REPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF POLICE. DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN POLICE, Washington, November 21, 1861. SIR: In accordance with the requirements contained in the 24th section of the act of the 6th of August last, "to create a metropolitan police district of the District of Columbia, and to establish a police therefor," I have the honor to enclose herewith the annual report of said board of police, showing "the condition of the police within said district." This report was prepared some time since, but the unavoidable absence of the president of the board has caused a delay in sending it to the department. It being uncertain when he will return, I have taken the liberty of signing the report, as president pro tem., in order to avoid further delay. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. CALEB B. SMITH, Secretary of the Interior. DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN POLICE, SIR: Under authority of the act of 6th of August last, "to create a metropolitan police district of the District of Columbia, and to establish a police therefor," and by direction of the President of the United States, the board of police entered upon its duties on the 19th of that month, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the act. Upon assuming their duties, the board of police found attached to the police department of the city of Washington an auxiliary guard, paid by the United States, of one captain, one lieutenant, and fifty patrolmen; and forty-six police constables employed by the corporate authorities-to the corporation of Georgetown, seven policemen, employed by that corporation; and under the authority of the district court, about seventy county constables, which latter, however, have not been considered as an effective police force within the limits of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, where most of them reside. In the embarrassing state of the board upon its entry into existence, with little time for maturing plans of action or securing the best aids for effective operation, the board, at its first meeting, authorized the temporary continuance, as a police force, of those persons previously employed as the auxiliary guard, until the 1st of September. In the meantime, the provost guard patrolled the streets of the cities of Washington and Georgetown. The board were unable, owing to change of its members and other embarrassing circumstances, to provide a sufficient police force during the first ten days in September, during which period the services of the guard, under the provost marshal, were invaluable. On the 11th of September, however, notwithstanding the many difficulties, such as a want of proper stations, arms, materials, &c., a force was provided under the act referred to, which has met public expectation. Although the police force provided by Congress is nearly full, it is believed to be much smaller than is desirable, especially during the present national troubles, when a popu lation so large and changeable is about and within the police district. At the same time, the compensation provided is so small as greatly to enhance the embarrassments of the board, by preventing it from securing the services of persons most efficient and best capacitated for a police force. It is true, there has been no lack of candidates for the force, and even good ones, but the compensation is insufficient to induce permanency. Members of the force scarcely become familiar with their duties before they have offers of more liberal remuneration in other occupations, and they resign, and others less fortunate in business pursuits have to succeed them. Thus changes constantly occur, which seriously affect the efficiency of the force, and make the labors of the board more perplexing than they otherwise would be. There has also occurred much difficulty in providing the means to attain all the results required by the act of Congress, inasmuch as the demands of the law are much greater than the capacity of the force provided to execute it. The law provides for a superintendent of police, at an annual salary of $1,500; ten sergeants, at an annual salary of $600 each, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty patrolmen, at $40 per month each. It also provides one clerk, at a salary not exceeding $1,000 per annum; thus, with the five commissioners, paid a nominal compensation, and two ex-officio members of the board, receiving none, the duty of originating and carrying into effect a service, at this time of vast importance, is imposed. The permanent population of this police district, as shown by the census of 1860, was, in Washington city, 61,122; Georgetown, 8,733, and in the county of Washington, outside of said cities, 5,225; making an aggregate of 75,080 souls. An aggregate police force has been provided of about one to 470 inhabitants. Owing to the presence of the army, and its camp followers, &c., the force has been partitioned as follows: To the city of Washington, in the propor tion of one to about 520 inhabitants; to Georgetown, one to about 540; and to the county, outside the corporate limits of the two cities, one to about 220 inhabitants, as rated in the census referred to. The police district has been divided into ten precincts: the 1st being all that portion of the county of Washington east of the Anacostia or Eastern branch of the Potomac river; the 2d, all of the territory within said county lying north of the boundary line of the city of Washington, and between the Anacostia and Rock creek; the 3d, all that part of the county lying west of Rock creek, including the island of Analostan, in the Potomac, and the corporation of Georgetown; and the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th, are constituted of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th wards of the city of Washington, respectively, each ward constituting one precinct. During the period included between the 11th of September, when the force was organized, and the 31st of October, inclusive, there were 2,113 arrests