The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-18
AN AWKWARD SQUAD"
The Police Force Which Loafs
Under the Capitol Dome.
The Mon Who Draw ssa,Ioo for Preserv'
Ing Poaoo In the Halls Of Congress-
A Soft Job and Very Indifferent
Lot of Public Servants.
washington Cor. N. Y. world.l

capitol. There is such body. As an evil
dence / refer the skeptical reader to that
fascinating and romantic volume known
as the Congressional Directory. There is
page of that book almost wholly devoted
to what is called the capitol police, whi h,
as here described, consists OF capita n,
three lieutcnants, twenty one privates,
and eight watchmen grand total OF
thirty three men. One would never sus-
pect the existence of 80 70 midable force
OF conservators OF the peace In the pre-
Cincts Of the National capitol from any
Wis BILE naturalization thereof, but 1t is
really fact that there is such force in
existence, and that it really draws its pay.
For the captain there is 81 600 year; for
each OF the three ieutenants, 81 200; for
each OF the twenty lone privates, $1,000;
and for each Of the eight watchmen, 500
grand total OF SS3,4O year. The mem
bers Of this good-sized company are OF
considerable heft, eat regularly, sleep
well. and chew tobacco. They are undor
The direction Of what is called the capitol
police board, which is composed Of the
Jergeant-a t-at-arms OF the Senate, SER
Seant- at-arms Of the House, and the
Capitol architect, and this board
has set Of rules which are
Observed At rare intervals and generally by
accident. One of the rules is that "The
police, when on duty, shall be particular
ss to their personal appearance, and
prompt and courteous in their attention to
visitors. They are forbidden to injure the
walls, piers or other portions Of the build
ing by leaning against or putting their
feet on the same, and they shall, in q re-
spectful manner, prevent Others from
dong like injury" No ons would ever
have even lingering suspicion Of regu-
Iation Of this sort II he had no better ev-
idsnce OF IL than that furn shed by the po-
lice themselves. Persons who have visited
the capitol will appreciate the gentle
irony contained In the requirement that the
members Of this illustrious force shall be
particular as to their personal appearance.
The conventional policeman-that is, lone
OF the finest'-is fellow Of good stature,
who stands up strai ht In his boots, has
his hat or cap on with the peak l 1 front,
has his coat buttoned up close about him,
that kind, however, would make real sem
sation II he were seen about the National
cap9ol. There are good-looking policemen
In Washington, but they keep away from
ths capitol. / have never yet seen MEM
Der OF the capitol police with his coat but
toned, nor In any way particular as to bis
personal appearance" have him now
tn my minds eye, comfortably lean
hg up against the very wall or
the very column he Is dis
tinctly told not 10 lean against or deface,
his hands in his trousers pockets, his
slouch hat turned 10 one side, every now
and then shooting out an amber stream Of
tobacco juice toward a convenient cupsi-
dor with force and precision that would
do credit to a steam dre-engine. He Is the
most good-natured, easy-go ng, idle-look-
tng, emasculated man Of clubs and bullets
in the world. He shoot anything or hit
aythingl No, neverl He is n man Of
peace. Hhe doesn't lean he sits. The cap
ttoi policeman Is a very able sitter. There
are two places whero bis clothes are al
ways worn out-on the seat OF his trousers
and the back OF his coat. The one he W sara
out by leaning, the other by sitting
There are seven posts about the capitol
building where n policeman Is supposed to
bo always, but the only safe place to find
one Is In the grand rotunda. Here he lux
lrlates ali day. You will see him sitting
about with the balance OF the int estiug
cole stion OF persons there who seem to
have nowhere else TO go nor nothing else
90 do. II Is here that he assumes the Inn
% tant role Of grand taiker for the crowd.
Hs likes to cock his!leg up on the bench,
lean back against the wall, ami delight an
expectant and admirlng group with the
narration Of divers adventures he had at
some remote period Of his Afe,.
lie never thinks, "taklng one thlag with
a1o.her, pollceman's lot Is not happy
one.n He IL not that kind OF policeman.
He Is one OF the noble band Of o1lcehold srs
appointed thro Ugh political influences, and
n you don't like II you can lot IL alone. He
docs this able-boilsd leaning and sitting
about twelve hours out Of thirty-six. For
Instance, he comes on at eight o'clock in
q morning, and goes of at eight o., lock
at nj mt. He Is then excus I'd from duty
all the following night and day. In other
words, he is on duty, which m ,ans that he
q tting somewhere, or leaning some-
where, only one-third Of his time. And
one OF the solemn rules for his re sulation,
IN almost the only one he complies with,
g. that he shall have Atty days absence
during thelyear, his pay going on all the
sams, and the board having the right TO
put ON substitute at the re -ular price. II,
then, he Is OF duty two-thirls Of the time,
ami Is absent fifty days In the year, hs is
really In service only what is equivalent In
actual hours TO about two IN )nths out Of
the twelve. As he 10 appointed through
poll ical influence, he Is allowed fifty days
abs,nce every year, so his can so home and
stir things for the Congressman or Senator
% whom he owes his position.
II would be absolutely star ling TO see
member Of the capitol police make an ar
rest. think would be entirely safe In
raying that on the average 10 would be
more ssartling TO him than anybody else.
nsked the Captain OF the force how many
arrests were made In the course OF a year.
lie looked somewhat surprised, and sa
he din not suppos, they would reach the
number Of nfty. II Is altogether probable
that the country pays about 1900 for
every actual deed Of arrest performed by
khe gallant capitol police. Ofcourse. II is
MOI the whole duty Of policeman to mako
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