The evening times., 1900-10-09
BALTImoRGs ODD ECONOMY.
al Lights Out in Its New Courthous
at y p. NJ.


BALTIMORE, Oct 9.-Members OF the
Baltimore bar were driven from the New
Library, on the top floor OF the new Court
House, by darkness at o'clock sharp last
night and a common coal oil lantern sup
piled the only light in Police Marshal Ham
ilton's Office on the first floor, business be-
ing suspended in the detective Office just
across the corridor from the narshaPs Of
fee for want of light, and watchmen made
their rounds with the assistance of the
Pickering light Of lanterns.
Acting on an order from Superintendent
of Public Buildings HeiIman, the chief en-
giner of the Court House. Thomas Fitzger-
aid had the machinery stopped current
turned off, and the bright electric lights
put out at the hour named. The cause for
this was said to be the economical policy
of the present municipal administration.
Prominent lawyers who were anxious to
devote two OF three of the quiet hours of
the night to reading and study IN the Law
Library were surprised to learn that they
would have to leave the building, supply
their own lights, or remain in darkness
after O'Clock AT first they were indig-
nant, but the more they thought Ok 1t the
more they were impressed with the beau
ties ana advantages u SSouOiuS III
pal affairs, and then IL daWned upon them
that it was funny.
When Chief Engineer Fitzgerald made
the announcement of lights out at 8
o'clock" among those who are deep in the
study Of legal intricacies in the Law LII
brary were Attorney General Isidor Ray
ner, ex-State's Attorney Henry Duffy, First
Assistant City Solicitor Olin Bryan, Mr..
Isaac Lobe straus. Louis Hochheimer. Karl
A. NJ Sholtz. William s. Cotton, and a
Foley Butler.
They were caught unprepared, having
neglected to stuff their pockets full Of
candles before leaving home, or to arm
| themselves with their trusty coal oil lam
terms. so they had to submit to the in
| evitabIe So with detected countenanees
! they filed out of the finest municipal
| court house in the country few minutes
before the lights went out, wondering
whether it would be wise to appeal to the
citizens who voted for the loan to put up
the building to vote another loan TO keep
| it in proper condition.
Police Marshal Hamilton had left his
! Office and PatroIman Charles Thing was
| in charge when the information was given
| him about the light out" order. Tele-
| phone calls and telegraph messages are
| often received at night and people call
=! for information or to make complaints
{ Lights at police headquarters is an abso-
| lutte necessity. because it would not look
we'll for the police to shut up shop at
O'Clock regularly. Mr.. Uhing w2s supplied
with a lanterns similar TO the kind Iail-
/ road freight brakemen carry, and this
/ furnished a dim light for the Office.
I Captain OF Detectives Pumphrey, when
/ told of what was TO happen, was amazed.
| Then he hustled around TO finish up his
! business, closed the office and left De-
! tectiye Hogan on duty in the corridor IN
! til II o'clock 10 notify anyone VINO might
| call that The detective department was
] forced to suspend business for the night.
! The c1ief engineer offered to give him
! candles or lanterns, but Captain Pun
| phrey said he wanted electric lights or
nothing.
| The Law Library. Marshafs Office and
! Detective Office are very much used at
/ night and heretofore they have been bril-
| IantIy lighted up TO midnight.