The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-19
Potts, and by them only when they brought
the bill to General Johnson. .,1r. ii
VIEWS OF THE MAYOR.

Mayor Darlington said that In the discus
sion nobody had attacked the police except
Judge Guigon, who had declared that there
were some OF the worst men he knew on 1t.
Yet it would be observed that no specific
charges were brought by Judge Guigon,
and that the general current OF testimony
was in favor OF the police-thelr personal
character. official bearing, and efficient ser.
vices, ! That the police force, consisting oi
eighty-iour men, could control the IA ,00O
voters of Richmond he regarded as absurd,
and the idea was not for O amoment to be en-
| tertained. .hrs 49, .sliTrt.s-1..55f :
The Mayor commented upon the fact that
after canvassing from house to house only
two hundred signatures were obtained by
The Jealous advocates OF, change to the
petition in favor Of this bill, and that two
OF those most jealous in that work were ex-
policemen who were dismissed from the
| force for drunkenness and misconduct, and
that q third canyasser was Captain NJ. M.
Lipscomb, who boasted that he had gotten
thirty-six names. The Mayor denied that
there was any proof that the people favored
this bill. Many Of the petitioners ne knew
| as worthy and influential citizens, but still
they represented but q small portion OF the
fourteen thousand voters.
POWER AND POLITICS.
Mayor Darlington also denied that the
power of appointing policemen gave inVln-
! chile strength ard popularity to the ap-
pointing power. He contended that the
contrary was the case; believed that he
never could have defeated Mir. Kelley but
for the enemies Mr.. Kelley unavoldably
made in exercising that power, and that be
might be ousted from the same cause; and
stated that there were 654 applications now
on file, and that when one man was appoint
ed the other 653 and their friends were dis
satisfied. His duties on this Board, ne
stated, were arduous and embarrassing.
Were be to consult his own personal feelings
and interests he would desire to be relieved.
The Mayor stated his objections to the bill
in detail, and unquestionably with great
force and clearness.
NEW POINTS.
In relation to the remark of Mayor Car
rington that Judge Guigon had never
brought any specific charges against the
police, Judge Guigon wished to say that he
had appeared before that Board once [about
the police and election riotl, and that that
was enough for him. .........-.
Mayor Darlington replied that the Board
were as we'll satisfied with their action on
that occasion as Judge Guigon could posi-
bly, be with bis. ....-.....
General johnson asked the committee to
delay action in order that he might have
time to prepare a substitute. [General
johnson proposes, if it be absolutely indis.
pensable to remove the commissioners to
distance from the Council, and to have non.
otfice-holders, that the Council choose three
or five, or any other number OF citizens;
the latter to select say five police commits
sioners.l
CLOSING Up.
Mr.. Pulliam made the closing argument
in favor OF the bill, citing all the advantages
of the scheme as they appeared to his mind,
and begged that there should be no delay,
as delay would be fatal. He besought the
committee to remember that this bill was
endorsed by twenty-eight out Of iorty-two
members of the City Council who had voted
upon it.
Mr.. Todd also begged that the committee
would act quickly.
All the outsiders having retired from the
room, the committee proceeded to consider
the bill referred to them.
Messrs. Finney, Greever, Ward, Dicken.
son, and Moffett voted in favor Of reporting
iavorably the bill just as it passed the Com
mon Council Gncluding three years enlist.
ment), and Messrs. Tanner and Terry voted
against so doing. - =,
subsequently,, at the urgent request oi
Mr.. Tanner, it was agreed that the commit,
tee would wait until II o'clock this (Alon'
day. morning for Mr.. Tanner to offer. fol
their acceptance some better plan.