San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-11
THE o'CoNNoR BILL
To TAKE Charge of the Police and
FIremen.


A bill to be entitled an act to
create a board of fire and police
commissioner in cities of 81, 900 in
habitants and over, chartered I'M
der the laws Of the state of Texas /;
defining the duties and powers of
said commissioners; fixing their
compensation, providing for their
appointment; to repeal all laws
and parts of laws in conflict with
this act.
Section l. Be it enacted by the
Legislature Of the State OF TeXas :
That there is hereby established
for and within every city in the
state OF Texas, chartered under the
laws of said State, containing a
population of $4,000 or over,
board Of fire and police commits
sioners, to be styled the "Fire and
observation-disclosures" OF such city.
The said board shall consist Of
three commissioners, who shall be
appointed by the governor, by and
with the advice and consent Of the
Senate. No person shall be ap-
pointed on said board who is not a
qualified voter under the laws Of
this State, and who has not been a
resident citizen Of the city for five
years next preceding his appoint
ment. The commissioners so ap-
pointed shall hold their respective
offices for the term Of two years,
and until their successors have
qualified. Not more than two Of
said commissioners shall at any
time belong to the same political
party or organization.
Section 2. Each Of said COM
missioners st all execute bond with
two or more good and sufficient
sureties, to be approved by the
mayor, payable to the State, for
the use Of said city in the sum OF
$4,000, conditioned for the faithful
discharge of his duty. Each Of
said commissioners shall receive
salary from the city for which he
acts, to be fixed by the mayor and
board Of aldermen, not less than
5000 and not more than $1,000 for
each year. And each Of said COM
missioners shall take and SUBJ
scribe to an oath to be filed with
his said bond, for the support of
the Constitution of the State and
for the faithful discharge OF the
duties OF his office as herein de-
fined.
Section 3. The board Of fire and
police commissioners shall have
and exercise exclusive power and
control over the fire departments
and police departments of their re-
spective cities, and property used
in connection Herewith. They
shall appoint, equip, rganize, man
age, direct and control all tiremen,
policemen, police clerks, inspectors
of weights and measures, inspec-
tors OF milk, meat and meat mar
kets, vegetables, market masters,
sanitary and health inspectors. and
officers and detectives for their re-
spective cities; to hear and deter
mine all complaints and charges
made against any officers afore
said; to suspend and discharge any
of said officers for official miscon-
duct, INSTRUMENTATION or incom-
potency. They shall make all
rules and regulations necessary to
govern their respective boards and
their respective departments atore-
said. They are hereby authorized
to fix the salaries of and pay all
officers named in this act, and for
this purpose may draw their war
rants upon the treasurer Of their
respective cities, which warrants
shall be signed by the president of
said board and countersigned by
the secretary and sealed with the
seal of the board. They shall en-
force all ordinances passed by the
board Of mayor and aldermen OF
their respective cities, not in con-
flict with this act.
Section 4. Said board Of fire and
police commissioners shall in no
case and under no preteXt appoint
or remove any policeman, fireman
or other officers named in this act
because Of any political opinions
or party affiliations, and all officers
appointed shall be Of known in
tegrity OF character and well quail
fed mentally and physically to
perform the duties imposed upon
them by law.
Section 5. Upon the appoint
ment and qualification Of said
boards Of fire and police commits
sioners the boards of mayor and
aldermen of said cities shall turn
over to said board of fire and po-
lice commissioners all property be-
81 Il o;ki,1