The evening times., 1896-10-05
KEEP OFF CAPITOL DRIVES
Col. Bright EnfOrceS the Rule
Against Delivery Wagons.
Grocers and Butchers Are the Prin-
cipal Sufferers and They Com
plain, But They Can't Help 1t.

Col. Richard j. Bright, sargeant at
! Arms Of the Senate, stirred up considerable
| feeling among merchants and others in
| this city by the strict enforcement of one
OF the rules OF the Capitol grounds which
| has heretofore been more or less neglected.
A few da Us ago Mr. {. G. Tribby. OF Ofrutt
! & Trtby, grocers in the northeast, was
driving leisurely across the open space in
trout of the Capitol in his delivery wagon.
He and scores of others tave been accus-
| toned to 90 this way for m any years with
out any interference. He had always sup
posed he had as much right to drive there
as on any other street in the city. But
| when he had gone aDouthalf way across he
was suddenly stopped by Capitol police
man at his bride. who commanded in Wig
orous terms that he do something which
Mr.. Tribby did not clearly understand ut
first.
Whats the natter" asked the grocer,
leaning forward out of his wagon.
Go back; get off the Capitol grounds
with this wagon" replied the officer.
Go straight back the way you came. You
have 10 right on these grounds with your
wagon"
why. I've heen driving across here for
ten years said Mr.. Tribby.
Cant help it. You've got no business
here. Drive Off at once"
Mr.. Tribby obeyed, but it was closer to
street than where he came from, and
he drove there. The policeman took into
consideration the difficulty of arresting a
muscular citizen who was being deprived
OF a customary privilege, and he allowed
the vehicle TO go out the shortest way, ill.,
stead OF insisting on his demand that 1t
go back the way it came.
When be had reached the public street
Mr.. Trbby left his wagon with his clerk
and walked back 10 til eofficer to find
out what had happened that the usual Use
OF the Capitol roads as driveways was to
be refused. When be asked what new rule
had gone into force, and whether ii was
law passed by Congress or n regulation
made by the officials in charge of the
reservation, the policeman told him he
did not know; he only knew that he had
his orders from Col Bright
Just st that moment n herdic came
along. and tine officer did net interfere
with it. Then Mr. Tribby was more puz-
zled than ever. He had supposed the rule
was against heavy vehicles, but the hcrtlic
Wds StNtistl lIuits ' NtScu
How does it come that the herdic can
drive through here" he asked, while
am forbidden the privilege: That's heavier
than my wagon"
1T isn't the weight at ALL" replied the
policeman. It's the letters. No wagon with
signs giving your business and so on can
90 across You can see Col. Bright yonder
il you want to know what the Ia W isc'
But the law is posted all over the Capitol
grounds; no need to see Col. Bright. Only
it has never been SO closely enforced here
tofore. II is the act of July 1. 1882 One
section forbids hauling over the roads in
the grounds any merchandise except for
the Capitol. Another, and the one under
which Mr.. Tribby was put off, is No. 3 of
the category. 1t provides that nothing
shall be exposed for sale on the grounds,
and that no sign, placard or other form
of advertisement shall be dspia ycd." Also
this rule says no fares. dues or other form
of contribution shall be collected or So
licited.
This enforcement of the ruule Will make
a considerable difference TO delivery was-
ons and the like.