Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-13
The Ram1I,r,s Note Book.


one on the L. 4 d. road leaving there
at 4:45 p. III. Large crowds usually
leave for places on the Manassas road
every saturday, and to accommodate
the unusual exodus the officials had al
extra coach placed on the rear OF the
train. The conductor. however, did
not enter into the enterprising spirit of
the officials, though from the length of
time / am told he has been on that line
of the road ne should have known that
there would be quite crowd to get on
at Alexandria. Instead of opening the
car as soon as the front coach became
filled he made three grown persons and
a little child stand in the aisle all the
way from Washington to this city. Had
they been the friends or members Of the
family of this particular conductor you
may be sure the car would have been
thrown open to them at once, but they
We're not.
Now that it has come to toeing the
line, I feel hardly capable of doing JUS
tice to the grand subject upon which 1
have been promising to write for some
time. 1t is a matter that should
receive careful consideration. That, [
think, have given it and in the last
few years have gathered some very
interesting facts in the same connection
also. / do not feel inclined to prefer
charges against tbs police force, for
that is what / refer to, but will simply
call their attention to some of their ir-
Irregularities that are known TO me and
to others, too, for that matter.
Probably the most disgraceful occur
renee in the history of the police force
of this city was the burglarizing of
thirteen places in one night right un-
der the full glare Of the electric lights
and the failure of the officers to detect
single one. To an outsider the first
thought that occurs is, "rhe policemen
are in league with the thieves" but we
know better. They are honest men in
that respect, but need to be more con-
scientiolls as regards their duty. "a
policcman;s life is not Il happy
one" in most cities, hut that
hardly applies here, No mans life
is happy that / can see that
is, perfect happiness does not exist in
this world, but the life of an AleXan-
dria policeman is as easy as that of any
other man drawing the same sal
arv. The hours are in easy stages, and
this is comparatively an orderly city.
They are allowed to 90 in pairs, one
pair in each ward, 1 am told, but can
they protect lis rs they should by going
in Quartettes? Il guess not Well, |
guess not When there are four in
one ward and four in another what is
to become of the other wards? Two
better men for the respective places do
moi exist han Lieutenant Smith and
Captain Webster. but 90 they not place
too much confidence in their hight
force?
Nfour worthy Mayor it can well be
said as ~as snid OF Sir Thomas More,
place him in the council Of the execu
tive magistrate, and no favor can win
him, and 10 danger appall; Indifferent
to Office and fearless of power, he
will assert ibe highest right,
and he will stand by it, whatever be the
COST lie is II faithful and just officer,
but may | make one or two suggestions
A former ex-Mayor OF Alexandria, now
deceased, took personal interest in
things connected with the affairs of his
Office other than simply imposing fines,
etc, il his little court. He felt that it
was his duty 10 sec thgt each man I'M
der his supervision did his duty and
thereby tended to raise the moral tone
of the city. / have known him to get
up in the night and go out in the worst
kind of weather. to see if the policemen
were on their beats, and as these noe
turnal trips came at irregular intervals
it was not long before they realized
that it was safer to be always at their
posts. VIII orr worthy Mayor of to-
day pardon me if / suggest that he try
this plan some night soan and then tell
us the result Of his investigation? | hope
these few remnrka will be taken
in the right spirit by those for whom
intended have nothing against the
police force but think they owe it to
themselves as well as all other good
people to be up and about at the pro-
per time, and | am quite sure that they
will feel better in their hearts and we
more secure in our houses.
! Twas asked few days ago by gen
tleman who goes to Washington every
dav on the a. IN. local train if had
ever heard Of railroad company hav-
ing the right to start train ahead of
the regular advertised time. He said
it was Il very common thing for the S
o'clock train to start from one to two
minutes ahead Of time and to avoid any
doubt about it he, with several other
gentlemen. whose watches were correct
according to the time by the 'regula-
tors" at both stations, had called other
peoples attention to the matter repeat
edly upon leaving here in the morning
and all agreed that the train was start
ed too soon.
a man can walk block In a minute,
and this thing is going to cause the
company to have Il law suit on their
hands before they know it, instigated
by some one who has been left on this
account.
As rule the saloonkeepers of this
city are among our most lawabldlng
and honest citizens. Nearly all Of
them are men whose fathers conducted
the same business; they have accumu-
lated property, pay their taxes prompt
ly, help TO support the schools, pay big
Gas bills and are counted among the
most liberal men to charitable objects
in the city. Consider these things and
the fact that they observe strictly the
Sunday closing law and then tell me if
YOU don't think il rather hard lines