Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-14
Guarding Washington
BIZ Frederic j. Haskin

BIZ Frederic j. Hasksn
Washington, May ll-Ths is probably the
only city in the United States where the war has
worked striking change in the appearance OF
things. The White House grounds, which have
long been public park, now are barred and are
closely guarded, while to the White House itself,
formerly hospitable to sightseers, none but the
presidents family and their accredited guests are
admitted. Executive departments which formerly
hung out signs mo visitors admitted after p.
M, now admit no visitors at ALL while armed
guards meet all corners at the door, and question
them closely. Very different are these war time
department guards from the sleepy doormen of
few months ago.
The greatest change of all has come over the
War department. Formerly almost anyone could
enter, and visitors and newspaper men strayed
through the halls in droves. Now a written pass
is necessary and every visitor is led to the official
he wants to interview by messenger, while SEN
tries with rifles stand at intervals in the halls.
Within the Offices there is such rush of business
and clatter OF tipping as never before, and the win
dows blaze with lights until early morning.
Nearly thousand troops are engaged in the
guarding OF public works in and about Washing
ton. The center Of the system of guarding Wash
ington is the metropolitan police department
under Major Raymond w. Pullman. With it are
which have been mustered into government serv-
ice, the investigating service OF the Department
OF Justice, with its 400 trained operatives the Sc
cret service, and the office of naval intelligence,
which is sort OF naval detective force. A full
quota OF rifles is stored in every police precinct
and the department has 100000 rounds of am
munition. A citizen home guard, similar to that
in New York has been organized to take over
the ordinary patrol work in case the police are
called to other duty. Every point that could pos
siby be considered vulnerable is closely guarded,
while the three government detective services,
which have their headquarters in Washington,
make it possible Immediately to follow any line
of investigation which may suggest itself.
The greatest responsibility which falls upon
Washington police is that of guarding the White
House. While it is true that the secret service
is charged with guarding the body of the pres-
dent, large part of the responsibility for his safe
ty devolves upon the police; for the secret service
has only few men in his immediate presence,
while the police department now has hfty-eght
men in the White House and about its grounds.
They are picked members Of the force and some
of them are invaluable for this particular work be-
cause OF their wide acquaintance among public
men. Being able to identity cabinet officers and
other government officials by sight, they save a
great deal Of delay in admitting these.
In addition to the policemen inside the White
House and those that guard all the entrances to
the high iron fence which separates the back of
the White House grounds from Potomac park
These men are not visible to the public, and do
not control the gates they are there solely to
prevent anyone from entering the White House
grounds unseen.
In order to make the metropolitan police ade-
quate for its increased duties congress has granted
it an increase of 100 men. So far, fifty OF these
have been employed. In order to maintain the
high standard necessary for the capital city police
force, SOU applicants were examined. Eighty-fve
OF these were found eligible, and from this num-
Der the fifty men were chosen.
Washington police receive higher salaries than
those of any except few of the largest cities in
the country, and this high rate of pay is neces-
sary in order to secure the right type of men. For
Washington policeman has the most varied and
unusual duties. The handling of sghtseers, dis
tinguished visitors, and cranks are all difficult de-
tails OF the days police work in Washington.
There is probably no city in the country where it
is more difficult to tell who is who Senators who
look like tramps, foreign diplomats who resemble
strays from some of New York's foreign quarters,
strangers OF impressive bearing who turn out to
be unatics at large are among the pitfalls in the
path OF the Washington policeman. He avoids
them in part by being very polite to everyone re-
CARELESS OF age SEX color, state OF intoxicaton
Washington drunk may be just drunk or he
may be someone of importance relaxing from the
cares of official life.
Again the Washington policeman must special
ize in giving directions He will tell you exactly
how to get where you want to 60, and if he does
not know he will look the matter up in little
book which he carries. This service is absolutely
necessary for while the plan of Washington is
simple after you get used to it, the Mayday visitor
from small town finds it extremely confusing.
In guarding the numerous government bu-
reaus, the police department has been supple
mented by a special detail of the clerks of each
bureau. These men have been put in uniform,
given rifles, and placed under the direction of the
police. There is no branch of the government
service, no matter how unmtary its character,
which you may enter without encounterng an
armed man and close questioning about your
business Nothing alarming has happened in
Washington. and if caution and thoroughness can
prevent it, nothing is going to happen