National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-10
orr COMPLAINT nook.


| EDITOR REPUBLICAN: You have already
called the attention Of tho public to tho fact oil
| tho depredations made on tho flowers planted In
front Of their houses by beauty loving household.
crs, and have suggested us q remedy an increase
of police force. Permit mo to offer n few remarks.
re psi'ee ferss IL quite saae,sut bat It has not
proper sense Of It's duty In this matter, and
none ut all of Its responsibility. Tho police has
not been given to understand that It's main use In
q city Is to prevent evils. The police Is held to
no responsibility as to the condition OF things
not to be blamed so much as the powers that u
point the police. Let me narrate q case;
A lady owning two small houses which had
for long time lain neglected with regard to the
little piece Of parking In front Of them, began to
stir herself to Improve. Sodding being valucless
without protection, she preceded that work by
having slight enclosure put around tho plot.
The houses were occupied by respectable, wood.
bofhoSd there are a good many irish. A coiored
was G%OySd e put hS iS ~ 1pSS
Of the nclghborh0Ol that police office being
in sight, no went nnd politely asked II they would
please look over at the boys who were breaking
down his fence as fast as he was putting II up.
They absolutely refused all assistance.
After few days the lady came to sec how the
work progressed, heard tho state Of the ease, saw
pallnV torn OIL and the iron hinge OF the little
gate already broken. Thinking at was hardly
possible that with police office In sight OF the
premises there could be no protection she went
herself and stated tho case, and again asked Il
they would kindly give nm eye TO the hlndrance
Of the bad boys. Tho only answer was, (surly,l
1--WE can't keep n policeman walking up and
down the street all the time" The lady asked II
there was no protection to 10 had. Tho reply
was, "Oh yes; you eau get out warrant and
prosecutc: you get warrant, and then we will
arrest the boy who breaks the fence"
This policcmans ides OF protecting the icnces
and little garden plots In his beat; "Sou get out
a warrant aud then wen arrest" 1t does not
enter into his brain that no I, to be on the watch
to hinder and himself catch the offending party.
Now, who is responsible for the policemans falss
Idea of duty? II has always been thought that
IN ctties where the police was appointed by tho
gain popular favor, be very lenicnt towards the
populscc But hero there Is no such excuse.
choice. They arc appointed by N en- who arc sup.
posed to have tho good OF the city In hand. To
beautlfy 1t Is one Of the good things which would
seem to DO at the hosrt OF these guardians.
How can this be accomplished II private lndi.
yiduals are not assisted by watchiul police In
aud fences" Must the housckocper or the owner
Of tho house keep private police to watch and
detect, in order TO give tho Police CourtH job, Il
warrant, an arrest, trial?
Mr.. Editor, believe that the press can help
tho public here, as everywhere, aud l ask that
you give the public some ideas of tho true use
tenure Of office by q policeman depend on tho
good condition and safety Of all property on his
beat. S.
The Awning Question.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN | notice In your
compliant Book letter complaining of the
awning flaps and signs extending across tho va.
rous streets and avenues, especially Seventh
street. Although have expensive flaps to the
side Of my awnings, confess tho complaint Is
Just, and II they are not prevented by law from
being put up, they should at least he placed over
eight feet from the ground, as the law requires.
In no other city would the present condition OF
amusing TO SEQ how cleverly they knock an UNI
brclla over or send hat from tho wearor's head
MERCHANT.
A Female Clerk Answers Stupid Fellow.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN: Your Stupid Fellow,
with his stupid questions in yesterday mornings
RErUBLIcAS, really merits consideration in his
heather darkness.
with the trst question, arc we to understand
that he is a poor footmSn in bis livery who has
paid hve cents TO ride Mt his own pleasure, or Is
no a conductor, that he can both ride and walk
will take his word for 1t that he Is riding In a
horse.car as late as 10 a. IN, or early as p m,
and his usual luck attends him-the car is filled
with female clerks. Now, wo can realize the
poor fellows condition as he looks at his watch,
and in the confusion Of his mind the words form
themselves, "Ofice hours from q. IN. until r..
M" But lot this thought console him-wh.Ie
dull of comprehension In many things, he Is so
| quick to know q female clerk; for in his next
| question he has a change OF persons, though not
OF scene-a horse.car again. There aro ladies
and gentlemen. but tho ladies so uuladylike that
| ono ondeayors to occupy tho space Of two, and
q lady: Ali tho same, We would give honor to
the gentleman who will give up his scat to such,
though only wearing the form of his ideal.
As regards the colored nurses, with their six
carriages abreast, though We never saw quite
that number, yet from our experience we would
like to propose few policemen for sidewalk duty.
But tho little children who jump their ropes on
our broad sidewalks who would not BIO willing.
ifit were necessary, to step oil on tho smooth
roadway and let the even hundred or more be
counted, while doting father or mother is sitting
by the window, and little hearts beat high TO
show their skill before loving eyes? Did not eur
heather have female mother once? And can
he not look back through ways that arc dark to
tricks that were vain
A FEMALE CLERK.
This IL Too Much.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN: Now say, Isn't "The
Mrs. Rutherford d. Hayes Temperance Society"
lust little bit too much? Honest Injun, now.
l WANT TO KNOW.