Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-01-19
ro o1y FETIOW-CTTIZENS

fter the oath OF once before the Clty Co-tHci'
l briefly enunciated my understanding OF NY
vision Of the sanitary condition Of our city, ana
in conjunction with the Superintendent OF fo-
licn 70 carry out the laws on that important
subject. That very worthy anc efficient officer
can testify whether | nave violated my pledge
or not | also expressed my determ!natioh ~
enforce. with fidelity, the police regulations OF
city.
Receiving the reins Of government from an
imhecile authority, and having just emerged
from military rule, with portion OF our popu-
laton ignorant Of their actual rights and priv
leges, claiming the sole protection of depart
ment DISPOSED to aid them when right, and no
longer, it was necessary to move with the grca!
est prudence, patience and hrinness. (n weak
and vacillating policy would have made coniu-
sion worse confoundcd.) These principles were
closely observed, and thanks to the just ana
eentlemanly heads Of that department in this
CITY, every difficulty was amicably settled. 1t
appears a little singular that the only trouble
10 this office should have animated from an oili-
Ger Of this Corporation, arrogatIng to himself
powers contravening all the o!d land marks OF
ton of law. On November 18th, 1866 sub
mitted the following communications TO the
City Council:
MAYoRs OFFICE,
ALEXANDRIA, November 18th, 1866.
TO the honorable city lounclI:
municating 10 you charges of gross neglect OK
duty the most fragrant violations OF law, AND
ma!fcasance in office, on the part Of Mr.. james
F. Walsh, the Superintendent Of the Night
Watch. Nothing but sense of duty to the
citizens and their property, prompts my actlon.
The Superintendent Wilfully negtects nearly
every duty and consequently "cakens the ell
cheney and usefulness Of the Night Natch -
The time is near when thc utmost vigilance viii
be required to guard the property OF our people
from the dcpredations OF thieves and l@WleSS
dcsperadoes many OF whom 1 believe are no"
in our midst: it is notorious fact that there are
more cases of thievins and burglary during
cold weather. than any other time 1t, therefore,
bchoovcs rs TO be vigilAnt.
| respectfully ask the appointment OF Spe-
ciNl committee to investigate the matter, with
power 30 summon and swear witnesses in the
case.
had the honor Of calling your attention 10
deriliction Of duty on the part Of the SupcE!n-
tendent Of Night Watch some six weeks since;
nothing has been done in that case, and pre-
sumo he thinks he canGot be reached by charges
from this office; this shall not prevent me max
ing proper representations to the City Councll
UUGH LATHAM, Mayor.
According to my request a special committee
consisting Of Mes:rs. A. J. Fleming and Gc-
| ter e. Uhler, OF the Board Of Aldermen and
john Summers and VIM. n. own Of the Com
mon Council, was appointed. The COMMITTEE
met prDmprly--Nr iciui!!S tDHcLlIi Ill va
| Ter was appointed Chuirman-ru Or the g0T-
| ernmrnt Of tho committee during tb 9 invcStlEH-
tiCn were ad0pted; the witnesses were called
Mr. Iomln the sixth witn IS WAS under cXanl-
nation when the time for the - atch 70 go on
duty arrived. l believe ten Wis1tes more
| would have relieved him
The next night Mr.. Fleming was present
and denurred 1t the rules adoPted. Alter
| some discussion the III rs were rr&dnptcI.
! During. the first night Mr.. Walsh WIS very rude
Ind violent: the Chairman after much ell II
| succeeded in keeping him comparatively quiet
| / he second night prcsumlng upon the open an
! undi: ruised encourage uent OF Mr.. Fleming,
| he became di-gustingly violent and to such It
degree that ilr. Uher WAS driven from the
| Chair. and Ut subsequent me ting NJ. Uhler
| WAS driven from the committee room hy the
| violence and blasphcmy Of Mr, Walsh. On the
| second night Mr.. TomIn wa, under eXnm'n"
| ton for an Ao!u' or more. After Mr. Uhlcr re,
tired from the Chuir Mr., Fleming assumed
| l. There was not night during the eXainina-
ton of the witnesses called by myself, but what
there was more or less disorder CAUSED by the
| outrageous conduct Of Mr.. Walsh. The only
quiet times were when his witnesses were 6eln .
cxami ed ! will now introduce the Ia" gov
erning the Night Watch and then INTRODUCE
the evidence OF the principle witnesses, and the
reports Of McS=rs. Summers and Uh!cr, two OF
the comnittee-said reports arc no" s!unbcr-
ing on the table Of the Council:
QcI
pcrin.tendent Of the sG2Te, and TO 2'r"rlde tor
their dnticS.
Sec. /. BE il inacted ty The City Council II
Alexandria. tina. Immediately after the pas.
sage Of this act. and annually, thereafter in
the month Of March, ur ut such other times
az the City Council may appoint, there
shall be elected a Superintendent Of th@
Night Watch snd sixteen WatchncA, and
that whenever, in the opinion OF the Mayor,
any emergency should render it necessary, he
sh:tD be authorized to increase the number, re-
porting to Council. 1T lis mkt meeting theFeai-
Ter, his reasons therefor It shall be the duty OF
the Superintendent of the Watch to see that the
Wutchmen per orm their duties faithfully and
;ttcntiycy; to give them from time to time
such orders and instructions in regard to the
manner Of performing their duties as he may
deem necessary or proper OF rs may be pre-
scribed by the Mayor
II shall be the duty OF the Superintendent OF
the Watch to receive and take charge Of all
disorderly or suspicious persons is may be APP
pretended and brought 10 him by the Watch,
men. and to confne such persons if he shall
think proper, in the Watch House. until the
morning at which time he shall take them to the
Mayor or Police Magistrate to be examined and
dealt with according to law. He shall also
Rcc; a Register Book, in which shall be entered
the names Of the regular Watchmen, the times
they are absent, and for what; also the names
Of the ready men imployed; also al account Of
the incidental expense Of the Watch t. be sub
mitted to the Ma yor, and also to the City COun-
ell previous to any new election.
Sec 9 That if any Waterman !: found sleep
ing on duty, he shall on proof thereof, be dis
charged, and if any such case occurs or comes
to The knowledge OF the Superintendent, he
shall report the case to the Mayor
Sec 8. That the city shall be laid OIL Into
four districts by the Superintendent Of The
Watch, and that he shall assign Il proportion Of
the Watch TO each district, provided however,
that no Waterman shall perform duty in any
one district fer . longer period than fifteen days
consccutivcly.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, that it shall be
the duty of The Superintendent OF the Watch to
visit each of the districts, at least once in two
hours. while the Watchmen are on duty and
IS much ottener as he may deem necessary, and
to report weekly to the layor the manner in
which the Watchmen have discharged their
duties.
Fec j. The Wathmcn are to patrol from ten
O. clock ?. NJ, till day break, and suppress riot
Gus or disorderly conduct in the streets, and IN
houses and require all suspicious persons whom
thnv shnll find in the streets, to give a s:t!siac