Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-14

Lecturers on sightseeing buses no
longer are allowed to accompany their
parties to the door of the Capitol, but
are required to surrender them to a
guard at the foot of the Capitol steps
new rule. banning sightseeing COM
pany employees from entering the build
ing, was put into effect yesterday, it
became known today.
At the Capitol 1t was explained that
the rule against the lecturers entering
the building was ar attempt to uphold
the dignity of the edifice Many sight
seeing party conductors appear at the
building without coats and in various
degrees OF disarray, often lettering about
smoking cigarettes and talking in groups
while their parties are being shown
through the interior of the Capitol
Companies Object.
AS result of the edict the old con-
troversy between sightseeing companies
and the Capitol guard force fiared
again. with the Black and White Co.
leading in the expression of objection
to the rule. The Royal Blue Line, ad-
uniting that opposition is futile, said
that the Capitol guard force, after all,
is boss and that antagonism brings
nothing but further restrictions. No
official statement was forthcoming at
the Gray Line Offices, another of the
principal lines affected because of the
absence from the city of that company's
manager, but officials in charge de-
clared the situation is unpleasant" and
they indicated the matter would be
taken up on the return of their head.
Heretofore, 1t was pointed put by J.
7
Black and White Co, sightseeing lee
turers, have accompanied their patrons
to the door Of the Capitol. where a
guide of the buildings official force
took charge OF the visitors and con-
Quoted them through the structure.
The guides are paid a fiat rate weekly
by the sightseeing companies. Under
that regulation. Mr. Macdonald said,
the lecturer would leave his party and
return to his coach to wait for them to
complete their tour of the building.
Now, however the lecturers are for
hidden to mount the Capitol steps,
while their parties are conducted from
the sidewalk to the door by a member
of the Capitol police force, who turns
them over to the guides inside the
building. The new rule was put into
effect on instructions from the SER
geants-at-arms Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives.
Halted at Steps.
1.-THE first any one knew of the rule, ,
Mr.. Macdonald said today, was yes
terday when one of our coaches drew
up to discharge its passengers at the
curb One of the Capitol police spoke
grufIly to the lecturer. saying. Say, you
can't come I'm this building making 1,
embarrassing for the lecturer. as well
as for the visitors with him
Expressing dissatisfaction with the
general condition, Mr.. Macdonald de-
clared that visitors to Washington are
being treated more like cattle than
human beings" The people who pa
tronize the modern coaches of the well
equipped sightseeing companies today
are of higher type culturally than those
who rode the buses years ago. he con.
tended, and they have a right to be
treated as ladies and gentlemen.
The larger companies he said, strive
to employ gentlemen to conduct the
parties about the city. and they fee
that those men deserve more courteous
treatment than is sometimes given them