The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19
IMPORTANT BILLS.
CONCERNING METROPOLITAN PO-
LICE AND THE MILITIA.

The Governor to Provide the System for
Towns and Cities Having Over $500 In
habitants When lie Sees FIt--Provisions
of this Important Bill.
| COLUMBIA. S. c., Dec 1.-THE SEN
ate yesterday met at - o'clock and af-
ter session of but to hours. the
pangs of hunger drove Lne majority to
agree to a recess until Sp. m. Fifteen
or eighteen third reading bills were
passed, but little Roadway had been
made on the long listo those that had
reached the second reading stage,
when the body receded from busi-
ness.
Among the third reading bills pass
ed was one introduc. d by Mr.. Jordan
to apply to Aiken county, but amend
ed to take in the whole State, which
will have the effect of wedding out
some of the many picayunish private
bills introduced annually. 1t is to
require all persons holding school
claims against any county, to. prove
the same before a board composed of
the county treasurer, auditor and
school commissioner, and to require
the treasurer to pay those declared
valid out CT funds belonging to the
school district against which the
claim is declared. Greenville and
Fairfield were withdrawn from the
provisions of the bill.
The day was marked by the intro
duction of two important bills. Mr..
Stanyarne Wilson's metropolitan po-
lice bill put in it's appearance, together
with the new militia bill introduced
by Mr. Dennis, the gallant Colonel,
who subsequent to the Darlington
war;" gained notoriety because OF a
failure to put in an appearance on the
"court of inquiry" the lack of q pro-
per uniform being the excuse. I'm
der the Colonel's bill he will next time
have to call in some Berkeley NJ. D. of
good standing and get a certificate
that his garments cannot stand the
physical wear and tear of a prolonged
Sitting in a military court. The bill,
as will be seen below, proposes to put
the militia upon the same basis as the
| National Guard of New York, Penn
sylvania and other Northern States.
And it gives the Governor supreme
power as to the making of rules and
regulationns. :,
The bill of Mr.. Wilson provides
that whenever the Governor shall
deem it advisable or necessary for the
better and more perfect government of
any city i'm this State of more than
$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 freeholdars.. The term of
such commissioners shall be cotermli
nal with that of the Governor appoint
| ing them. The Governor shall re-
move a commissioner whenever he
shall deem it necessary or expedlent
Each incoming Governor shall make
a new appointment. The commits
sioners shall take oath for the faith
full discharge of their duties. If the
appointee shall, for ten days after no.
| tifcation of appointment, fail to take
such oath his appointment shall be re-
yoked. The Governor shall have
power to fill any vacancy at any time.
| The Governor shall designate presi-
dent and a secretary from the mem
bers. The annual salary Of the COM
missioners shall be not less than $50
or more than $500, to be fixed by the
Governor within these limits in pro-
portion to the population of the par
ticular city. The secretary may be
allowed salary of $50 in addition.
Said salaries shall be paid out of the
town or city treasury in like manner
as the salary of town or city officers
The board of commissioners shall
appoint marshal, who shall be chief
Of 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 500 inhabi-
tants. The marshal and policemen
shall hold Office coterminally with the
board appointing them, subject to re-
moval at any time by majority vote
of the commissioners. The marshal
and police shall have exclusive power
and it shall be their duty, to serve all
process issued by the mayor, inten-
| dent or city recorder and all notices
and papers issued by the commission
ers. The marshal and police shall
have all the common law and statute
ry powers now had and exercised by
| the policemen under the laws of the
lState and ordinances of such city.
| The board shall maintain an office
at the council chamber, police court
room or station house or other con-
venient place, and shall meet in regu-
lar session every month and in spe-
cial session at any other time upon
written request of any member to
each other member who is in the city.
Any regular session may be adjourned
for period not exceeding four days.
Two members shall constitute quo
rum and their concurrence shall be
sufficient to decide any question prop
erly coming before the board. The
board shall have entire control of the
police force, and all station houses,
city prisons, patrol wagons, records,
equipments and all other property be-
longing to the police department and
shall audit all claims against same and
certify them to the mayor and council
for payment. The mayor and coun-
Gil shall pay all such claims, and
they shall levy and collect annually a
tax sufficient to pay the salaries and
expenses of the board and the police