The Washington times., 1912-06-05
POLICE Of CAPITOL
SEVERELY FLAYED
IN SENATE DEBATE
One Legislator Calls Watch
men at Building Sleepy
Headed Officers"

Capitol police came in for sharp crit
icism in the course of the discussion of
the legislative bill.
Senator Williams stirred the matter
up and then Senator Watson rushed
to the attack. He wanted to know II
about half the policemen could not bs
dispensed with.
IT notice sleepy headed officers sitting
around that never would be allowed in
real business institution" said he.
They are Of no use to anybody, even
to themselves, except to draw their
salaries. That think, is of personal
knowledge to every Senator. Why pen
sion them in this manner.
Senator Warren defended the notion
of having the Capitol we'll protected.
I'VE had a valuable Senate painting
quite recently carved up" said he.
Notwithstanding the sixty-seven,"
said Senator Smith Of Georgia.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota,
paid high tribute to the police of Wash
ington and Of the Capitol. and thought
the Capitol police too poorly paid. He
introduced an amendment to increase
their pay. but after discussion passed
it over for the time being.
Senator Warren said the House COM
mittee had cut the sixty-seven police
men down to thirty-three. and that he
had appointed a subcommittee, headed
by Senator wetmore. to investigate
Senator Wetmore made a statement To
the Senate, in which he said the sub
committee had come to the conclusion
the police force could not properly be
reduced. Senator Wetmore made re-
port of the number of police, showing a
force. including one clerk, of seventy
for the Capitol.
Senator Williams charged the police
were political hangers-on. and attacked
the efficiency Of the police in this
fashion:
my understanding is that as a matter
OF fact here is this great big magnifi'
cent Capitol, in some respects the great,
est building OF it's kind in the world
very valuable, and its safety is guarded
the safety of people going through IT Is
guarded, not by a well-appointed police
force, put there as policemen upon the
police force of a city are placed, be
cause of merit. but on the House side
because every one of them is placed by
the Democratic majority, and on the
Senate side understand that every on;
OF them is placed by the Republican ma
Jority.. 1t is just as purely a case o.
fayoritism as ever existed. They are
political hangeIs-on, and to them VIZ
intrust s the ssfety Of this great nationa
such little efficiency that although there
are siXty-seven of them hanging around
between here and the House somewhere
somebody came in here the other day
and ruthlessly cut one of the pictures II
the Capitol all to pieces. When we are
up here they are hanging around.
dare say that would not be the case il
anyone would come up and go through
here at night. 1t used to be my duty
very frequently to do 1t. because theI
the minority room upon the House sid,
was away up in the Capitol, and / haC
lots OF work to be done and 1t had to b'
kept up with at night. So my force anC
went there and were there at nigh
again and again, and you could pas
through this Capitol night after nigh
and You would not hear anything excep
the resounding echoes of you own foot
steps, and you would see a man at thu
door as you came in"
Senator Overman said he was greatly
astonished at the number of watchmeT
in the public buildings in Washington
But he had found none could be dis,
charged without crippling the service
The discussion drifted into the question
OF the number Of old soldiers on the
force.
After long debate thu Senate voted tc
have a force of siXty-seven priVates
with a captain, three lieutenants, anC
two special officers
A long wrangle occurred over the ques
tlon OF whether the Vice President couiC
count quorum when a quorum did no.
vote. The matter was not settled, but
the opinion was freely expressed thai
the Rules Committee ought to take this
N ar l. 1t.