Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-03-16
WASHINGTON's CAPITOL GUIDES
Ihey Have Pooled Their Interests and
Formed a Syndicate.

Not to be behindhand, under the ex-
listing conoition of affairs, the capitol
guides-the dozen men who initiate the
brides and grooms of the outer world
into the mysteries of the great build
ing-lately merged themselves into a
syndicate They elected one of their
members chief, declaring themselves
willing to be governed by his orders.
and subjecting themselves to the rules
of the organization known as Guides
OF the United States capitol, duly ap-
pointed and sworn. . This trust"
was formed December l, 1898, the IL
guides agreeing TO stop the game of
hog which has been continuing ever
since the guides started In business. a
great many years ago. Howard Ken
nedy who has been pilot through the
intricate shoals of the nations political
harbor for 20 years or more, was
chosen chief. He may be seen any
day in the rotunda, short and swarthy,
astutely Sizing up" the persons who
walk through the large vaulted cham
Der. He strokes his mustache con-
templatively and beckons one of the
other guides to him.
Il just saw a nice looking couple
walk in toward the house, Jim he
says. Follow en- up and sec X they
don't want somebody, | think there S
something in it -
Since we started in the pooling
system" said one of the guides to the
correspondent, I'VE have found that
the thing has worked to the best in
terests of all concerned. We wonder
now why we never tried it before.
Why sometimes We used to lose more
money than we made. How? This
way. Suppose there was a Sunday
school excursion or some other coming
to town. One of the boys who
thought he was pretty cute, would slip
off to the station and make himself
thick with the excursionists. Like as
not, he would spend some money on
car tickets, If it was a Sunday school
excursion, or drinks, If it was some
other, with the chance of getting moth
do one another. Now, we all work
together. | tell you, it's great Ev-
cry day when the sightseers have gone,
we put our earnings in a pot and di-
vide equally. We bind ourselves TO
pay any member of the association So
a week as long as he is unable to work
collected from the other guides. That's
what we are doing right now in the
case of one of us who Is sick f"
These guides form an interesting
class to themselves, the men being well
known TO all of the senators and rep
resentatives who have served any time
and the newspaper correspondents. 1t
Is not an uncommon thing to see a
senator cracking joke with one of
them or relating an incident the tenor
the 46th congress" or recalling some
circumstances of an even earlier date
the majority of them are men who
have passed middle age and are of emil
nent responsibility. AS in every other
position connected in any way or
Office of guide is secured only by the
exertion of not a little influence.
The sergeant-at-arms of the senate
and house and the architect of the cap
tol constitute a police board AZ
their hands lies the selection of the
guides. The candidates must be pre-
pareo to furnish the best certificates
Of character and conduct before their
claims can be considered The num-
Der is limited to ~ Each is furnished
with nickel-plated badge by the po-
lice board, for which the sum of 81 is
exacted. Whenever the badge is re-
turned the money is repaid.
Some, If not many of the jobs in
Washington are sinecures, with good
pay at that. The Office of guide differs
entirely in this respect from any other,
They are positions the appointments to
which are not sinecures and have no
salary attached. Whatever is made ;
in the way of tips from the visitors
who are shown the sights. Hereto
fore the guides have been allowed to
tuRlEt 0U Genus an hOul ibi u Ivy hpt
exceeding three persons. Since the
guides association has been formed
the sum of % cents is usually asked
from each member of the party which
is piloted around. unless fixed charge
is arranged in advance. The guides
according to their regulations. while
not actually engaged in their duties are
Obliged to stay in the rotunda, under
the eye of the chief He sees that
they are not loafing and do not have a
chance to make a little ION the side"
If any one of them should wish TO do
such a thing Then, the rotunda is a
common center to which every one
who visits the capitol gravitates.
The fact that the congressional IL
brary Is now located in its own build
ing Is a great loss TO the guides.
Guides are not allowed in the new
building Washington Post.
SCHOOL SYSTEM OF PORTO RICO.