The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-05-24
WASHINGTON CHAT

Better police protection is needed for
the National Capital. In one short
week six white women have been held
up and robbed by colored men. Some
of the attacks occurred in the suburbs
and others took place in the heart of
the city. Such carnival of crime is
unprecedented in the criminal annals
of Washington. The lack of protec-
ton is not due to the inefficiency of
the police force, but to insufficient
numbers. At present there are 635
policemen. Many of them are utilized
for clerical work at court, guards for
foreign legations and attaches at the
District Building. A detail of SO men
is required for the White House alone.
1t is the consensus of opinion among
citizens that as the Executive Mansion
is strictly governmental property, it
should be guarded by soldiers or by a
police force especially selected, like
the force employed at the Capitol
building, and thus allow the people
of the district to enjoy the protection
for which they pay. The great preva-
lence of crime has resulted in the
District Commissioners appealing to
the Senate Committee on Appropria-
tiens for sum sufficient to place 100
additional men on duty Immediately.
There are many queer positions in
the government service but none can
beat that of the "Oficial Clock
Winder" in the Treasury Department.
Each Monday morning this man,
with ladder on his shoulder, starts
out to wind and regulate the many
time pieces, and so numerous are the
clocks in the big money house, that
when Saturday night arrives he is
just finishing winding the last clock,
and is ready to begin all over again.
Each government department has its
official clock tender, but the man who
has charge of those in the postoffice
building will soon be minus his posi-
ton if the new scheme just put into
use, is effective.
On the third floor of the building,
over a small balcony, hangs one OF
the ordinary clocks which can be seen
from any of the eight stories in the
big court. Near the clock has been
placed three metal chimes which are
struck by an electrical contrivance
operated from the Naval Observatory.
The gong strikes the hour and half
hour, and can be plainly heard by all
of the several thousand employees.
Now there is no longer any excuse for
clerks leaving their desks just to "get
the correct time" 1t looks as if the
official clock winder will soon be down
and, out.
President Roosevelt surprised the
thousand or more guests at Speaker
Cannon's birthday celebration. On
most OF his visits to receptions, the
theatre, etc. the President is accom-
panied by secret service men and
policemen dressed in plain clothes,
but this time he dispensed with all
of them, and accompanied only by
Secretary Loeb pushed and elbowed
his way through until he reached the
end of the line when he offered the
Speaker his congratulations.
As the democratic manner in which
the President had entered the room
and made his way through the crowd
without the assistance of body guards
was observed, ringing cheer was
sent up by those who witnessed the
unusual sight. The spirit of comrade-
ship exhibited by the President in
mingling with the crowd, giving and
taking quip and jest, and deporting
himself as Theodore Roosevelt, citizen,
was most favorably commented upon.
1t is singular fact, but nobody has
ever seen ce-President Fairbanks rid
ing to the Capitol building. About
10 O'Clock each morning he can be
seen swinging down 18th street to
Pennsylvania avenue, his tall form
being conspicuous among the crowd
surging in opposite directions, and
he occasionally stops to exchange
greetings with those who have recog-