Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
w Awnings NO MORE
"PANHANDLERS, AT CAPITOL
GIVEN NO MERCY.
Officers Make Arrests and Gases End
in Police Court-Grafters
Scared Away.

The record of the Capitol police force for
the first two weeks Congress has been in
session, ending yesterday, makes a re-
markable showing as to ''panhandling and
other petty forms OF grating that have
been practiced heretofore In the Capitol
building and grounds.
At the beginning Of previous sessions the
two weeks preceding the Christmas holi-
days have been veritable harvest season
for "panhandlers" and others of that Xix.
During the past two weeks not a single
arrest has been made nor complaint regis
tered because of the shady transactions of
the ''glad-hand' and 'tale Of woe" frater-,
nifty, the members of which hold up sena-
tors, representatives and others and ask for
loans or gifts of cash.
The showing is said to have been the re-
suit of policy which has been adopted
by Capt. John r. Megrew, chief of the Cap
itol police, and which has been carried into
erect by Detective Fred Weber and the
many of the 'spanhandlers'' when detected
In following their calling were simply eject
ed from the building and warned. Hereafter
such characters VIII be taken before the
Police Court. They are usually, when con-
victed, given sentences Of sixty days at
the workhouse.
Chain Gang Sentence Substituted.
There will be no more warnings given. ;"
said member of the Capitol force to a
Star reporter yesterday. I'VE have found
that warnings are not as effective as a
term In the chain gang and sixty days OF
labor with pick and shovel. Word has
been passed around among the grating
fraternities of our intention in this matter
and that is why we have not had single
complaint or arrest during the two weeks
thn~ cnnf H.,
veteran Capitol policeman recalled that
a few years ago the Capitol building and
grounds were infested with every type of
the beggar fraternity from the Please
give-me-a-penny, mister" small fry, to the
pompoiis CRATER who, with mock embar-
rassment, asked for ten spot" Gust to
tide me over, you know, until / get a re-
mfttance from home.
Another type that was very much In EVIL
dence at that time were the men, women
and sometimes boys who wanted their repre-
sentatives or senators to loan them enough
money to return to their homes, which,
.trict of the particular statesman they were
trying to panhandle They usually had
carefully framed hard-luck stories to tell
as an argument In favor Of the loan.
This form of graft was adopted by pro-
fessional roadsters. who made study of
the districts of the members they were go-
ing to approach, and were able therefore to
refer the member to certain leaders of his
party in his home counties, or to talk know
ingly and Familiarity OF men and matters
in the district
Experience Of Judge English.
The late Judge English. the author OF
ben Bolt" had an experience with typi-
cal hobo when the judge represented the
Newark, N. J., district in the House OF
Representatives. The fellow spruced up for
the occasion and. going to the Capitol. sent
his card in to the Newark member, who was
noted as humanitarian. When Judge Eng
lish came out the fellow 'skow-towedn and
introduced himself as an important member
of Mr.. English's party. He talked familiar
ly of some of the Essex county politicians,
Former Representative William Fielder,
afterward postmaster OF Newark, was de-
scrtbed as Me chum Billy Fielder" while
former Representative Lehlbaeh was spoken
of as ..Leily.ss After the fellow had almost
exhausted his stock Judge English finally
said:
well, my man, all this talk Is leading
up to something What can do for your
The alleged Essex county politician, draw
Ing himself up to his full length, said:
It's awfully embarrassing TO me- yer
honor, to have to make me declaration,
but truth Is am temporarily financially
embarrassed and want enough money 10
see me home to Newark. An will do
the act. and will return it as soon as !
reach home.'s
.Certainly. I will let you have the
money said Judge English. with a good
natured twinkle In his blue eyes.
The h0bo,8 face was at once Wreathed Ia