The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-21
TEMPERING THE WIND.

TEMPERING THE WIND.
Elverton r. Chapman is broker, do
ing business in the city Of Washington.
His customary place Of business is In
a fine suite of offices in one OF the
business blocks, for which he pays
rental commensurate with its elegance.
At present his business Office is a 9x12
cell in the city Jail, adjoining another
cell of the same size, which he uses as
a reception, dining and sleeping room,
for all of which he pays no rental, the
city providing it free. Nominally, Mr..
Chapman is in Jail; practically. he is
legitimately engaged as a broker pre-
serving the confidential relation exist
ing between himself and his clients, In
this case supposed to have been one
or more Of the senators engaged IN Duy-
ing or selling Sugar trust stock in 1894,
as the prices rose or fell under inti-
nations of how they would vote on the
sugar schedule. Such a rumpus was
raised by folk with old-fashioned ideas
of honesty that the senate felt obliged
to have an inquiry into the matter, and
Chapman, with some others, summoned
as witnesses, refused to answer ques-
tions put to them; he holding that his
relations to his customers were conf
Dental, like those of a doctor or law
yer or husband and wife. He was
brought to trial for his contumacy, con-
victed, sentenced to pay 500 fine and
go to Jail for thirty days, and the de-
cision sustained by the supreme court.
Hence the temporary transfer of Mr..
Chapman's place Of doing business.
But, in a country where all men are
supposed to be equal before the law,
where crime is a crime regardless OF
distinctions of persons, where there IS
thought to be democratic level OF
punishment for criminals that has Ia
vors or special privileges for none who
have incurred the laws penalties. the
account of the reception and treatment
of Mr.. Chapman by the authorities or
the Washington Jail Is inconsistent
officials look upon Mr.. Chapman as
tender lamb. shorn by the harsh law,
to whose delicate and refined nature
the rough winds Of untoward circum-
stance should be considerably temper
ed A veracious correspondent tells
how Chapman only fears the effects on
his health of the confinement; how his
doctor advises him to take a quinine
pill night and morning to ward off ma
laria; how the sturdy, handsome.
well-built man" presented himself at
the jail in "suit of brown tweed, sur
mounted by a Fedora hat, WHICH sat
squarely upon splendidly proportion
ed head" underneath which "his COM
plexion shone with a ruddy glow Of
health" and how he surprised the Gus
todians with greeting as CHEEKY and
good-natured as could be wished for"
noted, probably, because of it's excep-
ton to the usual greetings they receive.
We are then told that arrangements
have been made to have his meals sent
him from the Arlington hotel, and how,
because Of the necessity Of his keep
ing up his brokerage business, one cell
has been assigned him for use as an
office. His sleeping cell is furnished
with a Persian rug, a three-quarter
brass bedstead, a chiffonier with mir
ror above it, a washstand and one
chair, while the other cell is rigged out
with a desk, rug, lamp, two chairs, a
lounging chair and a refrigerator to
provide cool water. 1t is reassuring to
learn, as indicating Mr.. Chapman's par
tial consideration for the prejudices Of
the ignorant and old-fashioned, that he
refused tapestry hangings to hide the
bare walls Of his cells, and curtains to
blink the SuggestiveneSS Of the cell
doors, because che did not wish to dis
guise the character Of his apartments
any more than was absolutely requir-
ed" We have the further apparently
needless assurance, after what has
gone before, that every means will be
exerted to make Mr.. Chapman's stay as
pleasant as possible, and he will have
his own waiter to look after his crea-
ture comforts, such as marketing, bed
linen, crockery and silverware." It thus
becomes apparent that, if any one is
disposed to violate the laws Of the
United States, he should be careful, if
he care for the refinements of confine-
ment, to select law to break
that hedges about the dignity Of the
senate with penalties, for. in that case,
courtesy"