Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-13
No Law Against 1t.

The law trainers for the District of CO.
lumbia would no doubt receive serenade
OF thanks from great many thousands of
the afflicted in Washington if they would
make the people of Washington a Christ
mas present of such an ordinance The
door-beli-rfng1ng nuisance in this town has
grown to be almost intolerable, for no bet
ter or no worse reason than that there is
absolutely no law on the District police
ordinance scroll prohibiting the door bell
ringers exercise of whatever mild or SOW
ereisn impotence they choose to exhibit.
L MS question was put to well-knoWn po-
Ice official few days ago by a Star man:
HAS any shabby outcast, offering 10 pur-
Vey grimy bit of unstickabe sticking
piaster' or any persistent and unshakabie
female desiring to sell System of Russian
thoroughly Taught in Three Weeks, the
right to walk up the steps leading to the
main door of Washingtonian's residence
ling the Washingtonian's door bell and de-
mana OF the servant answering the ring
that the master or mistress of the house be
Immediately hauled into the hail. whsther
breakfast, luncheon or dinner Is being
served or not?"
Yes was the police officials reply.
Unreservedly, yes. There is absolutely no
law here prohibiting just the sort of thing
you describe. Such law has been sug-
gested hundreds of times; but the house.
holders of Washington are a pretty CON
servative people as a whole, and it is con-
fessedly hard to get them together for the
purpose OF registering a hard kick. accom-
panied by demand, on a question OK this
sort The edge which the door bell ringer
has upon his victim here in Washington is
that he must make two escalades of the
same residence. and be warned the first
time, before there is any show whatever of
his being punished. For instance: The
DOCK agent visits a house and is told by
the master or mistress thereof that his
piece OF literature is not only not wanted.
put that even his presence is not hankered
Tor, and that he must not ring that par
tieular door bell on another occasion. Well
a few months later, by accident or design,
the same book agent tugs at the same
door bell. If the master OF the house re-
MEMBERS remote enough contingency,
you will perceive-thep countenance Of this
book agent, and also remembers that he
more, and becomes angry with the recollec-
tlon, ne can have the man arrested. Then
ne Is compelled to make his appearance in
the Police Court, Where the book agent has
charge OF disorderiy conduct against him.
Small Chance Of Redress.
Here you will sea, is law that is
about as valuable as crushed paper hat
box. don't recall that such case as
have described ever actually occurred and
have only instanced 1t to illustrate how
exceedingly small isy the redress in law
which the Washingtonian has against the
people who. poster his household with tugs
at his door bell.
.oA eAo Pouce pOinI OF view, tuere Is
another aspect to this matter that is more
than worthy OF attention. There IL IN WASH
ington, as well as in nearly all large cities,
brigade of thieves, both men and women
VINO masquerade as canvassers. In Wash
tngton the work Is simply cut out for this
c-ass OF thieves. The canvasser-thief, or
dinarily pretty well,gotten-up chap, walks
boldly to the front door bell, gives 1t q
wrench; the servant appears. and Is POI
itely or inDeriously requested to produce
the mistress Of the house While the SER
want Is on this quest, the canvasser-thief.
who has acquired all the quiclrness neces-
sary In his business, IL at liberty to pick
up what he fancies In the way Of bric-a-brac
In the pariors, or even Of jewelry and mon-
ey In living rooms on the ground door, pro-
viding the servant has been obliged to seek