The morning times., 1896-04-04
WIS IN UNLAWFUL ARREST
Commissioners SW10p Down On
U. S. Electric Light Co. S Men.
POLICE SAY 1T is ILLEGAL
Workmen of the Company Dragged
to First Precinct for Mending u
Cable Policeman Informs Presi-
dent Thomas We've After You-Ser-
geant Moore Releases the Prisoners.


pany WAS guilty OF an orfense entirely
unknown TO the police manual. The po-
lice department disagreed with the Com
misSioners and dismissed the case -
and that is the kind or government tor
which the citizens OF Washington must be
grateful Oh Easter Saturday.
The arbitrary act or the commissioners
disarranged business Gone by electricity
Oh u particular circuit all over the city 1or
two hours, and il there was any further
disarrangement last night those who Suf-
fered VIII know where to pace the re
sponsibiIity.
BY an order of the Commissioners n half
dozen workmen who We're repairing Il cable
at and Fifteenth streets, We're sum
marily ordered to cease working, which
caused a delay of about two hours, and
later i'll The afternoon the party of work
men was arrested and dragged down 10 the
First precinct station.
The disarrangement of the cable occurred
at about IL d. m, east OF the Treasury
building, near street President Thomas
immediately sent Acting Superintendent
Chamberlain to the break. He was ac-
companied 10y Assistant Sp!icer Purcell,
two other experts and two co:Ored laborers.
THIS gang went to WORK in the usual
way with the reel, which attracted the
attention or policeman. The police, IL
is uHdcrS; bod, from a statement by one
OF them, have orders to keep an eye on
the United States Electric Light Company.
ORDERED TO DESIST.
President Thomas, under the impression
that it was all right, as the same thing
had been done before many time, went
down TO the Capitol. While he was there
four policeman moved upon MIR. Cham
berlain and Ills ''Euerriilas' and ordered
them TO stop working they being then IN
the act OF committing the new breach Of
the peace by hauling Cable IN front of
the Treasury building.
Mr. Chamherlain was in a quandary.
His men had been rounded up IN tie
middle OF tie street and notified to sus-
pend operations. Tie police, having dis
charged their new duty, went off.
Mr.. Chamberlain telephoned for Mr..
Thomas. He went to tie scene and, learn
ing the particulars, told the men that
they got orders for that kind OF work from
him and not from the police. He put them
10 work again, and they kept AT it until
about O'Clock in the afternoon.
Tile Commissioners were advised or this
and they ordered the arrest Of the whole
tea party, With the exception Of the Two
coiored meE Why these were excepted is
not known. They, however, ordered The
colored men 10 haul the cable out Of the
way so that it would not be an obstruc-
ton" President Thomas went down TO
the First precinct where he found his me
under arrest.
The police who had made the arrest
were standing around examining the po-
lice manual TO locate the offence.
Their orders were to prevent the United
States Electric Light Company from haul
n ~
in the manual TO prevent the hauling or
cable so they determined To keep the men
under arrest until Sergeant Moore came in.
That officer came in about $50 p IN.
He heard the case, looked into the book,
shook his heat and finally went over 10
Mr. Thomas and apologizcd for the whole
thing: that it was very ridiculous and he
was sorry il happened. Nocharge would be
preferred and the men would be released
and permitted To go back to work
ONLY AFTER HIM.
But il was then too late and dangerous
for that KIND OF work, so the United states
Electric Light Company was obliged 10
leave the work unfinished until today.
One of the curiosities OF the situation is
that at the very time the United States
Electric Light Company was hauling its
cable the Chesapeake ana Potomac Teie-
phone Company was hauling cable at the
opposite corner, which cable was about four
times as large.
President Thomas said to one of the
policemen, why don't You stop that
also?''
Oh said the policeman, Il have no
orders, were after you
As it is very likely that the United States
Electric Light Company will proceed with
the work of repair This morning. there VIII
either be a baCkdown ON the part of the
authorities ordering the arrest, or there VIII
| be n public confession OF spite work gaInst
the company.
If the company is committing an o1ense
| il is reasonable to suppose that there VIII be
a platoon Of police al the break early
this morning TO prevent the company from
| working One thing appears TO be quite
| certain. that hatweenthe CommiSSioner>and
| the police every public act OF the United
| states Electric Light Company will be
| known TO the public until truce is de
| Clarel,