Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-03
SEVERAL CHANGES
Made in the Ordinance Relating 10 the
Police Department.

Made In the Ordinance Relating 10 the
Police Department.
The Council Committees on Fire and
Police Departments met at the City Hall
last evening, the former to pass upon some
current matters of department routine,
and the latter TO perfect the ordinance es.
tsblishipg the Police department of the
city within the supervision and control of
the Committee on Police.
The police ordinance passed the Second
Branch all right, but on its coming up in
the First Branch, several attempts were
made to change it, and one or two small
amendments were actually inserted, after
which the document was sent to the Com
mittee on Police for revision, the special
point to be covered being the first
part of Sec. Z, which in the orig.
inal set forth that ''the whole polics
force Of the city shall obey the orders of
the Committee on Police,
but the City Sergeant shall be Chief Of Pc.
lice," etc. Here was a conflict, and the
committee was quick to see it, after care
full reading. The section was debated in
formally for while, last night, and then
the ordinance was taken up and read sec-
tion by section for amendment and debate
Several important changes were made, and
when the work was concluded, the paper
was sent to Council with the recommenda-
ton that il become law.
In secticn of the ordinance, proyis-
ion wac made in the original for the eni-
ployment of the Assistant City Clerk as the
clerk of the Police Department at an an
nual compensation of SIS per year. The
committee came TO the conclusion that it
might "a well save that SIS, and so amend
ed the ordinance as to make it read as fol-
lows:
''Sec. The Chief Of Police shall be ex-oficio
clerk Of the Police Department. 1t shall be the
duty OF the said Chief to take charge OF the books
and papers of the said Police Department to
keep its records and accounts, and TO discharge
all other duties imposed upon him by the ordi-
nances OF the city or required Of him by this
committee He shall be required 10 enter In
book to be kept by him for the purpose, the
Department OF The city, in what ward If any,
each Is stationed, all general and special orders
of the Committee on Police, with the dates OF
their issue, and all such other matters as may be
| required by Council, by the rules OF the Police
Department, or by said Committee, and said
book shall embrace an index OF all matters con-
tanned therein"
This duty will devolve upon the Office
men Of the force, by direction of the Chief,
snd will be the first attemp! to systema.
tie the transactions OF the department by
the sctual members thereof
In section 5, the c)mmittee, recognizing
that the Chief had at present DO private Of
fee for the transaction of his business, and
that he could not write a letter without
having come one looking over mis- shoulder,
set apart the Ioom in the southeast corner
Of the City Hall, at present exclusively oc-
cupied by the Clerk of the Municipal
Court, for the use Of the said clerk, the
Mayor and the Chief, and each will have
q proper dssk therein, where business can
he transacted with some degreei ofpriyacy,
leaving the outer office TO the public, the
officer on duty, etc. This is very decided
improvement
Then came section Z, end after good
deal OF discussion, in which the Chief took
part, II was made to read as follows:
"SEc. :. The whole police force ofthe city shall
obey the orders Of the Chief, made In pursuance
Of the authority conferred by this ordinance, aud
OF law, and the City Sergeant shall be the Chief
of Police, and have the immediate command
thereof iect IN the laws and ordinances and
1 also 70 the rules and regulations made by the
Committee on Police under authority OF the laws
of the state and the ordinances OF Council etc.
Section II, which strictly prohibits Off
GERS, while on duty or wearing any portion
of their uniforms, entering houses OF i'll
fame suspicious houses, or saloons, except
in the immediate discharge of their duty or
acting under orders Of the Chief, and also
prohibiting officers in uniform or on duty
from drinking, was retained and it was an
nounced by the Chief that it would be
strictly enforced.
Section II, prohibiting members Of the
department being interested in contracts,
etc, With the department, was struck ont
Chief Delbrugge was given permission to
adopt new system Of record. keeping
which consolidates the somewhat scattered
practice heretofore in vogue and simplifiea
matters greatly. New books will be pre-
pared accordingly.
The Committee on Fire Department met
in the Office of Clerk Thoner, and heard the
report of Chief DuDning for the month of
April. which showed a total of eight alarms
three box and five still. The total loss
was merely nominal amount
The Chiefrecommended appointments to
fill vacancies as follows: Paul Porter, fore
man at Atlantic; Robert johnson, extra
man at Niagara; Patrick Mahoney, extra
man at Hope. All were confirmed.
The bids for ice were opened, and the
contract awarded to Crumbacker q Eas-
dale.
The clerk was ordered TO advertise for
bids for painting the various hose and en-
CINE houses, bids to be in by Monday next.
The committee agreed TO make tour
of the engine aud hose houses with the
Chief at nine O'Clock Wednesday morning,
and then adjourned.