommended.

hec0mmendeu.
A wide range of new activities for
Washington policemen in sought by
Maj. Henry G.. Pratt, superintendent Of
police, in the annual report of the
police department, forwarded yesterday
to the District Commissioners. Mai.
Pratt wants drug addiction made a
felony; he wants strict regulations to
govern osteopathy and chiropractic; he
wants his policemen to have entree
without search warrants to all clubs,
whether incorporated or not.
Pratt also ventures into terpsichorean
fields and wants nobody to become a
dancing teacher without first procuring
from the police department a certificate
of good habits and morals. Increase of
the police force, purchase of high
powered cars for the detective bureau,
new law governing execution of bonds
for those charged with crimes, the re-
turn of pawnbrokers to Washington, an
automobile title law, and law govern
ing the sale of pistols here are other
measures urged in the report.
Urges Dry Law Fund.
The oft-recommended law to make
each policeman an enforcer of the Vol
stead act is again urged backed up
this time with a request for $4,000
fund to be used for pay of informers
and purchase of evidence in enforcing
this law.
Most of the report is given over to a
statistical summary of the incidence OF
crimes and nliSdemeanorS in the Dis
trict, together with the arrests made in
connection with them, which have al
S3rto iK,
Mai. Pratt reports that there has
been a marked improvement in the
standard of discipline" of the depart
ment. During the past fiscal year 234
policemen came in for disciplinary at
tention. Two were dropped during their
probationary period for unsatisfactory
service; 50 were fined; SO were removed
from the force; 20 were ordered to pay
debs; 81 were warned; 10 were deprived
of part of their annual leave; 4 were
assigned to extra duty. In IS cases the
charges against the officers were dis
missed, and in 2 cases the trial board
findings of guilty. were reversed by the
District Commissioners.
Text of Recommendations.
The recommendations, together with
the supporting reasons given by MAJ.
Pratt, are as follows:
IT recommend as a matter of most
urgent necessity the enactment of legis-
lation providing for an increase over
a three-year period in the Metropolitan
Police Force to minimum of 1900
patrolmen; no increase requested in
estimates for fiscal year 1882, as Con-
gress is very liberal in appropriations
for the fiscal year 1881.
Il recommend that the personnel of
the Detective Bureau be increased to at
least 100 men, to be in two grades, 40
of whom should be rated as second
grade, or probationary, detective SER
geants, with additional compensation
equal to one-half the additional COM
pensation paid detective sergeants, their
advancement TO the higher grade to be
dependent on the character of work
performed. This plan would enable the
department to assign men to specialized
work in various types of law enforce
ment and at the same time leave avail
able a sufficient force for such general
assignments as are essential in the
established work of the Detective
Bureau.
Wants $4,000 Fund.
IT urge as a matter Of real necessity
that the national prohibition act be
amended so that members of the police
force will have the same authority as
other officers of the Government en-
forcing laws relating to the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating beverages.
In the Volstead act and the Harrison
narcotic act we are confronted with the
only statutes of this character in force
today in which it Is found necessary to
swear in members of the force as spe-
cial agents of another branch of the
Government in order to enable them to
take proper action in case of violations
of said acts.
1T is most urgently recommended
solely and specifically for procuring
evidence and in the payment of
reputable agents for the enforcement
of the vice, liquor and gambling laws,
the expenditure from such appropria-
ton to be approved by the Commits
Sioners upon the recommendation of
the major and superintendent of police,
such legislation to contain a definite
provision setting forth clearly the fact
be used either for the purchase of
evidence or for the payment of in
formers, both of which procedures are
absolutely essential to even the slight
estmeasure of success in securing q
reasonably effective enforcement Of the
laws referred to.
Wants Faster Cars.
1T recommend increased appropria-
tions for the purchase of high-powered
automobiles for assignment to the de-
tective bureau and in cases of emer-
gency to the various precincts. The
criminal has been quick to seize upon
the motor vehicle as a means of in
creasing his efficiency, and surely the
Police Department should be equally
prompt in availing itself of all the
methods offered by science and inyen-
ton to circumvent the activities of the
criminal class.
II can conceive of nothing more i'm
portant to the law-enforcing agency of
any municipality than that it should
have control of and freedom of entry
into all clubs whether incorporated or
not
II urgently recommend the passage
of House Bill So, Seventeen Congress,
first session, which contemplates eff
fective legislation to regulate the buSi-
ness Of executing bonds for compensa-
ton in criminal cases and to improve
the administration of justice in the
District of Columbia. This legislation
will, If enacted into law and properly
inforced, do much to eliminate certain
features Oh Tie UuSlIleSS ol eAeCuLAuB
criminal bonds, which have for years
been the cause of annoyance to the
courts. prosecuting attorneys and to
the police.
For Pawn Brokers.
"I urge the enactment of legisla-
ton TO amend the act regulating the
business of loaning money in the Dis
trict Under existing law, per cent
per month is the maximum interest
which can be charged on loans of the
character contemplated in the act and
it is utterly impossible for pawnbrokers
to operate under any such legislation.
Any such legislation, should, of course,
carry a provision placing pawnbrokers
under the direct supervision of the