Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07
The Veterans end the Capitol Police.


beg the indulgence Of The Star to place
he United States Capitol police in the right
light respecting the occurrence at the Capi-
toll on Tuesday of this week. when the rem
resentatfves Of the confederate army came
to the Capitol Representative John Wesley
Gaines of Tennessee In his presentation of
thls matter to the representative of The
Star OF the 9th instant, says he knows of
no law that would have been violated had
these organizations been granted permission
to march into the Capitol grounds. In the
first place, those in authority at the Capitol
had not been consulted In any manner and
knew nothing, nor do they now, Of a mill
tary permit which is said to have been
granted this armed and uniformed body Of
men mot of the United States service) to
enter the city. If this were necessary 1t
would seem to be proper and right that ap-
plication in some form to those in charge OF
the Capitol and its grounds should have
been made when the law (Which l hereafter
quote is prohibtory, and are not should
not be easy of suspension by those charged
with their enforcement
Section 9, chapter 25S R. s.. U. S. en-
titled See &C to regulate the use of the
Capitol grounds.
1t Is forbidden to parade, stand or move
III procession or assemblages or display any
flag banner or device designed or adapted
to bring into public notice any party or or
ganlzation or movement therein. Approved
July Is, 1882.
Re-enacted by the acts approved January
u Juie OV loV- Gee COue Oh laws,
section $50, subchapter T. page 1855.
Section 800 Who may suspend prohibi-
ton.
The President of the Senate and the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
acting concurrently, provided: That respon-
sible officers shall have been appointed and
arrangements determined adequate. in the
judgment of the said President of the Sem
ate and Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, for the maintenance of order
and decorum, and in their absence 1t shall
devolve upon the Capitol police commits
sion.
None of these officers being in the Capt.
toll, and no application having been made
for the suspension Of these acts of Congress
the police had no authority to allow the
procession to pass except by disarmament.
Sergt. Nichols, who was in charge Of the
building and grounds at the time, had been
advised by me that the organisation would
probably seek admission, and II so he
should prevent 1t. This officer. when asked
by Mr.. Gaines, II the Capitol police would
guard the arms and equipment OF the bat
TALON, answered civily that the Capitol
police had no authority to do any act out
that metropolitan police officers. who were
present, could properly perform this service.
I wish to add here that on all occasions
when the President OF the United States IL
inaugurated and on all other occasions
when organized bodies of the army and
navy militia enter, or parade on the
Capitol grounds these regulations are main
tanned, permits to bear arms being formally
granted in all instances. In other words,
the law evidently intended for good
purpose, not for application on this special
occasion or any other, but to be observed
on all occa sions. ]. P. MEGREW,
Captain U. S. c. Police.