The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-12

It Ia Said to be an Administration Bill and
| FoIIows Pretty Closely the Lines OF the
Bill Asked for by Governor Evans In
hisInaueural Address-Ths Cities
aud Towns to Pay for the Po-
lice but to have no Control
over them Whatever.
COLUMBIA, December 0-This was
an of day in the Senate aud the legls-
lation was strictly routine. 1t was ex-
pected that the Constitutional Conven-
tion bill, which had been made special
order for today and succeeding days
would be called and would enliven
the monotony of the proceedings, but
it was put off. The only feature of
public Interest was the introduction OF
a metropolitan police bill by Senator
Wilson. If there is any "ot1lclal" Dill
on this subject the. bill Introduced
TO-DAY is the one. Senator Wilson says
that it will be enacted into law. MIR.
Wilson generally knows few Things,
but it must be said that as yet there
has been no indication that the men,
bers generally are il favor ofsuch rad
ical measure. The provisions OF the DILL
are rs follows: -,
That whenever the Governor shall
deem it advisable or necessary for the
better and more perfect government OF
any city in this State Of more than 2
500 inhabitants he shall appoint a
board of police commissioners, consist
ing of three members, for such city.
Such commissioners shall be qualified
electors and freeholders. The term of
such commissioners shall he conter-
minai with that of the Governor ap-
| pointing them. The Governor may re-
| move commissioner whenever he shall
deem it necessary or expedieDt. Each
incoming Governor shall make a new
appointment. The com misslcners shall
/ take oath for the faithful discharge OF
their duties. If the appointee shall for
ten days after notification OF appoint
| ment TAIL 10 take such oath his appoint
ment shall be regoked-fhe7eoSernor
| shall have power to fill any vacancy at
any time. The Governor shall deslg-
nate a president and secretary from
the mem bers. The annual salary of the
commissioners shall not De less than
$50 or more than $3.50 to be fixed by the
Governor within those limits IN pro-
! portion to the population of the par
particular city. The secretary may be
allowed a salary of $50 in addition. Said
salaries shall be paid out of the town or
city treasury in like manner as the
salaries Of town or city officers.
The board of com mmissiouers shall ap-
point marshal, who shall be chief or
police subject to the orders OF the
board, and as many policemen as may
be deemed necessary by the board, not
exceeding one for every five hundred
Inhabitants. The marshal and police
men shall hold office coterminally with
the board appointing them, subject to
removal at any time by a majority vote
of the commissioners. The marshal
and police shall have exclusive
power, and it shall be their duty, to
serve all processes issued by the mayor,
inteadent or city recorder, and all
notices and papers Issued by the COM
missioners. The marshal and police
shall have all the common law and
statutory power now bad and exercised
by the policemen under the laws OF the
State and the ordinances OF sIch city.
The board shall MAINTAIN an office at
the council chamber, Police Court room
or station house or other convenient
place and shall meet in regular session
every month and in special session at
any other time upon written re- est OF
any member to each other member who
is in the city. Any regu lar session may
be adjourned for period not exceeding
four days. Two members shall coDstl-
tute a quorum and their concurrence
shall be sufficient to decide any ques-
ton properly coming before the board.
The board shall have entire control
of the police force and all station
houses, city prison house, patrol
wagons, records equipments and
all other property belonging 70
the police department and shall andit
it all claims against same and certify
them to the mayor and council for pay.
meut. The mayor and council shall
pay all such claims and they shall levy
and collect annually a tag sufficient to
pay the salaries and all expenses of the
board and the police department, and
a writ of mandamus on proper process
shall lie at the will of the board as
against the municipal authorities to
compel the levy and collection of such
annual tax and the payment of such
expenses by them. The board shall
make rules for its own government and
shall promulgate proper orders to the
police force through the marshal.
The board may or the application OF
any person showing sufficient cause
therefor appoint any number ct special
policemen at any one time to do duty
at designated places, at the expense of
the person by whom such application
shall be made, and the city shall not pay
any such special policemen. With the
consent of the Governor the board may
appoint such number of special police
men for general duty as may be deemed
advisable, but such special policemen
shall not serve longer than two success
sive days without new appointments
being made, and they shall not be paid
at rate exceeding the regular police
men.
The mayor and council shall provide
at their expense all necessary accom-
modatiops for the sessions of the board
aud to provide Police Court room,
station house and prisons, and to fur
nish, warm and light the sane, to fur
nish food for prison ers. to provide for
the monthly payment Of marshal and
policemen; also for office expenses and
repairs. All the necessary expenses OF
the police department shall be borne by
the city out Of its general revenue fund,
Notwithstanding the government of the
department is invested in the ooard of
commissioners.
Neither the mayor, nor the council,
nor any officer appointed by them shall
have any control of the police force, and
the city treasurer shall not pay any of
the police force except upon the certiti-
cate of such board. ANY person who
shall in any manner interfere with
said board or Police Judge, marshal or
polimeman while 10 the legal perfor-
nance of their duty shall, upon con-
conviction before the Court of General
Sessions, be adjudged guilty of mis-
demeanor and shall be fined in any
sum not less than SlC0 nor more than