The Washington herald., 1909-08-01

/ shOtgunS, ana sulettOes. Ihey were COM
PEELED TO enter strange houses, grope in
the dark. and run the risk Of a knife
thrust when and where they least ex-
pected II.
! Through their interpreter the sullen
/ foreigners were told that the State in
sisted upon law and order, and that the
mounted troopers would see that law and
order was maintained The detail then d.
vided into pairs and started 10 patrol the
| town. The men had two days and two
nights OF continuous duty before they
could get any rest
The constabulary is uniformed IN dark
gray whipcord, with black puttees and
dark gray helmets. The blouse is much
/ Ike the blouse OF the field service uni
form Of the regular army. and for fatigue
duty the troopers wear a dark gray cap.
also shaped like those OF the army. The
! combination has neat soldierly appear
ance, and Is not without dignity For
winter there Is roomy great coat OF the
same color, covering both the wearer
legs and the pommel and cantle Of his
saddle. For storms in summer the rub
Der cavalry cape is provided. The horses
are supplied by the State. as well as the
uniforms. Most of the mounts come from
tho West. II they are not as trim and
sleek as those Of our mounted police, they
probably are OF greater endurance. The
country which they have to travel is
stner, and rocks and thorns more COM
mon than shade trees and macadam
roads.
1t is not TO be wondered that this duty
Is attracting the best noncommissioned
officers OF the regular army The work
IS more exciting, the men have a chance
Tor more Initiative, and they are paid
quite handsomely. A private Of constab,
ulary receives $40 a year, his horse, uni
form, and house TO live In. The regular
gets less than $40 a year and his food,
clothes, and care. But the mess account
at constabulary barracks is not usually
an extravaganza. 1t runs about $40 a
month for each man. and as he advances
IN promotion his pay increases according
". sergeant receives 1900 a year. a
Lieutenant $500. and captains $3.50. No
married men are accepted.
Two Years EnIiNtment.
Terms Of enlistment are for two years,
unless sooner discharged for cause. and
with the long waiting list at headquarters
the troopers have to lead rather exem-
plary lives to hold their positions. When
Capt. Groome began the examinations or
men TO enlist force OF 252 he had more
than l.oO0 applications
The country which the constabulary
patrols is not as wild as Texas or the
Northwest Territory. but there are parts
or pennsylvania which, 10 say the least.
are obscure. The constabulary TO some
extent superseded the coal and iron Do
nee paid and directed by private corpo-
rationS. Experience had taught Pennsyl-
Il n Hhnf
something more formidable than either
sheriff or militia. TO impress mischief
makers with the authority OF the law.
therefore, upon the combination OF DO
liceman's club ard helmet, SOLDIERS uni
form and gun, with real flghtlng man
inside. who can at times use discretion.
pennsylvania now relies to solve vexa-
tious problem
Texas. when It first put the famous
Rangers In the field, was confronted with
a similar situation. These riders owned
their own mounts and received $40 a
month, with arms and ammunition from
the State. II was the life. not the pay.
that attracted men Like the mounted
police Of Canada, they chased outlaws.
road agents Indians and cattle thieves.
settled land disputes. made Texas order
ly. and gained the respect OF every class
q. L
IN the saddle for hours at a stretch rode
miles upon miles Of dreary wastes. but
never failed 10 get what they started for
and accomplished their purpose without
noise or buster.
In place Of hot sun and freezing bliz-
yards which the Rangers and Canada's I
mounted police have TO face. Pennsvl- /
wanna constabulary must ride danger /
Gus hill and mountain roads in fogs and /
darkness. bitter cold winter weather. and 4
deep snow There probably is not a more /
ueacherous country east OF the Missis- \
sippi than these same mountain districts
OF Pennsylvania.
Not for Private Interests.
Impressions have gone out that the con-
stabulary is a creation OF the State for
the sole protection Of the property Of the
big coal operators. Nothing could be far
ther from the truth. The constabulary is
a venture in economy, and labor trouble
was only one Of the causes that brought
about its organization. The Pennsylvania
legislature. il Is true, became tired of
providing for the payment Of its National
Guard when on strike duty II costs
much money TO keep even one regiment
IN the field for single week. Several
regiments have been necessary every
time Pennsylvania has resorted to mar
tial law, and the bills that resulted
seemed a wicked extravaganza to Penn
sylvania Dutch economy.
Gov. Pennypacker was largely respon-
sble FOR the bill which created the con-
stabulary, but the measure was popular
enough with the members 70 go through
without any question. and they appro-
priated more than $iOC, coo, 20 be used at
the discretion Of the superintendent IN
raising the new force. In fact, so willing
were they TO let the governor lift the
troublesome State police business off their
hands that they took little pains with the
Dill Itself, and consequently the law as
entered on the statute book is not the
strongest one I'm the world. II had
enough weak spots to tempt the United
Mine Workers Of America to test it's
provisions in the court. Resolutions also
we're passed demanding the repeal of the
aw by the legislature.
Apparently however. the trouble
makers In the mining districts now see
IN the mounted force new and impor-
-ant factor In the outcome OF labor move
ments. Therefore, they do not wish II
70 iterfere whenever they start de-
But besides troublesome
people in the coal and iron and manu-
acturing fields Pennsylvania has other
'ad men abroad, and these have a faculty
II operating through the country districts
'ut OF range Of the city police. Yeggmen.
lorse thieves, game poachers, and high
Yaymen-all ply their trade In this State.
The eonstabulary pursues these fellows
ust as hard as the rioters among the I
oal and iron employees.
She Declines. {
He keeps telling me that his heart is !
shattered"
Maybe he expects you 70 put It to-
gether again"