Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-13
POLICE CHANGES
SEEN IN BUDGET
Extension of Radio Cars and
Adjustment of Bicycles
Asked.

Extensive changes in the organization
Of the Police Department are fore
Swallowed in the departments estimates
for the 1893 fiscal year, made public to-
day by District Auditor Daniel j.
Donovan.
The estimates call for an increase in
the number of inspectors, a decrease in
the number of captains. abolishing the
grade of precinct detective, substituting
a new grade of probationary detective
to take In not only the present precinct
detectives, but also the plain clothes
men assigned to liquor enforcement and
other special work at the precincts, and
abolishing the bicycle force. The esti-
mates also call for an extension OF the
patrol work by light AUTOMOBILES
equipped with radio receiving sets,
which has proved successful.
A total Of $3,676,18l is requested for
the departments work, contrasted with
an appropriation of S3488, 900 in the
1892 act, an increase Of $187,28i. Maj.
Henry G. Pratt, superintendent OF
police, appeared before the Commits
sioners today to explain and defend
his estimates. The Commissioners are
having daily hearings on the 1888 bud
get, and tomorrow they plan joint
session with the presidents Of the
Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade,
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation and Citizens Advisory Council,
with such representatives as the civic
leaders care to bring, in which the
general situation will be discussed.
Budget to Be SIashed.
The Commissioners, faced with fall
ing tax receipts and abnormally large
Co IN,
are at the end of the cash surplus OIL
which they have been carrying their
budgets for several years, and face an
impairment of about 81 700, 600 of their
cash working capital fund in the
Federal Treasury at the close Of the
1882 fiscal year.
These facts will be explained to the
group Of civic leaders by Mr.. Donovan
at the meeting tomorrow, Nnd the
Commissioners will ask their cooper
alton in the preparation Of a budget on
which II will be possible to hold the
1888 tax rate dawn to its present level
of $170, although such a course would
mean cutting out a large number of
items regarded as necessary to the
municipality.
OF the total asked for the Police De-
partment, $3,194 $50 is to 60 for SAL
aries, an increase of S84,4 over the
$3,1l0,220 in the 1882 act. The esti-
mates explain that two new inspectors
will be appointed to command the In
spection districts to be created by the
reorganization OF the force expected
next fiscal year. Six precincts are to
be consolidated into three.
New Grade Planned.
Two OF the captains Of the merged
precincts will be promoted to inspec-
torships. One will be assigned to the
work now done by Inspector William H.
Harrison, in charge of the departments
property, and the vacancies created by
the two promotions will not be filled.
1t is proposed to establish a new
grade, that of probationary detectives"
with extra compensation Of $500 per
annum. Into this grade will be placed
all precinct detectives and also the ~
men now assigned in plain clothes to
the various precincts to investigate Of
lenses against the liquor and other
laws. At present the precinct detectives
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