The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-13


In the Dispatch of Tuesday morning APP
| peared an editorial article on tho subject OF
Major Poe's investigating the report
| that discrimination had been made in police
circles against The TINES On the first road
| ing Of that article IL seemed 10 us to be mereiy
a difference OF opinion between our morning
contemporary and the Chief-of-Police. with
which we had no special interest. second
reading, however. convinces us that one ex-
preston therein demands some notice at our
hands.
In our issue OF Saturday the fact that two
officers of the police had left the CITY, and the
duties which they are paid by tho people 70
perform. TO engage in service OF the United
States for compensation to DO paid by the
general government. WINS reported ana
criticised adversely. In this report.
occasion was taken to state that Sergeant
Junius Cosby of the Second district had dis
eliminated against THE TINES by taking
information TO the Dispatch which had
previously been denied 10 this paper.
This statement the Dispatch says is untrue.
The information upon which the above
statement was made came TO this office from
a source deemed entirely reliable, and we
have still no cause whatever to doubt It's cor
rectness. Whether it is literally and exactly
true OF not. however, as to the charge that GER
tain news items from the Second Ponce
station were taken to the Dispatch, tho mate
rial point of which we complained. cannot
be disputed. It is undeniable that two
reporters from THE TINES did certainly call
al the Second station Friday night and were
told that there was nothing there, and after
wards two or three items were given to the
Dispatch. Whether therefore, these items
were taken TO the Office of our contempt
rary or whether they we're given TO one Of its
reporters at tho station after having been
three times refused The TnfEs-twice to re-
porters and once through the telephonc-the
main important fact still eIists-that dis
elimination between the two papers was
made.
TIE TIMES has no desire TO injure Sergeant
Cosby nor to do him or any ono else any in
Justice. He is q faithful and efficient officer,
and has been guilty Of no breach Of discipline,
Aol VI any opt w bCb Ai4AA INV '"A-N"' 49,
BILE. But neither he nor ANYONE else on tho
force has any right to keep back police items
Of interest to the public from the press unless
the service would thereby be injured, and
most assuredly 10 one has q right TO give such
items to one paper and refuse them TO another.
Police news is public news, and The TINES has
many readers who never see the Dispatch. and
who are as much entitled to know what Is
going on in the city as are the readers Of any
other Of our daily contemporaries. Major
Poe simply recognized this, and did
nothing but his plain duty in manlfesting
determination TO have unjust discrimination
stopped.
As far as TIE TIMES is concerned, it is will
ing for the whole subject to be dropped; it
certainly does not wish Sergeant Cosby. for
whom it entertains the highest personal re-
gard. to suffer any injury. It is unalteraby
determined, however, to fulfil its mission TO
give the public all the news, and it will not
quietly submit 10 unfair treatment at the
hands of any public official. II will at all
times and under all circumstances insist upon
what are its plain rights.