Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-01
TWENTY-FIVE MEN TO GO
Curtailment Suggested by Repre-.
sentative Burleson.
TAFT Is PROMPT TO ACT
Sends for Commissioner Johnston
and Instructs That Policemen
Be Withdrawn.

A tremendous stir has been caused in
police circles throughout the city by
orders from Maj. Sylvester. superinten-
dent of police, issued upon instructions
from Commissioner Johnston, in charge
OF the police force Of the District, reduc-
ing the White House force of police OFF,
GERS by twenty-five men, all OF them men
doing inside duty.
The White House refuses to talk about
the question in any manner, but 1t known
tlat Representative Burleson of the ap-
preparations mmttee of the House went
directly to President Taft Friday and ask
ia him If it were not possible to cut the
White House force. The President i'm
mediately sent for COmmiss. .oner john
son and gave orders that the force be
reduced to the limit.
Gave the Order Direct.
The President did not even consult Sec
retary Hilles or Assistant Secretary For
ster. to ascertain the number of men on
the force or whether any of them could
be spared. All he knew was that Mr..
Eurleson, intimating that expenditures
must be kept to the limit, had desired to
make some of the cut in the White House,
and he acquiesced without further ado.
Maj. Sylvester received his orders from
Commissioner Johnston and without de-
lay issued orders for the return to their
respective precincts of twenty-five men.
These orders were temporarily delayed
SD as to permit the use Of the present
force at the White House today, during
tile Presidents reception. Unless there
is change in the situation the orders
will go into effect January g.
The men ordered to their stations are
those who do inside duty throughout the
White House. Mai. Sylvester is opposed
to sparing single man on outside duty
IN the grounds and his orders concern
only the others These men are on
the executive offices. Two of the best
men, headed by 8aoliceman DaIrymple,
nave long been stationed at the main
door of the executive offices and on more
than one occasion they have kept vio-
let lunatics and bad men" out of the
offices.
Three secret service men are on duty
At the executive offices and with the
president wherever he goes. All three Of
these men cannot be constantly on duty, |
their hours ranging from O'clock in !
the morning until midnight and after.
BIuecoats Effective.
1t has always been held that the pres
ence of blue-coated men at the doors OF |
the White House is much more effective |
than secret service men dressed in civil |
ian clothes. |
Fourteen of the twenty-five inside men |
are on duty inside Of the White House
proper and at the doors, where thousands |
of sightseers enter daily. These men aid |
in handling the crowds, keeping persons !
out of private places and keeping look |
out for cranks. A number of the worst |
cranks ever taken at the White House |
were arrested in these parts of the build |
ing The officers serve during the large |
receptions in helping to handle the |
crowds and in watching the doors and |
property. |
Because the President directed the
withdrawal of a large part of the force |
protecting him, White House officials do |
not know what to do. Some of the men
IS Is declared, especially those at the door |
of the Presidents offices. and at the |
doors of the main building, where the
public enters. There will probably be
the whole twenty-five will not be with
drawn, but nothing has yet been de- |
cided.
There has been no increase of the
police force at the White House since
PRESIDENT Roosevelt's time. |
Twenty-Four to Remain.
The twenty-four policemen left on duty |
in the White House grounds will remain. |
There will be eight on each of the three |
shifts daily, with a sergeant in charge.
Mr. Borleson. it was suggested today. |
may contemplate giving the White House |
additional men on the civil pay rolls to |
take the place of some of those needed |
as dOorkeepers.
The Commissioners and Mai. Sylvester |
so il is understood. welcomed the order to |
withdraw part of the detail of bluecoats |
from the White House. Year after year |
Maj Sylvester has complained of an in |
adequate police force, calling attention to |
the big detail of policemen at the White |
House to serve as guards.
Reports of the police captains submit |
ted to Maj Sylvester this morning show |
d permanent detail at the White House |
of fOrty-seven policemen. Sixty men We're !
on special duty there today to handle the |
holiday crowd. Twentyfour of the men |
were III summer attire for duty inside the |
Executive Mansion. while those who per- |
formed duty outside were in winter uni
form.