Evening star., 1923-07-28

Continued from First Page.)
Even before all six chins had dropped
to their normal level after being
tilted toward the mural paintings that
adorn the walls, a gentleman whose
braided hat proclaimed him to be the
chief of the United States Capitol
guides. approached and said:
Good morning. Nice morning !
suppose you would like to have a
guide escort you through the Capt.
tol. Only 25 cents a head. He can
tell you all about
Thank you. but we have employed
this gentleman to show around the
whole city. and he will direct us
through the Capitol" replied a mem
ber of the party. indicating the chauf-
feur. who wore no sign of badge or
anything else to make him an official
guide.
Barred Other Guide.
But he can't take you through
here" protested the chief. He isn't
even allowed in the building. Walk
around by yourselves il you wish, but
with him you can't go a step fur
ther"
But this is public building. He
is an American citizen" stammered
the apparently surprised tourist I'VE
prefer his company. We know him
and trust his statements: further, we
nave already paid him. Are we to be
held up for 25 cents more? At least
Just let him walk with u.s."
He can't even stay in this build
ing retorted the now excited chief
He amt got no business in here. l
dont want no contention about this
here affair, but I'll have to put him
out
Thoroughly indignant in reality bv
such an absurd argument. the visitor
demanded that he be taken to the
ofnce OF the sergeant-at-arms imme-
diately. The chief guide even pro-
tested against the chauffeur accom-
panying him there until the captain
OF the Capitol police, scenting some
thing unusual, interceded and took
the party personally to the Senate
officials office.
Against the Rules.
1ohhyy They ,scre,,I were politely received by
firmed the fact that 1t was against
the rules for any but the Capitol
guides to conduct visitors through
the building. He, too, said visitors
might go through alone, but smiled,
initiated finding their way through
such labrynth of halls without as
sistance. Asked who had propounded
such rule or law. he said the Cap
ttol police board, consisting of David
s. Barry, sergeant-at-arms of the Sem
ate: Joseph G. Rogers, sergeant-at-
arms of the House, and John Welsh,
acting architect of the building.
method. MIR. McGrain admitted Con-
gress had had no part in framing
the rule or law and said the SER
nt-at-arms of the House, Mr..
Rogers. had frequently declared in
his presence that the Capitol guides
should be paid salaries to conduct
Americans through their own build
ing without charge. Under present
conditions, every quarter goes into
the pocket of the man who does the
conducting.
No Opening on staff. :.
Haven't you got an opening on
the staff of guides." asked the re-
porter. who had counted three of
them conducting more than 125 per.
sons through at two bits" a head,
total Of s31 for less than an hours
work.
Sorry, we haven't. It's good
paying job, though" replied Mr..
MrGrain good naturedly. But tell
me. who are you"
Then the reporter made known his
ing cabs introduced himself and both
announced their intention of going
through the United States Capitol
with their chauffeur. rules and So
called law to the contrary and not
rotunda they met the two young
women and children and set out, full
ly expecting to find themselves in
police court within the hour
A lone guide started after them.
But the captain Of the Capitol police
force was just one step quicker.
Snatching him by the arm, he whis-
pered something in his ear which ne
evidently had already said to the
other guides. waiting for stray quar-
ters.
'Oh, you're going that wav are
you?" the guide said weakly, as the
party started toward the Senate side
on its now unobstructed tour of their
own limited States Cpnftol