Evening star., 1896-01-11
THE UNPROTECTED CAPITOL
Police officials Regard the Situation as
Alarming.
Grounds Frequented by Thugs-AIaj.
MOOre's Opinion Of the
Matter.

The situation in the Capitol grounds at
night, police officials think, is really alarm
ing. They are much astonished at the fail
ure of Congress to provide an increase of
the Capitol police force. The police protec-
tion Of the grounds, it is said, comes directly
under the Capitol authorities, and not un-
der the metropolitan police, although mem
bers of the latter force frequently make
arrests there. While the police realize that
more officers are needed in the grounds.
Major Moore does not feel that he can spare
the necessary men from his force, which is
already badly crippled.
Speaking to Star reporter today, Major
Moore said that four of his men are now
detailed for duty at the approaches to the
Capitol building, when he feels that they
are much needed on street duty. There is
now about 20 per cent of the force on de-
tached service. sick and on leave, said the
major, and there are only three or four on
leave. 1t is not possible to grant many
leaves now, because of the conditions re-
quiring the presence on duty of as many
officers as possible-the presence of so many
tcuts here and the unusual activity of
thieves.
Major Moore says it is due to the members
of Congress themselves that they provide
better protection for the grounds. During
bers on their way out of the building to go
to their homes have to walk through the
grounds, where the dense shrubbery af-
fords hiding places for thugs and thieves.
This public park, he realizes, is the great
thoroughfare connecting Capitol Hill and
the Navy Yard with the business center
and through it hundreds of persons have
to pass at night, when the grounds are vir-
tually without protection.
BY way of suggestion, Maj. Moore said
he thought there should be two men on
dlty in the western part Of the grounds
and one in the eastern section. These men
could do good work and keep the grounds
virtually free from footpads and thugs.
1t is well known that number of per-
sons have been assaulted and robbed in
these grounds during past years. and some
OF the victims of the assaults were roughly
handled. Only few months ago a
number of youthful thieves made resting
places in the bushes and robbed wagons
and herdics. Besides these classes of offen-
ders, other violatCrs of law have been
known to make the grounds lurking
place. At intervals the superintendent of
the Capitol police has manag ged to spare
few men for duty about the grounds, but
during the session of Congress there are
not enough men for duty inside the build
ing.
New Use for the Military.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Inasmuch as the House has decided not
to provide watchmen for the Capitol
grounds and does not furnish sufficient
city police to do it, I suggest that they
provide for having the Capitol grounds,
the Smithsonian and Agricultural Depart
ment grounds roliced. by the military, of
which there are plenty here, with nothing
to do
From the nature of these grounds, COW
cred, as they are, with shrubbery. and
experience shows, they are the most
dangerous places in the city at night.
Surely, the United States government,
which owns and controls them, is in duty
bound to have them SO policed as to make
it safe for citizens and strangers who have
to pass through them. OF course, the idea
of using the military for this purpose is
not in accord with American ideas and
practice, but it is done in European capt.
tails, and If Congress will not provide other
means for the purpose l cannot see any
good reason why it should not be done
here. 1t certainly ought to do something
to make them safe. CITIZEN.