Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-27

The MAYOR AND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
NIGHT WATCH. The Committee On General
Laws of the City Council, towhom was referred
the communication Of theMayor OF the 18TH inst,
in reference to certain difficulties which have
arisen between the Mayor and the Superintend'
OF the Night Watch, last night, made their re-
port, which was adopted by both boards of the
Council. The report sets forth
THAT the Superintendent of the Watch,
on the 18th instant, suspended James Swarm,
one OF the Watch, for drunkenness on duty
and reported promptly said suspension to the
Mayor; that the Mayor on investigation, al
though Swami admitted his guilt, relieved him
from suspension and ordered the Superinten-
dent OF the Watch to restore Swami to duty
that whilst the superintendent bad this order
under consideration, whether it was right
and proper for him to obey it, the Mayor on
the 10th instant, suspended the Superintendent
of the Watch from duty, and placed another
in charge Of the Watch. Upon these facts,
the Committee have arrived at the following
conclusions
That the Superintendent OF the Watch in
the suspension Of James Swami, for drunk
enness on duty, was right ard proper, and that
his action was in strict conformity with the
laws of the City Council
That it was the duty of the Mayor, on the
report of the case, and the ascertainment of
the guilt of the accused, to have sustained the
suspension, and reported the facts to the City
Council, but in violation of this, the Mayor,
after an acknowledge Of guilt, re-instated
the guilty party aud suspended the Supcrinten-
dent because he did not at once execute his or
der to re-instate Swami. ,s
The laws of the Council are clear and per-
emptory in all this matter, and there would
seem to be no room for any doubt or difficulty
The ;,ut respecting the Night Watch prcscrbcs
that every Watchman found intoxicated on
duty, shall be Immediately suspended by the
Superintendent of the Watch, and he shall
forthwith report his case to the Mayor, who
shall inquire into his conduct and if he shall
be satisfied at his guilt, he shall continue the
suspension, and report the case to the Common
Council. ...E Tn-af -":H
That the conduct of the Superintendent was
Quirements of the law. The act of the Mayor
in the release of Swami from suspension alter
an acknowledgement Of guilt, was in violation
of the law above quoted. 1t was his duty to
have continued the suspension, and reported
the case to Council, but instead of so doing, he
ordered the reinstatement of Swami, and sus.
pended the Superintendent because he did not
at once comply with his order; that said order
of the Mayor was without any authority in law,
and not warranted by the facts Of the case.
After the guilt Of the party was proved, the
law was imperative, that he should continue
the suspension, and report the facts 10 the
Council. ..-aa
The Superintendent having already been re-
lieved from suspension and restored to duty by
the City Council, the Committee recommend
the adoption of the following:
Resolved That the action OF the Superln-
tendent Of the Watch, in the suspension of
James Swami, was in strict conformity with
his duty @ ...'''
Resolved, That the Mayor on the ascertain
ment of the guilt of James Swonn should have
reported the case to the City Council for its
duty and the suspension of the Superintendent
of the Watch was without authority"
In the same connection, Capt. Walsh, last
night sent to the Council communication ex-
plauatory Of his course in the difficulty. After
giving q succint statement Of the removal OF
Mr. Swami, his refusal to reinstate him on the
order of the Mayor, his own suspension there
for, and the correspondence on the subject,
(which has been published he concludes IS
follows:
Eat the suggestion Of friend, and with the
understanding that the Mayor was willing, L
had an interview with him, on the evening of
the 2lst inst, during which, upon my agreeing
to his assuming the responsibility Of reinstating
Mr. Swami, [ was reinstated. That evening
1r1,; f},o Wainb IN aut,, an 7 n
to the name Of Mr. Swami, in calling the roll |
said to him: ''Sir, you are here to night by APP
poiptment Of the Mayor [ assign you to duty,
though do hot recognize that appointment as
legal or proper. [ shall take occasion to make
full communication to Council, at it's next
meeting, in regard to your case. Mr. Swami
has been on duty ever since.
The above is q correct statement of the dit
fculty which has Of late existed between the
Mayor and myself, and I respectfully ask that
may be informed whether the Mayor or my
self is the Superintendent of the NightWatch,
and what course [ shall pursue toward Mr.
Swami.
The Council accepted the communication and
laid it on the table, and the Board Of Aldermen
adopted resolution requesting the Mayor to
inform the Council why the charges against
Mr.. Swami had not been reported to the Cum
Gil -; but the Common Council, by a vote Of 7 to
6, laid the resolution on the table, and so the
case stands.
GEORGETOWN COUNCILs.-A bill has passed
both branches of the Georgetown Council, con-
ferring authority upon the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Company to remove the present