Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-20
MORE POLICE.
The Committee Thinks Sixteen More
Would FIJI the Bill,

The Council Committee on Police had a
| meeting last night to consider the adyiSa-
bility of increasing the numerical strength
of the police force. At the last meeting OF
Council the following was adopted:
WHEREAS, The alarming increase OF CRIME
and depredations demanding more than a
passing notice, have occurred and continue
to occur in our city; and
WHEREAS. Such crime could be checked
to a great extent, and perhaps totally, by an
addition to our police force; therefore, be it
ReS0lred, That the Committee on Police be
h and they are hereby instructed to report
an amendment to the ordinance now gov
erning the police department, providing
for the appointment OF fifty police officers
and arranging reliefs so that at least thirty
officers will be on duty from Or. NJ. till 6
A. NJ, and such other details as in their
wisdom may seem necessary to the perfec-
ton Of the work.
1t was to consider this resolution that the
committee met 1t was offered by John
Armstrong, who had evidently failed to
post himself or he would have known the
ordinance does not prescribe the number
of deputy sergeants. Section OF the or
dinanCe governing the Sergeant, (which
Clerk Bowers says has never been amend
ed is as follows:
THE Sergeantmay with the consent and
appreciation OF the Council, appoint such
deputies as he may think necessary or
proper for the execution of the duties of
his office, who shall continue in office dur
ing his pleasure and shall, in all things
pertaining TO their official duties, be amen
able to his control. The appointment of
deputy may at any time be revoked by the
Sergeant, he having flied with the Clerk OF
the city a notice of such revocation, which
notice Shall be by the Clerk published in
some newspaper printed in this city"
1t will be seen, then, that no number Of
people is specified by the ordinance and
that il will be unnecessary to frame an
ordinance to change it The number has
doubtless been fixed by resolution, as,
shonld the Sergeant see fit, he could send
in fifty names for confirmation. The sec
tiOr quoted further reveals that in former
regimes the Sergeant has never done his
duty in advertising the revocation OF any
appointment.
The committee. after deciding that no
ordinance was necessary, set about Consid-
eriDg the resolution. It was mandatory in
its construction, but this did not bother
the committee, which decided that fifty
officers were too many and would never go
through Council. Mr.. Cunning moved to
recommend the appointment Of sixteen ex-
ira deputies, or twcnty-Scyen III all, which
was adopted The resolution instructs the
committee also to arrange reliei>,' but it
was deemed advisable to leave this to the
Sergeant, which vas done. This action will
be reported t. Council.
The preamble to the resolution sets forth
an alarming increase of crime and depre-
dations." This is going IL little strong.
The city is, in iAcE. unusually quiet, and
crime and depreciation - scarce as u keep
the average reporter running his legs off
in search Of il. Tie author did not, of
course, intend TO cast any reflection on Ben
nett's administration, which has been no.
tsbly good.
1t was the belief OF the three committee
men present that Council would scarcely
approve the appointment OF sixteen extra
men. but would give some increase, though
slight. Let Us see. Sixteen more police at
sos month, would make total of So, $50
a year. This is a good round sum, but
then twenty-sevcn police are not many for
place of 5000 inhabitants.