The Colorado Statesman

Keating Not a Watchman—Just Wanted to Smoke

PERSONS who came along by Four and One-Half street and Missouri avenue one morning recently were mystified to see Edward Keating, secretary of the congressional commission on reclassification of salaries in the District

P sitting in the watchman's guardhouse puffing at a cigar.

"Keating must have a new job," s'd one passer-by to another. "What a distinguished-looking watchman," said one woman who did not know that the "watchman" was Secretary Keating of the big commission that is hard at work on the job of making new salary schedules for 106,000 federal employees in the national capital.

But Keating neither had a new job nor was a watchman of any kind. To sit in the watchman's box does not constitute one a watchman. Mr. Keating has viewed life from the halls of congress, and from his office in the reclassification commission headquarters, so life from the watchman's little guardhouse offered no particular novelty.

But what was Secretary Keating doing in the guardhouse smoking a long black cigar?

The whole truth of the matter was simply this: If Secretary Keating wanted to smoke at all, while at work at his office, he had to go outdoors to do it. There is a big sign on the stairway that reads: "Smoking strictly prohibited in this building." The order is signed by General Menoher, and it goes.

That is why, when Edward Keating, secretary of the reclassification commission, takes a notion to smoke one of his long, black cigars, he has to go outside the building to do it.