The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-04-09

AslllSulOa, ApEll o.-lHo uuCcIc-
monious manner In which tho freight
carload Of forty unemployed from Gin.
cinnati was taken in charge by tho po-
lice last night is forecast OF the rccep.
tion which awaits Coxey's army. To-
morrow morning the mon will bc
brought into police court and charge
OF vagrancy entered against them.
They have received two fairly good
meals to-day and havo been passably
comfortable except for tho ignominy OF
confinement in cells usually occupied
by criminals. Captain Primrose. tho
leader OF the band. may find himself in
moro serious trouble than his followers.
There ia au old law on tho statute books
which was passed in 1880 and has never
been repealed, which makes 1t an Of
fense to bring into the District Of Co
lumbia any destitute people who are
likely 10 become public charges, with n
peualty OF from S25 TO $50 for each Of
tense. The police authorities arc con-
sidering the advisability OF bringing a
charge ot violating this law against the
leader. .~..5
MAY AFFECT coxgY.
Tho same charge may be brought
against General Coxcy. il disaster does
not overtake the army OF the Common
veal before it completes its itinerary.
OF course tho vagrancy act may be
brought into application agrinst his fol-
lowers and beside there are two other
laws which it is the avowed and adver-
tiscd purpose Of tho Coxeyites to break.
One is tho act Of Congress regulating
the uso Of the capitol grounds. which
forbids any gathering, demonstration
or parade, the making Of any Grafton or
use OF threatening language, the dis
play OF any banner or device TO attract
attention. The other Is local law
which forbids men to congregate on tho
steps Of any public or private building.
1t rests within the discretion OF the
vice president and speaker OF the house
to suspend tho capitol regulations tor
any proper purpose, and perhaps
Coxey's agents will apply to them ior
permission to carry out their pro-
gramme. 1855
Major Moore, chief OF police, said to-
day: "These laws are on the statute
books and We have no discretion but to
enforce them if Coxey's army does ar
rive, unless Congress should'giv them
permission to cougregate on the capitol
steps" ,s.
a DoTHERsoME QUESTION.
The details OF tho police movement
against Coxey arc kept secret. What
to do with the army when it arrives and
is taken into custody, If it should be, is
difficult question, because the jails
and station houses Of Washington will
not accommodate such crowd.
Major Moore has received q letter
from the chief OF police OF Allegheny
City, Pa, describing the Coxey men in
most uncomplimontary terms. He de.
clares that there are several professional
criminals in the ranks; that four or five
burglaries were committed by them
while they were in his town, and that
there would have been moro depreda-
tions but for the close police surycil-
lance over tho army during Its stay.
Many OF the labor leaders in this city
are inccnsed at the arrest OF the torty-
one unemployed. and declare that tho
proceeding was without lawful author
ity. They say also that Major Moore
had NO right to deal with these men in
q manner intended as horrible ex.
ample for Coxey'a army.
1t is claimed that when tho case
comes into court tomorrow morning
there will be plenty OF friends OF the
arrested men, including constitutional
lawyer and member OF Congress, and il
authority has been overstcpped in this
arrest the proper people will be made
to sutlcr for It.