The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-12

Sheetz & Bishop. of 6l4 Twelfth Street
northwest. have written to the Commits
sioners asking for information as to the
exact nature of the instructions given to
the police relative to amateur photogra-
piers at the time of the Inauguration.
Considerable anxiety they say, has been
produced among amateur photographers
by an article recently published in a local
paper relative to the Instructions given
to the police narrowing the privileges of
local and visiting deyotees of this edu
eating and elevating art Hence the de-
sire to know precisely what the new regu
lations may be.
In this connection" say the writers
I'VE most respectfully submit that as
rule the amateur photographer is an earn
est and intelligent worker, whose aim is
not to annoy personages in public life by
stealing a snapshot nor to invade pri-
waite premises for like purpose. Anna
teur photographers have suffered mucn
and uncomplainingly. on account of the
acts of the representatives of newspapers
and magazines. who are broadly classed as
amateur photographers. but who are in
reality professional photographers. this
being branch of the vocation from which
their livelihood is derived.
"A case in point is found in the severe
criticisms of which amateur photogra-
piers were the butt, which appeared In
the different newspapers on the occasions
Of the interment at Arlington OF those who
laid down their lives in the Cuban cause
The so-called disgusting exhibitions on
these occasions were the acts of news
paper men, whose papers denounced the
innocent amateurs unsparingly as the PER
petrators. publishing, however. the pic
lures obtained by these same disgusting
exhibitions on another page.
The amateur photographer is an inof-
fenslve. intelligent and law hiding citi-
zen. whose aims are not profit, but the
reproduction. as art specimens. Of the
many beauties OF our Capital City. and
we most respectfully submit that his work
should be encouraged rather than dis
couraged. Why cannot our parks be
thrown open TO him under conservative
restrictions, that he may reproduce, pho
Geographically, the fine statuary specl-
mems and other interesting subjects there
TO be found? Numbers of incidents have
come within our knowledge where the po-
lice have driven amateurs from making
pictures in the parks because it was or
find justification.
One day This week 2 gentleman desir-
ing to take picture OF Jackson's statue
in Lafayette Square was made 30 move on.
another gentleman found a choice bit of
scenery in one OF the Mall Parks, but
when he had leyeled his camera TO make
the exposure policeman came up and
warned him that 81 he made that picture
ii would cost him $40
IN reporting upon the matter yesterday
to the Commissioners the Superintendent
of Police said that no such orders were
given. or even contemplated. Some days
ago, he says, in speaking of Inauguration
day, he informed certain persons that 1t
would be his effort to prevent photog-
raphers, or others from entering ON the
line OF parade without a special permit.
But this is as far as he has gone in the
matter. He said he had not issued, and
did not intend to issue, any order which
Will deprive anyone the use of a kodak.
AS 30 the parks, the Superintendent
says they are under the immediate super
vision OF the Superintendent of Public
Buildings and Grounds. and are in charge
Of watchmen who, no doubt, have their in
struetions relative 10 the matters re-
ferred to.