The Washington herald., 1918-03-18

w. VI. HAIRsTON.
for these men to come before the
national legislative body with
pleading voices, asking for some
thing that belongs to them by every
process of reasoning and justice.
At Risk of Life.
Not a night goes by that every
man guarding the Capitol does not
take his life in his hands; not a
day passes but what they are liza
Bile to run up against a crank ready
to do them injury. or an alien enemy
prepared to blow up the Capitol and
send their souls into eternity.
All for $77 a month!
Private light watchmen in this
city-iI the heart of a prosperous
city. in this most Christian land
are receiving much more than that
for guarding old rookeries not
worth six bits.
If these private watchmen did not
get at least 800 a month for do
ing the vigilant stunt where prac-
tically no responsibility is attached
they would jump their jobs in a
hurry. and any local business man
can corrobOrate this statement.
Now it wouldn't be surprising II
the members of the Capitol police
force are becoming imbued with the
same spirit. Nothing but patriotism
makes them stay. W. NJ. Hairston
who is championing their cause
contemplates resigninE next year
hence is actuated by unseIfish mo-
tives when he gave out the follow
ing statement last night:
Like all other organizations of
human origin" said Mr.. Hairston,
the Capitol police force is not
without its defects. but as a police
Organization 1 doubt very much
whether 1t is eXcelled by any other
in the United States: and in our
relations to the public we are uni
que as compared to other police
bodies in that there is hardly ever
a day in the year that we do not
come in contact with citizens from
every State in the union.
Tact and Intelligence.
1T requires a better grade OF tact
and discretionary intellie rnce to
handle the class of people we come
in contact with than 1t does the
police OF the average municipality
ut requires a higher degree OF
intelligence to discharge the duties
Gevolving upon Capitol police than
it does in the average cities. To
a certain extent the personnel OF
the Capitol police reflects the ave
rage intelligence of the States from
whence its members came.
1T may not be known generally
but it is a fact that the Capitol
police is composed of men from
every State in the union.
The attack made in the House
upon our efficiency while the legis-
lative appropriation bill was under
discussion was launched more from
lack of information than a deliber-
ate disposition to do the force ar
injustice.
In the statement that out OF
one hundred men comprising the
force only about thirty worked
the New York representative who
made the observation undoubtedly
got the number mixed up with one
of the shifts OF the force. The
force is divided up into three shifts
with an average working capacity
of about thirty to the shift.
IF the gentleman from New York
thinks that only thirty out OF
the hundred ever work, 1 would
invite him to become No. 81, and
in less than a week l am quite sure
he would go upon the floor of the
House and correct this unintention-
al, but erroneous, injustice done the
force.
Well Omcered.
mo police force in the United
States is better officered than that
of the Capitol Our captain is
one of Oklahoma's distinguished
citizens, and our lieutenants are
men of prominence and experience
from Missouri, New Jersey and
Maryland.
I'VE are not discouraged over the
fact of the low fat rate of increase
that the House somewhat grudg.
ingly voted us. 1t is hoped that
the failure will be picked up and
corrected in the Senate.
Under the present system of rent
profiteering and the high cost Of
living, those of the force who are
receiving a stipend of $77 a month
will be forced to return to theil
homes.
Il believe that the American ma.
tion Is willing to pay a living wage
for the policing of its Capitol ant
public grounds. In the Senate they
do not proceed with such great
rush. and the facts upon which the
merits of our case rest will receive
greater consideration.
The Capitol police force, anC
whatever it is intrinsically, is di.
rectly the results of the admins.
tration Of the sergeants-at-arms o.
both the Senate and House, super
vised personally by the captain o.
the force, who is a veteran; Officer
Of long and successful career"