Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
POLE AND POLICEMEN
Continued from First Page.)

ana tnere they stayed as the hours rolled
by. They had been told not to come down
until they had carried out their instruc-
tions. Their superior officers had been cap
tured, and on their own strict obedience
now depended the fate of the day. Never
were soldiers in bloody battle more loyal to
their trust. Those two men worked on
calmly and dispassionately as If they were
not the point of attraction for big crowd
that stood around the corner and tried to
extract some information from the police
man, who was as non-communicative as
the proverbial boiled owl. He realized the
Importance of his position, and would not
bend in the least.
p To a Star reporter. who asked by what
authority he had made the arrest, he would
not deign to reply.
Did you have a warrant for the arrest
OF Thomas and his menu"
when policeman catches lawbreakers
red-handed and in the very act he does not
need warrant to take them in
How long are you going to stay here?"
lleved by another officer. What else can
do? ! cannot climb that slippery pole. and
l don't know that could bring them down
II could get up there"
why don't the authorities order the
pole cut down."
The only answer to this question was
large chunk Of silence and look that was
most tremendously wise.
Did you arrest President Thomas?'
NOW, you needn't think you are going to
get me to talk one way or the other about
this affair. You will have to get your in
formation somewhere else.''
The comments of the crowd made one of
the funniest features of the whole per-
fcrmance. There were several scores of
small boys, and some Of their remarks
were very amusing. AS, for instance:
"Ah, look at de two chumps up a tree; de
cops can't get 'em now"
Don't old brass buttons wish he could
skin up that pole"'
why don't that old cop go and get
flynn machine? He could bring down them
two fellers for passengers"
Some of the men also had decided views
on the situation.
ITS a BANKED outrage" said one. 81
can't see why the Commissioners don't Or
der that pole cut down at once without all
this monkey business. If the men wouldn't
climb down then they could tumble down.
l tell you, If Alex. Shepherd We're running
things In this city today, this problem
which seems to be too hard for the Com
missioners would be solved so quickly it
would turn the heads Of the electric light
crowd
4 High Luncheon.
About noon the two men up the pole be-
gan to feel the need of something to eat
They made their wishes known, and one of
the other linemen of the company went to
one of the upper stories of the Corcoran
building and lowered their luncheon down
to them. There they sat on the cross-trces
and deN CURED their sandwiches, while the
policeman on the sidewalk below watched
them with hungry eye.
Shortly after 1t became evident that they
had done as much as they could for the
time being. Some of the cables that We're
strung over the poles are very heavy. and
1t would have needed a rope and tackle 20
transfer them. One Of the officers Of the
company told them that they might as well
knock off. and they began to climb down
into the arms of the law that were stretch
ed out to meet them. Policeman Mellen
stood at the foot Of the pole. and gave
hon tn kI-A
we'll come with him and say nothing
The two men, d. Scanlon and P. F. Bash
ford, accepted the situation with a good
grace, and the hurry up wagon from the
station house was on the spot in a few
minutes. and gave them a free ride down
the avenue President Thomas, who was
now breathing the air of freedom, met
them at the station. and bailed them out
at Sd apiece.
Mr.. Thomas' Statement.
Speaking of the matter with a Star re-
porter this afternoon, President Thomas
said
In view Of the fact that am under ar
rest, do not care to discuss the merits of
the case, but would prefer to leave it to
the courts to decide. Still. there are one or
out.
The old pole was not simply worn out,
but was actually broken off. Early in the
week had 3 letter from Manager Marean
of the Western Union Telegraph COMPANY
calling my attention to the condition of the
pole, and telling me that he had had it
guyed to the building. During the heavy
winds that prevailed several DAYS ago the
pole was menace to life and limb for
there is 24,Om pounds of wire between the
south side of the avenue and street If
that pole had gone, and 1t was swaying
about in most threatening manner every
thing would have gone On the poles are
some commercial cables, and these are very
deadly.
Tuesday saw Capt. Fiebeger and told
him OF the condition of affairs. l asked to
be allowed to put in a new pole and he
assured me that it would be all right He
promised to send an inspector at once and
could then go ahead. l asked him how
long 1t would take, and he said a couple Of
hours. That Vas longer than l cared to
wait. for was seriously alarmed about the
situation.
II heard nothing further about it, how
ever and Wednesday 1 saw him again. He
then told me that my request had been re-
fused by the Engineer Commissioner. l at
once saw Maj. Powell, and he told me that
he co lid not let us put up the pole, mas
much as we have underground conduits
along that street. That Is true but the
only duct that was available would lot hold
| a tenth part of the wires that he wanted
underground Then l asked him to let us
lay another conduit, but he took the ground
| that under Judge Bingham's decision the
Commissioners did not have the authority
to grant the permit. Notwithstanding the
held that that decision does not affect the
authority of the Commissioners toward our
company, but only toward another COM
| pany which was not here.
Il then fatty told Major Powell that I
| was going to put up the pole anyhow. l
| have done it, and that is all there is about
| 1t. 1t now rests with the courts to say
| whether l have acted within the law or
| whether the law Is as the Commissioners
hold it to be. The reason for my action is
| very simple. I would not take the legal
end moral responsibility of leaving that old
| broken pole where 1t was, on a narrow, con-
gested street, and running the risk of its
| falling and killing people. The new pole is
| up. and the old pole is tied to it, and /
have nothing more to do now and nothing
| more to say.
| Claims of the Defense.
On the part of the defense it is claimed
that the charge Of occupying public space
for private purposes can not possibly hold
in view of the act of 1888 and the holding
| of Judge Kimball in a case against the
| Georgetown and Tenleytown railroad, which
involved the putting up of new wires to
| replace old ones.
| Under the law Of 1883 no permits can be
| granted to string overhead wires, but it is
| claimed the act gives the owners of the
| wires the right to maintain all wires erect.
| ed previous to the passage of the act.
In the case of the Georgetown and Ten
4