Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-15

ration of Mr. Goddard's BILL entitled "a Bill to
organize Police System for the City Of Wash
ington ard to reduce the several acts in relation
thereto into one.n
The Chair announced that the frst thing in
order was the sixth section Of the bill, which
was published in the Star of Yesterday.
Mr.. Smith said, that he still thought that his
motion 10 abolish the Office Of Chief Of Police
and substitute in place a First and Second Lien
TENANT was the best thing TO be done in the prem
ises. He moved that the vote by which It was
lost be TecOnsidered.
Mr. Riggs said that as far as he understood Il.
the bill contained no repeating clause. He asked
IL he was correct,
Mr.. Goddard said yes, there Was a repeating
clause.
Mr.. Moore called the ayes and noes on the mo-
tion Of Mr.. Smith to reconsider the vote; ordered
and carried-ayes 10, noes 3.
The question then required on the amendment
Of Mr.. Smith to substitute two Lieutenants in
place Of the Chief of Police.
Mr. Odda proposed to make this test ques-
ton. and said IL the Board abolished the office
Of Chief Of Police, he had proposition TO Offer
IL they amended the section he proposed to strike
out the irst seven lines of the section and insert
the following:
Sec g. And b, it enacted, That the Mayor, by
and with the advice and consent Of the Board Of
Aldermen, shall appoint at the time named In
the second section of this act, and annually there
after, some suitable person to be, and who is
hereby constituted, under the control and diTec-
tion OF the Mayor, the Marshal Of Police of the
city Of Washington, and who shall act as First
LIsK.SHanf Of the Auxiliary Guard, and IL shall
be lis duty, within the limits of the same, under
the direction Of the Mayor and Captain of the
Guard, to exercise general supervision over the
Police OF the city and the Auxiliary Guard in the
enforcement OF the police regulations and penal
ordinances of this Corporation, and the preser-
walton OF the peace and order Of the city.
Mir Smith said that the amendment proposed
10y Ar. Goddard met his views. The main idea
with him was to have one head, and to unite the
two powers IS much as possible; and for the pur-
pose Of compromising the, matter he would
cede to IT, He saw that ID would do away with
the great difficulty OF conflict Of power and he
accepted II substitute for his own amend
ment
Mr. Riggs I do not understand the gentleman.
Does he mean tn withdraw his own amendment
only In case this is adopted!
MIR. smith. The gentleman is very particular. |
simply accept the amendment of Mr. Goddard
substitute foF mine, 1t meeting my views very
well ~ 10 the unity OF the two powers.
Mr. Goddard. object to any amendment ofthe
section. bat if
Mr. Riegs. I should like to know what objec-
ton the gentleman has TO his own amendment.
Will he read il and let us hear what 1t Is
Mr.. Goddard I object to amending the section
at all, but if it is amended / wish to see my
amendment adopted, as il covers the main obJec-
lion to the original.
Mr. Dove stated that the law Of Congress only
provided one head officer of the Auxiliery Guard
and the amendment proposed two. He doubted
very much the right Of the Board to do SO, The
provision Of Congress was that there shonld be
but one Captain. The bill says there shall be an
other The Board certainly had power to in
terfere with the law OF Congress.
Mr. Houston Read the law. One at time.
Let Is have the law read.
Mr. smith We appoint Lieutenant, who
shall act as chief in the necessary absence Of the
Captain, still under his orders; and as Chief Of
Police in the absence of that officer. He does not
derive any power authority more than any
other police oticer-none at all. They all have
police powers conferred upon them by general
law They can xeRd me out. and ! can exercise
the same authority as Chief Of Police. All the
powers h. possesses are those granted TO him by
the Corporation. They ali have power to act in
United states cases-eveTy one Of thesR-wheiher
CITY or county officers This bill is to effect an
arrangement Of the two departments under one
head. The same powers that are delegated to the
Captain Of the Auxiliary Guard can be delegated
70 any other man.
Mr. Dove What right have we to delegate
power, If the charter did not confer upon
power to appoint these special police officers!
bid Congress give us any power to appoint! Are
we to dictate to Congress, or they to US, Here
we are going to say that Congress omitted to pro-
vide a Lieutenant, and we will do II ourselves
TO put II in on our own hook. admit that we
have the right TO regulate, and to pass any laws
TO regulate, the police, but no right to appoint
Lieutenant. We can do nothing, except what the
law specifies. Unless this Is in the charter, We
Mr. Houston. VIII the Chair read to us what
the bin makes US do, as amended by Mr.. God
dard
The Chair read
Mr.. Houston. deny the power. want to
this bill perfect possible in all its parts, and
then I mean to vote against il ell. / shall do
because do not believe in the necessity for this
increased police force and consequent additional
drag on the already exhausted resources of the
Corporation. do not wish to set up my judy
IHent against that Of the gentleman who has
gotten up this bill flor il is conceded that he
knows more about those matters than myself,
having been connected with police matters for
many years but at the same time do not be-
iieve the city is in As much danger as has been
represented.
Mr. Riggs moved to strike out the words 'sand
who shall act as First Lieutenant of the Auxiliary
Guard He said that he wanted him TO be
subordinate 10 the Captain Of the Auxiliary
Guard.
Mr. Smith proposed to come at 1t In different
way. He was anxious to bring the matter to
some useful conclusion. which would meet the
objects OF the gentleman from the First Ward
He therefore moved the following a substitute
for the whole Of the sixth section:
''Sec. 6. Ind be a. eHnetsd, That the Mayor, by
and with the advice and consent Of the Board Of
Aldermen, shall appoint at the time named in the
second section OF this act, and annually thereaf-
ter, two persons who shall be and are hereby
constituted, under the control and direction OF
the Mayor and Captain Of the Auxiliary Guard Of
the City OF w Warrington, the First and Second
Lleutenants OF Police; and II shall be their duty
within the limits Of the same, under the dIrec-
tion Of the Mayor, to exercise a general super
vision over the police officers Of this city, in the
enforcement Of the police regulations and penal
ordinances Of this Corporation; and every officer
and citizen OF this Corporation. whenever called
upon, shall aid and assist them in the discharge
OF their duties as Lleutenants OF Police; aud be-
fore they shall enter upon the duties OF their Of
fee, they shall take and subscribe an oath before
some justice Of the Dcacc, that they will support
the Constitution Of the United Sta.es and for the
faithful discharge Of the duties of their Office 10
the best Of their skill and Judgment. and shall
each give bond with two good and sufficient sure
ties, to this Corporation, to be approved by the
Mayor, in the HIm Of one thousand dollars, for
the prompt payment to this Corporation, OF all
moneys which may come into their hands as fees
nnes, foTfeitures, - &c.
Mr.. Goddard said that the question had been
raised as to who had command Of the Auxiliary
Guard At any disturbance in the CITY, when
the Guards met the Police they were all COM
mandeTs. IL the Captain Of the Guards was out
with his men, and the police out without
their Chief they would not act with the Guards
and were always at lOggerhcads. IL was neces-
sary to have the next officer in command to take
charge Of thu whole force and direct their ope-
IatioBs IL there was no head who would take
the command Unless the two Chiefs were
present az meeting OF the two powers, one Of
hem womb be actinn NNithnnt any nrnner AL.