The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-02
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
Unsuceessruls sEaSft OF tho ,A1dertnen
to Perfect the Proposed Amend
S" nent 20 the Chnrter. y s,rts z

TO Perfect the Proposed Amend.
saS"f ment 20 the Charter. - = s3.l. z
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE BODY LAST
EvENIsG-THE PLAN AS PROPOSED BY
THE COMMITTEE ON ORDINANCE CoM-
PETING, PROPORTIONS = THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT AS 1T STOOD AT, ADJuURN-
MEET OF. THE BoARLs-Al TIE VOTE. II
l-I.4sy; : =. Fr5s---8-- = if:,& !sgt.;.t
/ Pursiianef to a call signed by .Messrs.
Charles L.. Todd, II. Bass, and q. W.
Pickrell, special meeting OF the Board of
Aldermen was, held yesterday afternoon at
5o'clock inth Council chamber
j. A. Meredith In the chair. Present :
Messrs. Bass, Cannon, Crump, Forester,
Gray, Lpscomb,- Manly, Pickrell, Smith,
Spangenbnrg, Todd, and Zimmer. -. ~. -, Z
The object OF the meeting was explained
by Mr.. Pickrsh toc be the Consideration OF
the Joint resolution requesting the Legish-
tnre to amend the city charter In reference
to fgaa$ ,"@Fs3 g..sGEl,-;1.ti - Xxx. ..;.iftF
The BOARD OF POLICE co4aIss1oNER.ss OF Tsan lsss
a,s..' ,fr,,t.. CfTY.Fstf5I ,.rr:i's ..>4.a.sS
Mr.. Bass said that soiar as The eenfssstsaa
was concerned the proposed resolution was
a compromise. 1t was, however, agreed on
all hands that some change was necessary
in the police system Of the city. II!
MIR. Todd inquired Of the Chair whether
the present Board Of Police Commissioners
had authority to send for persons and pa
pers, and examine witnesses under oath.
The Chair said that his impression was
that the Board did not have such power. 3,
o Mr.. Todd then presented an amendment
to require the Board to send for persons and
papers, and, in case of an investigation, to
examine witnesses under oath; which was
agreed to. -.-----..---...-,---
Mr. Gray demanded the pending question,
rs it appeared that there were 40 further
amendments. 1855 ~
Mr.. Cannon said he hoped that such would
not be the case. He would be compelled to
vote against the resolution unless it's obiec-
tionable features were amended. @..'. ~ %
Mr.. Meredith MIR. Bass being in the
chair addressed the Board in opposition to
the resolution. He was opposed to nearly
every feature in 1t. II it was desired to
keep the policemen out Of politics this re-
solution would not have the effect. The
fact is, 1t is saying that the Council has not
the power to manage the police force. 1t is
abrogating the power Of three judges.
He could not see why the Council
should strip itself. Of this power. Ii
the Council cannot manage the police de-
partment, then they ought to get six men
to manage the collection OF the taxes Just as
it Is proposed to secure six to manage the
policemen. Why not take away the taxing
power, too, and select six worthy gentle
men to attend to this branch OF the city
government also3 ....-........ .
Mr.. Meredith said he would like to see
the resolution amended so as to provide that
the Board shall consist Of eight persons
the Mayor Of the city and seven others
four to be selected in July every two years
from the Common Council, and three from
the Board OF Aldermen. He. approved OF
Mr.. Todd's proposition. r,t-s..f ... .-,.l.....
Mr.. Manly asked Mr.. Meredith what sort
of control the Council had over the Board
Of Police Commissioners. ...s .. .... H..
Mr.. Meredith said that at present there
was no provision in the charter under which
the Board Of Police Commissioners were
held responsible to the Council. r-.,-.f r..
Mr.. Pickrell asserted that under the pro-
posed resolution the Board was practically
under the control OF the Council.
Mr. Cannon opposed many of the views
suggested by Mr.. Meredith. He thought
there shoufsi he -saae Ehange in the mode of
appointing the police force, and It's manage
ment. He believed the Police Commission
ers ought to be appointed by the Council,
and under their control. -. =: +. ....
Mr.. Cannon moved to. amend by adding
at the close Of the resolution q section al
lowinga person who feels aggrieved by the
decision OF the Board to appeal to the Coun-
Gil within thirty days after said decision. /,
Mr. Cannon thought the Board was hard
" ready to vote on the. proposition this eve
ming. He thought it would be well to COM
NIT the, resolution and the several amend
ments to the Committee on Ordinances,
with instructions to report as soon as pos
sible. .. ar 49,, ia ..l, -.
Mr.. Todd opposed the motion to recon-
nit. He thought it was subject of con-
graduation that the Committee on Ordi-
nances had prepared the resolution now
under consideration, and he would be will
ing to vote for it just as they had presented
it, He did not think the Board-that is, the
system-stould be composed Of political
aspirants. He did not object to the charac-
ter OF the gentlemen composing the Board
now. He had great respect for them, and
was not finding any fault with them. He
then enumerated the various features OF the
resolution which met his approval.
Mr.. thinner thought that the City Coun-
ell ought not to give up the power to select
the policemen and manage its affairs. He
was opposed to the entire resolution.
In order to test the sense OF the body,
Mr.. Meredith moved to strike out all that
portion OF the resolution requiring the
three Judges to nominate three persons
from each ward, from which the Council
can select one from each ward -.
Mr.. Wagner did not exactly agree to
either plan. BE didn't want to shoulder
tbo ranpnpci hilifxr 1Tnor tho (nunpii NOR
did he want. to give it up to the judges. He
favored delay. ~ ..r;' ssg sts ""
Mr.. Smith thought the people had enough
confidence in the Council for them to make
the. selection. e:a
Mr.. Scott wanted delay. ,4o
I On the question OF agreeing to the motion
to strike out the three judges the ayes and
noes. were taken, and resulted as follows:
AYEs-Messrs Cannon, Lipscornb, Scott, Smith,
Spangenburg, thinner, MeredIth-7. -: .......s
NoEs-Messrs. Bass. CruInp. Gray, Manly, Pick
relL Todd, Wagner-7. i.'--'-' 49, So
The Chair decided that the motion to
strike out was lost. ~"
Mr. Cannon's amendment was then adopt
ed. ..i5" s.,l't,.'' ~" -. 5.
MIR. Manly moved to change the term Of
service to two years. Lost '.3.@ %-.- -
Mr.. Smith moved to 10y on the table.
Lost-ayes, 4; noes, TO-. h4.. - 80
! MIR. Smith moved to adjourn Lost. u
lIr. Smith said he wanted further time to
consider the subject. As to the Legislature
adiourning soon, be would be willing to bet
large odds that they would not adj journ for
some months. Business was pretty dull in
the country, and he did not think they would
give UP their per diem at present.
The question was then taken on the reso-
luton and itwas rejected ayes, Z; noes, Z.
On motion Of Mr.. Cannon it was ordered
that committee of five be appointed to
-anpa;dnr fhn ubnlo cThioaf go - -