The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-14
A POLICE COURT.
LEADING CITIZENS INDORSE
THE TIMES SUGGESTION.
THE MAYOR SHOULD BE FREED
His Position Onght 20 be Given Its
Proper Power and DIgnity-An Ex-
ecntive and Not u Judicial Position
"A Suggestion That tho Mayor be
Given the Veto Power.

number of Roanoke's prominent citi-
zens yesterday in regard to the estab-
lishment of police court. Hon. Will
liam Gordon Robertson, judge of the
Hastings Court, said: q have never
given much thought TO the matter in
detail; but am inclined to think that
it would be good thing. ] have
always thought that the mayor should
have more power The office at pres
ent is really nothing more than that
of a police Justice. The charter of the
city should be amended, making the
mayor the presiding officer of the Com
mon Council, with power to veto the
action of that body. He should have
more to do with the general govern
ment of the city, and his time should
not be taken up with all the trifiing
criminal cases of the city. A police
court could be established with but
little additional cost. All the criminal
business might be put into the police
court, leaving only civil actions for
the justices OF the peace, and the costs
in ii e cases could be made a part of
the fees of the police Justice
The reporter found Judge Samuel
G. Williams in office hard at work,
but when the subject of police court
was mention.d the judge stopped
long enough to say; You can say that
am most emphatically in favor of
the suggestion of this mornings
TIMES. The mayor of the city should
be an executive officer. He is the
head Of the city government, and 1T
is his duty to aid in bringing offenders
of the law to justice. He should not
be the court to try the cases which he
is the pro. ecutor. As an executive
officer the mayor should be a good
business man, and instead OF devoting
his time to petty offenders, should
have more time to look after the gen
eraI interests of the city"
Mr.. 7. T. Fishbnrn, president OF
the Exchange National Bank, said;
Il am heartily in favor of the sus-
Cestion There should be more dig
dity in the office of mayor. The bus
mess of the court has increased until
it consumes too much of the mayors
time to leave him much opportunity
to perform the executive duties OF
his office. II there would be Il slight
cost attached, it should be estab-
lished Notwithstanding, for the mayor
has too nrch to do for the salary that
IS paid him.
Hon. John w. Wood, member of
the House of Delegates from this
county, said: 81 think it would be q
good plan for the business OF the pres
ent mayors court to be turned over
to one of the magistrates of the city,
as police justice, making the cost
q part of his fees. This would relieve
the mayor of much work he ought not
to do without much additional cost
to the city, and give him more time
to devote to other important duties
Of his office
Thomas w. Miller, Esq, city
solicitor, said: 81 recommended that
provisions for police justice be in
serted when some amendments were
made to the charter of the city last
winter, but Mr. Gibson, who was then
solicitor, died about that time, and
nothing was done in the matter. l
am strongly in favor of relieving the
mayor of the court by the appoint
ment of police justice. The mayor
of the city should have more author
ity, and | favor an amendment to
the charter, making him the presld-
ing officer of the Council, and giving
him veto power. He should have
more to do with the city government
and the general direction of the pub
lie affairs. Instead of devoting his time
to the trivial affairs of the court he
should have opportunity and author
ity to look after the general good OF
the city. The office should be made
one of honor rather than drudgery.
1.-The police court can be sup
ported without additional cost by
making the costs in the cases to be
tried by it sufficient to pay the JUS
tice for his services.
II think that steps should be taken
to have the charter amended SO as to
provide for this plan, at the next SEES
sion of the legislature.
"Some of the powers of the city
are too loosely conferred, and some OF
its rights are not defined with sui
ficient clearness, making other
amendments to the charter necessary.
All of them can be secured at one
time.''
Hon. Henry S. Trout, chairman of
the finance committee Of the Council
said: II think the suggestion of q
police court good one and would
like to see it carried out"
Mr.. Geo. G. McCahan, member OF
the Council said: lam in favor
of max ne the mayor the pre-
siding officer of the Council, and
of establishing police court to
try all offenses against the city or
dinances. There are now twelve
members in the council, and should
tie vote occur there would be no
way to break it. The court takes too
much of the mayors time from bis
executive duties
"What do you think about giving
the mayor the power of veto?"
II think he should be given more
authority in the general direction OF
the city government, but am opposed
to his being given the power to veto
the actions of the council
S. R. Luck, ESQ.,, said: 1.-THE office
of mayor should be more dignified,
and his executive duties should not
he encountered by the trivial affairs
of the court.n
So far, everybody whomfTHE TIMES
has heard express an opinion on the
matter is strongly in favor of the pro-
posed change in the duties OF the
mayor and trial of police cases. AS
tsibveity u ows tie duties of the officers
are heavier, and the time has arrived
when police justice is needed to
facilitate the city government. The
salary of the mayor is now S goo, and
| with the growing work OF that Office
lit is evident that the salary ought to