The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-06

feeling disposed TO remove their dIsabiii-
ties and I'm the exercise OF their constitu-
tional prerogatiye feeling bound TO extend
legislative ciemency equally to all persons
in pdri delicto therefore -
Be Il enacted blythe General assembly lby
a two-tbirds vote thereoi, That the civil
disabilities incurred since the adoption Of
the Constitution OF Virginia, nnder clause
3. section 1. article 3 thereof by any and
every persop whatsoever, be and the sans
are hereby removed, anything in any act
OF Assembly to the contrary notwithstand
ing.
3. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
THE NORFOLK POLICE BILL.
In the House OF Delegates yesterday
House bill No. 10, to amend and re-
enact sections So and GA OF an act entitled
an act providing charter for the city OF
Norfolk, in force March 10, 1871, came up
on its passage.
Mr.. SKINNER spoke in opposition TO tnt
bill. Having been born In Norfolk, ne
naturally felt an interest in everything tina
pertained to the welfare Of the place. Ill
presented two petitions protesting agains
the passage OF the bill. These petifion
contained the names Of two hundred ana
sixty-odd OF the Taxpayers OF Norfolk. ne
did not claim that they were among tie
best people, because, under the new ordGol
things that class had ceased to exist, bit
he claimed that they were not the worst.
They are men OF enterprise, integrity, lnd
honor, who had made Norfolk the pros
porous place that it is. He asked the House
to hasten slowly in this matter. There Is
always a presumption in favor OF existing
laws, and whenever a change was asked
the parties making the request should give
good reasons therefor. He wanted to know
why the law of Norfolk should be changed
against the wishes Of some OF the largest
property-holders in the place. The Police
Board OF Norfolk, as at present consti-
tuted, came directly from the people, and
have to 20 back to the people at short
intervals to stand the test OF ap-
proyal or disapproyal. Surely these men
are well suited to the task OF selecting a
police force. He referred to the message
OF Mayor Lamb to the City Council OF Nor
folk, not three months ago, in which he
paid high compliment to the discipline
and efficiency OF the police. In that mes.
sage the Mayor said that the force was all
that it should be. He thought thd we
ought to let well enough alone. The cmnge
proposed took the appointing power ont OF
the hands OF the representatives OF the
people and gave it to man in nowiS re-
sponsible to them. 1t would degrade the
office Of the Judge Of the Hastings Court
OF Norfolk.
In conclusion, Mr.. SKINNER said tina; the
passage OF this bill would be both ucon-
stitutional and undemocratic.
Mr.. TURNER, the patron OF the bill, adj
yOcated its passage. He said that the dlar-
tiers of other cities in the State had leen
similarly amended by previous Legsla-
lures. He said that the Mayor Of Norfolk
and the other two commissioners werenot
in accord, and it was absolutely necessary
for the preservation Of the peace and good
order Of the city that the change be
made. Norfolk, he said, being a seaport
city, was different from most OF the otler
cities Of the Commonwealth, having a
large floating or transient population c'm-
posed mainly OF the rougher elements
Of society. For this reason, II 'Or
none other, the entire police depat-
ment OF the city should be in ihe
fullest accord. Such was not now the case,
and hence this move. He said that tas
was intended only rs temporary measure
OF relief. At the proper time the repIe-
sentatives OF Norfolk would ask the Legis-
lature to alter the charter so rs to make the
commissioners elective by the people.
Mr.. Lyons followed in opposition to the
bill.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. LYoNs's re-
marks Mr.. LADY called the pending ques-
ton, which was ordered, and the bill pass
ed by the following vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. II. Anderson. Baldwin, Bland
( Board, Champlln, Chase, Coleman, Cross, Dlcker'
son, Dickenson. Duck, Dungee, Eggbon, Far,
! FRAZIER, Fry. Giddings. Grandstaf, A. Green.
/ Grggs, Grim, Haden, Harnsberger, Harris, HarIl-
son, Lakewood, Herring. H0naker, Lady, Lewis
May, Mayo, Norton, Owens, Paige, Parr, Phillips
/ Powell. ReyercOmb, Richardson, Sandy, SayeTs
4. Scott Slemp, smith, Stratton,J 4. Taylor, Tins
| ley, Turner, Vaughan, j. A. Watkins. Webb, Wit
ten, Young and Mr.: speaker-55.
! SOEs.-MeSsrs. w. j. Anderson. Bailey, Butt
/ Cardwell Conrad, B. A. Davis, II. w. Davis, Dunn
! Earle, Evans, Graves Griffin, Hanger, Johnston
kellam. Lyone, Moon, Mooreheld, Morgan, Mum
| ford. NicOl, Oliver, Plaster, Pollard, skinner
] SpOtwOOd, StrbiDg, Stuart, Stubbs, &. =. Taylor
Terr1l, Ward, K. w. Watkins, and Wilkins-34.
/ The bill as passed and sent to the Senate
is as follows:
! A Bill to amend and Reendct Sections 5;
and Ga Of an act Entitled an act Pro
[ riding a Charter for the City Of Norfolk,
in Force March 16, 1871.
|. BE IL enacted bgthe General Assembly
That sections 50 and G4 OF an act entitled
an act providing a charter for the city o.
Norfolk, i'm force March 16, 1871, bt
amended and recnacted so as to read a:
follows:
80. The police department OF the city
OF Norfolk shall be under the general con
troll and management OF the Board OF Po
lice Commissioners thereof, which shall
consist OF the mayor and two commission
ers, appointed annually in January by tht
Judge Of the Corporation Court: OF which
Board the mayor shall be president, ant
shall have casting vote. Any two OF salt
commissioners shall form quorum for The
transaction OF any business. Said BoTC
may adopt rules and bylaws for tl'
government thereof, and also may es
tablish, promugate, and enforce pro
per rules, regulations, and orders iol
the good government and discipline o.
said police force, provided that sale
rules, regulations, and orders shall not il
any way conflict with any ordinance OF th'
city councils, or OF the provisions Of thi
act, OF the Constitution and laws OF thi
State or Of the United States.
S64. As soon as the said commissioner
shall have entered upon the discharge o
their duties, and appointments OF police
are made in the manner as herein pro
vided, then all the policemen who shall b.
in service previous thereto shall imme
diately yacate their offices respectively, un
less reappointed, as herein provided.
2. This act shall be in force from it
passage.
DAMAGES TO PRIVATE PROPERTY BY CORPo
4 RATI0NS.
In the House yesterday Mr.. Hazlewoot
offered the following:
A Bill TO Prescribe Mode for the ASSeSS
nent and Payment OF Damages to Pri
,.<Io p,oOerf1g nm IO,.1OrDfiO,c.