Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-14

the police regulations and penal ordinances of
TINS corporation; and every oficer and citizen of
TINS corporation, whenever called upon. shall aid
and assist him in The discharge of his duties as
Chlef OF the Police; and before he shall enter
upon the duties of his office, he shall take and
subscribe an oath, before some Justice Of the
Peace, that he will support the Constitution Of
the United States, and for the faithful discharge
of the duties of his Office, to the best of his skill
and Judgment; and shall give bond, with two
good and sufficient sureties, to this Corporation
to be approved by the Mayor, in the sum Of one
thousand dollars, for the prompt payment to this
Corporation of all moneys which may come into
his hands as fees. fines, forfeitures, &c
Mr.. Smith. Here comes the tug of war on this
very appointment Of chief of police - He wcot
on to demonstrate the evils that had resulted
from, a separation of the two offices (captaincy OF
police and of the auxiliary guard) and the dis
cord chickering's, and inefficiency that followed
close upon that separation He did not desire 10
legislate any individual ont Of office but the di
vision of the two offices had worked hadlv ard
he was heartily in favor of throwing the Two to-
gether. lie would propose as a Substitute that
the CHIEF OF police should be also lieutenant of
the auxiliary guard.
Mr.. Miller was of the oninion that tho ,x,,o ~
fees could be embodied He proposed that the
captain OF the Auxiliary Guard should be made
lice
Mr.. Moore could not see why when the two
heads Were appointed by the same executive,
there should be any conflict III they did not act
harmoniously the Mayor should dismiss the one
any such conflict between the present officers
The one officer was Captain of the night-watch
and the other of the day police their duties were
distinct.
Mr.. Riggs favored the proposition of Mr.. Mil
Ter for making the Captain of the Auxiliary
Guard. Chief Of Police, with two Lie,,tenants.
Mr., Houston. "Why were the offices separa-
Mr.. Smith gave 1t as his opinion that II was
done 10 give an office to some person
=, Mr. Houston suggested that, by the change,
they would deprive themselves of the appoint
ment power as the Board had no control over the
nomination of Captain of the Auxiliary Guard
Mr. Riggs did not believe that any Mayor
would dare to retain in Office an inefficient per-
son.
Mr.. Smith proposed 10 get over the difficulty
by abolishing the office OF captain Of police alto.
gether and appointing two leutenants
MIR. Dove urged that the Board could not pre-
scribe regulations for the captain of the auxiliary
guard as proposed.
Mr. Houston agreed with the gentleman from
the First Ward that the proposed Legislation
would be directly in the teeth OF the law estab-
fishing the auxiliary guard.
Mr.. Moore thought it impracticable for both
offices TO be held by one person. He had exam
ined the bill and found that 10 adopt this meas
IRE would destroy it.
MIR. Dove protested against embarrassing the
bill with amendments. The people were looking
upon them to do something. The whole gist Of
this matter was TO organize a sufficient police
force. Let them do that now, and better when
they could.
A desultory debate followed, in the course of
which Mr.. Smith took occasion TO correct an erro-
neous statement in an evening paper, as to the
extent of the police force. This statement fixed
the number at 1870, and in this number were
lugged 40 men who were nothing more than pri-
vate citizens The police force of the CITY con-
sisted solely and only of the police officers idfeen)
and the thirty members of the auxiliary guard
MI Riggs, as a test question: moved an amend
ment constituting the Captain of the Auxiliary
Guard Chief of Police, and authorizing the Mayor
to appoint, on or about the LIST of June LIST and
I'd Lieutenant of Police
The question being taken, the amendment was
lost
And then the Board adjourned to O'Clock this
"wednesday evening