Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06

The Department of State is we'll known
for It's exclusiveness." remarked official
OF another department to a Star reporter.
and that is particularly the case with re-
spect to changes in the classified force Of
the department There were a number of
promotions there last week. 1 heard a
newspaper man ask for the changes for
publication. He was told they would not
he given out. Knowing that such was con-
trary to the practice of other executive de-
partment. / asked one OF the officials the
reason for secrecy. and what do you think
was the explanation: Why. simply that
some OF the clerks were in debt to local
merchants and did not want them to know
that their salaries had been Increased for
fear that they would be called upon to
settle. Some people may think that a
good reason for secrecy. but to my mind
ii was good reason for publicity. The
heads OF the departments have been fire.
quently urged to compel delinquent clerks
TO settle their just debts, and while. a
rule. they have declined to interfere.
never before heard of an instance where
the department thought 1t necessary to
assist the employees In the evasion Of their
financial obligations
among certain women employees of Uncle
Sans two print shops-the government
printing office and the bureau Of engraving
and printing-over what Is termed by some
OF the fair workers the government
shape" 1t Is said this shape was created
10y the civil service commission for the
women employees Of the bureau where the
paper money and stamps are printed and
[ for on
In that branch to refer to their figures as
the government shape"
According to regulations OF the civil
service commission the measurements call
sinuous; height. feet inches; weight
l5I pounds bust. 20 inches; waist Is
inches; hips, AZ inches. and back. 15h
inches.
\ case OF the rejection OF a young woman
from Michigan is cited because she was
not tall enough for her width to meet the
requirements, although her percentage in
other directions was said to have been
high. 1t is explained that 1t is necessary
Tor woman to be tall in order that she
may reach the notes while on the press
woman of short stature could not reach
the notes. while one OF unusual girth would
not have room to stoop between the
presses in the process of printing
It's pity that Fairgrounds are not pro-
Vided for all sections Of the city, was the
remark of Capitol Hill man to a Star re-
porter after the young son of a neighbor
had been arrested upon the serious charge
OF having engaged In game of base ball
upon the public streets.
IF We had Fairgrounds sufficient to &C.
commodate all the boys he added, fewer
of our boys would have police records, and
the records of the police would show fewer
arrests. Some otherwise brilliant records
NJ policemen might be smashed, but then
we are not interested in such records"
The man who related the story told how
the boy, who is twelve years old and is
small for his age, happened to engage in
a game OF ball with some companions on
a vacant lot. policeman appeared upon
the scene and the pitcher became SO ex-
cited that he made a wild throw and the
ball actually rolled across the sidewalk
What Gid the policeman do?" he echoed
He just arrested the one boy who did not
run and escorted him to his home. His
mother was told to have the boy I'm the
Juvenile Court the next morning, and the
was there on time. By the way. what a
farce ii IS to arraign boy upon such a
charge and ask him If he is guilty. The
boy admitted he had been playing ball on
the lot and his response was about to be
construed to mean plea of guilty. but his
father came to his rescue and explained to
Judge De Lacy that the boy had committed
no offense."
He explained that the policeman was
questioned by the court and he had to ad-
init that ne had seen no offense committed
lie did the bali roll over the sidewalk
and he told of a confession made by the
manly little fellow.
But" he added the confession did not
amount to anything. The fact that a ball
a~id. no offense, and the charge
against the boy dismissed. Here we
nave a case of a boy arrested for nothing.
but still his name has to appear upon the
records
our children to be subjected to such
treatment and driven into sheds and alleys
60 play. what will our future generation
amount to?
Give us more breathing spaces and play
grounds" he concluded. and not only will
our boys he spared police records but they
will get the proper exercise and fresh air
10 III them for future life
They were all automobile people. sales
agents and consulting experts. five In num-
Der. and they were swapping yarns the
other evening In hotel lobby Talking
about sale chsses said one, II had all
that was coming to me some time ago.
was busily engaged in the east when a let
ter received from Ohio town that
had every appearance OF a possible sale. II
was from a person obviously very much in
tereSted In the motor truck proposition
with view toward getting a power wagon
to SIpplant horse trucks II was intelli-
gently written. In good English and fair
handwriting, and concluded by asking for
catalogue. 1t was signed Francis c.
At once I decided that the trip from Massa
chusetts should he made and while II was
pleasant the finale was surprising The
address given that of tonsorial
artist and Francis c., notwithstanding the
misspelling. happened to be the twelve
year-old daughter OF the barber who was