Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-03-11
An AWKWARD SQUAD"
The Police Force Which Isoafs
Under the Capitol Dome.
fhs Nea Wa Dre~ >3s. 4oo for frssers-
ias fs..es Ia ths Halls "a toag agrs-s--
a s.sft ysb 4s8a fery faaiaersst
lot "a Fsislie >sFsaaf@.


= q ttlH or y Nttf
refer sith great reverence - the ar
ient and venerable police force ~ tss
capitol There - sgeh q boiy A. "a syi-
deace refer tbe 81 tieal reasier % that
fascinating aad ross tatIe yslanse Known
a. tae CongressiQ.aI Dirtetors Tnere =
a pa ze u that hook aiinest v nelis devoted
70 shat is called the caIitoi police, hi d.
as here described, consists OF a cspts "a.
three leiteaaats. t~enty one priv ates,
AMI 81 zht aatchnen = grand total x
thirty -LhFee men. Oue would never sus-
psct the existence y 30 ~ mldatls a force
Of e0nservafors OF the peace IA the pre-
einets II the National caf.toi rron any
visible ulateriaiiza.on thereof. but il j.
really fact that there IS such a force ia
existence agd that u really dra~s its paw.
For the eaptaia there il l.,szl a year; for
each OF the three deatenants. - so, Tor
each OF the twenty -one privates, si.'s1;
and for each Of the eight watchnen. >'sO-
a grand total o. ~. 70 a year The mem
bers of this good-sized company are Of
considerable heft, eat regularly, sle..
well, and chew tobacco. They are under
the direction OF what is called the capitol
police board, which j. composed Of the
sergeant-at-a of the >enate, SER
geant- alarms OF the Houss. aud the
Capitol architect, ant this board
has set of rules which are
observed at rare intervals and generally by
accident. One OK the rules is that The
police, when on duty shall be partie ular
as e. their personal appearance, and
prompt and courteous in their attention 10
visitors. They are forbidden 10 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 re-
spectml manner. prevent others frsm
doing ike injury" No one would ever
have even lingering suspicion of a regu-
lation OF this sort il he had 10 better ev-
idence OF il than that furnished by the po
lice themselves. Persons who have visited
the capitol will appreciate the gentle
irony cOptain "a in the requirement that the
members OF this illustrious force shall be
particular 10 their personal appearance.
The conventional policeman that Is, ''one
OF the finestr-is fellow of good stature,
who stands up strai hit in his boots, has
his hat OF cap on with the peak In front,
has ais coat buttoned up close about him.
anG wears a white collar. A policeman of
sation if he were seen about the National
capitol. There are good-looking policemen
in Washington. but they keep away from
the capitol. l have never yet seen men,
Der OF the capitol police with his coat but
toned. nor in any way particular as TO his
personal appearance" | have him now
in my minds eve, comfortably lean
ing up against the very wall or
the very column he is dis
tinctlv told not 10 lean against or deface,
his hands in his trousers pockets, his
slOuch hat turned 20 one side, every now
and then shooting out an amber srream of
tobacco Juice toward a convenient cupsi
dor with force and precision that would
do credit 10 a steam fire-engine. He is the
most good -natured, easy go ne, idle-look-
ing. emasculated man of clubs and bullets
In the world He shoot anything or hit
aythiny. No, never. He is man Of
peace. II he doesn't lean he sits. The cap
itol policeman is very able sitter. There
are two places where his clothes are al
WAYS worn Out--on the seat of his trousers
aud the back OF his coat. The one he wears
out bV leaning, the other by sitting.
There are seven posts about the capitol
building where policeman IS suppos ID TO
be always. but the only safe place 10 find
one is in the grand rotunda- Here he lux
uriates ali day. You will see him sitting
about with the balance OF the inte esting
collection OF persons there who seem t.
have nowhere else 10 90 nor nothing else
TO do Il il here that ne assumes the i'm
DO. tanf role OF grand talker for the crowd.
He hkss To cock his leg up on the bench.
lean back against the wall AMI delight an
expectast and admiring group with the
narration Of divers adventures he had at
some remote period Of his life.
He never thinks. taking one thing with
another. a policsnsan's lot is not happy
, one" He Is not that kind Of policeman.
He is one of the noble hand Of offiC eholiers
appointed thro ,gh political influence, and
If YOU don't ke IL Won can let IL alone He
does this able-ioiied leaning and sitting
about twelve hours out OF thirty six For
instance. he comes on ut eight o'clock III
n morning. and goss of at eight O'Clock
at night. He is then excused from duty
ali the following night and day. In other
words. he is on duty. which m ans that he
ia sitting somewhere. or leaning some
whore. only oue-third Il his time. And
one OK the solemn rules for his regulation,
ani almost the only one ne complies With
Is that be shall have atty davs' ahsencs
} during the wear. his pay going on ali The
same. and the board having the right 4
put on a substitute at the re -uiar price II
then. he Is of dutv two-thirds = the time
and il absent fftv DAYS ia the year, he i
really in service only what Is equivalent il
actual hours - about two months out OF
the twelve "A he IL appointed through
. political influence. be i allowed afty days
absence every year. 80 be can 20 home and
! stir things for the Congressman or Senatei
8 - whom he owes his position.
It would he absolutely startling 70 see
member ~ the capitol police make an ar
raSt I think would b. entirely safe II
saving that on the avera -e II would b
more startiinE 70 him than anybody else
asked the Captain ~ the force how mani
' arrests were made in the course of year
He looked somewhat surprised. and "a
be did MT sappose they would reach IN
nsniber Of CAV Il Is altogether prohahi
that the country paws about I.s" 70
, every actual deed ~ arrest performed p