made within the district, 313 of which have been turned over to the military authorities. In cases coming under the jurisdiction of the police, fines on account of offences committed against the United States, to the aggregate sum of $1,440, and on account of those against the corporate authorities, to the sum of $3,288 86, have been imposed within the period named. It is proper that the board should state that the law creating the metropolitan police force does not specifically define its duties in regard to taking care of the public health and the abatement of nuisances. Neither has it specified where the jurisdiction of the city authorities leaves off and that of the metropolitan police begins, in regard to these two very important subjects. The act in question not having expressed a sufficient line of demarcation, it has been necessary, under an opinion of the corporation attorney of Washington city, for the city authorities to provide a number of constables to collect costs and fines arising from arrests made by the metropolitan police force. It would seem proper, in view of these facts, that the law be made more explicit in relation thereto. The attitude of some of the magistrates in the police district has been such as to cause the inquiry, whether the act creating it should not be so amended as to provide a special magistracy to such extent as may be necessary to sit as police courts, with duties defined to suit the exigency of the service for the adjudication of strictly police matters as distinct from those purely civil and pertaining to the corporate authorities. It is also the duty of the board to report to you that the police force has been often embarrassed in its operations by the interference of the provost guard, the provost marshal persistently refusing to act in concert with the police force, and in several instances declining to communicate with the board of police and its officers, on the ground, as asserted by him, that he did not recognize the legal existence of the board of police. The board has from the first endeavored to arrive at an understanding with the provost marshal, in order to make both forces as efficient as possible by acting in concert to prevent crime. As, however, that officer refuses to hold official communication with it, of course nothing of the kind could be effected. It would be well if the Executive or Congress would define the duties of each force, that they may mutually aid each other in the one great object that both have in view, especially as the present condition of things may possibly result in a conflict between them. Provision is made by law for the keeping of stolen property, and books are required to be kept for the registry of "lost, missing, or stolen property." Another provision shows how "all moneys arising from the sale of unclaimed goods" may be disposed of, but no sufficient legal authority is found for the protection of the board in measures necessary to be adopted for such sale. It is suggested that the act be so amended as to authorize the board of police to make public sale after due notice of all lost, missing, or stolen property after it shall have remained in the hands of the police unclaimed for the period of six months, and that perishable property be disposed of within a shorter period, according to circumstances. The existence of this board has been too brief and its objects are too various to enable it at this time to report upon all its operations. The office force provided by the act of August last, so important to the police department, is so inadequate that it is deemed worthy of special notice. For detective purposes, as well as by reason of the requirements of the act referred to, the opening and keeping of a large number of books is necessary, and the perfection of the system involves the necessity of keeping records of varied character, not merely at the central station, but to a considerable extent at the precinct stations. It is especially desirable that some additional offices be provided, and with a view to efficiency, that the measure of compensation be equivalent to the value of the services required by the terms of the law. From the working of the department thus far, the board is clearly of opinion that the existing law should be so amended as, in addition to those now authorized to be employed, there be two clerks and one messenger for the central station, and two inspectors and twenty roundsmen to be added to the police force. These additional offices filled, the members of the force paid equal rates with those employed in pursuits requiring like capacities, and a provision of law prohibiting any employé of the board or member of the police force from attending to or following any other business pursuit, it is believed the police of this district can be made to compare favorably with that of any other in the country. It is deemed proper to suggest that the same compensation allowed to the commissioners of the board be allowed to the ex-officio members thereof, it being manifestly unjust to expect them to perform the duties required of them by the law gratuitously. The following named officers and salaries for the whole establishment are deemed indispensable to the permanent efficiency of the force, and the board recommend that they be substituted for those provided by the act creating the board of police, viz: 1 treasurer 1 assistant clerk 150 patrolmen, each. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. J. BOWEN, President pro tem. Board of Police. Hon. CALEB B. SMITH, Secretary of the Interior. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 1, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of this Department. The accompanying reports of the chiefs of the several Bureaus present the estimates of the appropriations required for the service of this Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1863, and also the appropriations necessary to cover deficiencies in the Estimates for 1861-'62: The following statement presents the entire estimated strength of the army, both volunteers and regulars: |