The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-24
WASHINGTON CHAT.
= Letter Treating Various Matters
Occurring at the National Capital.

others took place in the heart Of the T!
city. Such a carnival of crime
is unprecedented in the criminal
annals of Washington. The lack OF
protection is not due to the inefficiency
of the police force but to insufficient
numbers. At present there are 635 po-
licemen. Many of them are utilized
for clerical work at court, guards for
foreign legations and attaches at the
District Building. A detail of 80 men
is required for the White House alone.
citizens that as the Executive Mansion
is strictly q governmental property it
should be guarded by soldiers or by
police force especially selected like the
force employed at the Capitol building,
and thus allow the people of ehe Dis
trict to enjoy the protection FOR which
they pay. The great prevalence of
crime has resulted in the District Com
missioners appealing to the Senate Com
mittee on Appropriations for a sum suf-
ficient to place 100 additional men on
duty Immediately.
There are many queer positions in the
government service but none can beat
that Of the ''official clock winder" in
the Treasury Department. Each Mon
day morning this man, with a 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 finished 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 Postofiice
building will soon be minus his position
, 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 plain
/ ly 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 birthday celebration. On
most Of his visits to receptions, the
theatre, etc, the President is accom-
panied by Secret Service men and po-
icemen dressed in plain clothes bat this
time he dispensed with all Of them and
accompanied only by Secretary Loeb,
pushed and eibo"ed his way through
the waiting throng 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 with
out the assistance Of body guards was
observed, ringing cheer was sent up
by those who witnessed the unusual
sight. The spirit of comradeship eX-
hibited by the President in mingling
with the crowd, giving and taking quip
and jest, and deporting himself as The
odore Roosevelt, citizen, was most fav-
orably commented upon,
1t is a singular fact, that nobody has
ever seen Nice-President Fairbanks rid
ing to the Capitol Building About 10
O'Clock each morning he can be seen
swinging down 18th street to PcnnSyl-
vania Avenue, his tall form being con
spicuous among the crowd urging in
opposite directions, and he occasionally
stops to exchange greetings with those
who have recognized the Tall Syca-
more" and insist upon q brief inter
change of coutesies. He is always
good natured on such occasions and
takes these Interruptions of his Journey