Evening star., 1941-03-08

The balance of $50 men is taken
up by Administrative Headquarters,
the Detective Bureau, the Women's
Bureau, the harbor precinct, details
at Police Court. the corporation
counsels Office, special duty details
other than patrol work, annual
leave, sick leave and days off.
Maj. Brown pointed out that the
Women's Bureau has not had an in
crease in personnel since it was or
ganized in 1921. In that year there
were % policewomen, he said. There
are still %.
Increase of 25 Granted.
To help meet Washingtons police
needs, Maj. Brown requested funds
to provide for 100 additional police
men for the 1912 fiscal year begin
ming July l, 1941. The Commission
ers and Budget Bureau have ap-
proved an increase of Is men-five
of whom would be civilian clerks to
relieve policemen now engaged in
clerical duties.
1T seems difficult for people to
realize the problem we have" Maj.
Brown said today. In view of the
population, and the greater increase
which may be expected because of
defense work, we certainly need
more men than I first recon-
mended."
At the time he asked for 100 ad-
ditional men. Maj. Brown estimated
that the department should receive
282 new policemen if the ratio of
population in 1880 we're to be MAIN
tanned. Unless the department gets
them, he said, then it will be diff
cult if not impossible to provide
prompt and efficient police service.
And now, Maj. Brown points out,
the situation appears worse than
when the estimate was made that
282 were needed.
Population Since Increased.
That figure, he said, was based on
the 1910 census of approximately
663, 900 persons in Washington. Since
then, he estimated, the population
has increased in the city to at least
100000, so that even the denied re-
quest for 282 men has been outdated.
washington has many special
problems not present in many
cities" Maj. Brown added.
For example. he said, the dedi-
cation of the National Gallery of
Art on March II will require the de-
failing of from so to rs men away
from their regular duties. This situ-
alton, he pointed out, occurs all too
regularly in the District.
In addition, he said, the expert
enced force of men has been de-
pleted to some extent because of the
demand for capable officers to be
transferred to the forces at the
White House and the Capitol.
One more factor which promises
to keep the police on their toes, he
said, is the expected influx of ap-
proximately $4,000 soldiers each
week end from the nearby military
establishments.
Need Found for 661 Extra.
Baxter Smith, chairman of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
Safety Committee, reported that in
comparison with other cities of COM
parable size, the District, to be prop
erly policed, should have an addi-
tional force of 66l men. The cost
of such an increase in personnel
would approximate 81 ,713 ,341 A, the
| report stated.
Recognizing, however, that such
an increase "is not practical at this
time" the Safety Committee recon-
mended that the Federation adopt
resolution approving an increase
of at least 100 men.
In a comparison with Is other
cities with population over 100000,
the District was found to be eleventh
in population, but recent increases
probably would put the city in tenth
place. Other comparisons showed
that Washington was first in the
group with the number of cars reg
istered per mile of city street-with
a figure of 1895 per mile of street,
more than rs cars above the near
est city
At the same time, it was shown
that Washington was seventh in
number of police per mile of street,
and eleventh in number of police
per square mile of area.
Browns Estimate Slashed.
Mai. Brown estimated that his de-
partment should have salts, ,329 for
the 1912 fiscal year. The Commis-
sioners gave an estimate of s3,391,- :
245, and the Budget Bureaus esti-
mate was $500 ,345.
The budget provides $1,000 for
two-way radio communication in
20 scout ears, and Maj. Brown had
1