Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
Rule ForbidS Policemen From
Engaging in Business
for Profit.
MAI. PRATT TO REMIND
FORCE IN MEMORANDUM
Police Legion Post Was to Receive
20 Per Cent o: Gross Receipts
From Festival.

Elaborate plans of group of New
York promoters and the Washington
Police Post. No. 30, American Legion tn
stage a gigantic" personality contest
and coronation ball here under the title
of a Columbia Mardi Gras," today
bumped up against positive rule of
the Washington Police Department.
This rule forbids any and all police
men in the service of the District from
engaging in any business for profit out
side of the police service for which they
receive compensation.
Mai Henry G. Pratt. superintendent
of police. today announced he would
issue a memorandum to members of
the Police Department, reminding them
OF this regulation.
Promoters to Get SO Per Cent.
Under plans for the gala affair. to be
staged at a large local hotel June g..
the promoters would collect 60 per cent
of the gross returns out of which they
would have to pay the overhead"
costs
The Washington Police Post, it de-
veloped yesterday, was to receive 20 per
cent of the money. and those succeed
ing in selling a book of 20 tickets would
keep 20 pei cent of such monies.
Apprised of details of the "mardi
gras' plans. Mai. Pratt took official
cognizance Of the participation of mem
bers of the Metropolitan Police De-
partment in a commercial show from
which members of the police force
would receive financial benefit.
Mai. Pratt stated:
1T is a rule of the Police Depart
ment that members of the police force
cannot engage in business enterprises
for financial gain, excepting, of course,
their service to the District of Column
bia for which they receive Govern
ment compensation.
Il am issuing memorandum to
members of the Police Department TO
this effect, to remind members of the
department Of this rule"
Matter Covered by Regulations.
Maj Pratt indicated that he regarded
the matter merely in the light of a
police regulation and as one already
covered by regulations of the depart
m nj
While the mardi gras, advertised as
one calculated to be the greatest
social event ever staged in Washington,
IS beng conducted as an enterprise of
the newly formed Washington police
post of the American Legion, the mat
ter still remains as one in which MEM
bers of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment are financial beneflciaries, Mai.
Pratt indicated.
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, District
Commissioner in charge of police on
learning of plans for the 'mardi gras,"
pointed out that this and all purely
administrative matters of the Police
Department are in the hands of the
superintendent of police, Maj. Pratt.
One Exception TO Rule.
Gen. Crosby added however, that
under approval by the District Commits
sioners. there has been but one excep-
ton to the rule of the Police Depart
ment as to the sale of tickets to the
public by members of the police force
this for the annual firemen-police base
ball game on Labor day, the proceeds
of which are a benefit fund for the
widows and orphans of members of the
Police and Fire Departments.
1t has been the general understand
ing" said Gen. Crosby that this fire.
men-police base ball game would be the
only thing for which members of the
Police and Fire Departments could
solicit the public. in the sale of tickets"