The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-13

THE NEW CHIEF.
Richmond's new chief Of police is start
ing out well upon his career. lie has
summoned all the bar-keepcrs OF the
city before him and told them that he
has no discretion In the matter lie tells
them that he finds upon the statute book
n law forhidding them to sell liquor on
Sunday: that ne is sworn to enforce the
law as he finds it. and that he shall en-
force II without fear or favor.
This Is Just. straightforward. and sem
sible conduct upon the part Of the Chief
Of Police. It was entirely proper ne
should warn the bar-keepers before he
proceeded to enforce the Jaw. A condi-
ton of things had been allowed TO grow
up under which some favored bar-keep-
ers had come to have a right to sup
pose their violations Of the law would
be winked at or overlooked. II would
have been an injustice TO them to RAID
them suddenly and without warning
when they were justified in surprising
that they would not be molested. They
are all warned now, however, and
any OF them now get into trouble they
can blame no one but themselves.
The Chief OF Police is right In the
stand he has taken. and he will be sup
ported I'm IT by every citizen Of Rich
mond whose opinion is worth having. He
has nothing 10 do with the making of the
laws The Legislature makes them. ana
II is the duty of every citizen TO obey
them. and 1t is the duty OF the Chief
of Police to compel obedience to them.
He has nothing to do with the wisdom
or the folly OF the law. II is for him
to execute IT as the Legislature chooses
70 enact it.
In the opinion Of The Times the Sun
day liquor law is too rigorous. The Times
thinks it should be modified and made
more liberal. The law is based not so
much on moral principle as on police
control, good CIDER. and eXredienoy.
You may now lawfully buy an
elaborate dinner on Sunday, with all
sorts OF desserts and tea and coffee, md
bottles OF imported waters. but if you
. buy even a bottle OF beer at your hotel
or restaurant for your dinner, the man
who sells it commits an offence against
the law. This seems most 'nrea-
sonable. especially to those people who
do not keep house. or are away from
home and cannot provide themselves
with those comforts to which they are
accustomed
These reflections make men resist the
law in every way they can. But they do
not consider the inevitable consequences
OF violating a law no matter how little
II may appeal to their own sense of jus
tice. free trader has no right to be
smuggler. though he may abhor the
very idea of a tariff.
Whatever the law may be it should be
cheerfully submitted 10 by all good citi-
zens, and those who viii not submit 10
1t should be compelled to do so. 1t would
be a most demoralizing state Of things
for us to have IA law upon our statute
books which the officers of the law per
NIT to be defed II that should be per
no laws will be obeyed. and there Will
be no protection OF any sort for any
mans rights Besides. in such a state
OF the case, venal policemen will enforce
1, against those who cannot pay them,
and will, not see its violations by those
who do pay them. and all law be brought
into contempt. We hope we have no
such policemen on our force. but the force
has right TO be exempt from such temp
tation. Where such a temptation has
been offered. there have always been
found men to fall into It's snare. The
developments Of the I.cxow committee
in New York are a standing warning OF
the consequences Of such administration
OF the law.
Now, as TO bar-keepers themselves.
We do not see that they have any r'gh;
TO complain that they are obliged TO stop
their business or Sunday like other peo-
pie. Some Of their customers may feel
very badly at being deprived Of ;hei~
usual drink. and MAJ complain Of ,ho
law. and vii. 10 doubt appeal 70 the
coming Legislature 70 modify il. out the
grievance is with the vendee. not the
vendor
The new chief is on the RICH; track,
and ne will be great blessing 10 all
the people OF this city il he sticks 10
II.