The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-14

get his pay, thus keeping between
sixty and seventy men out of their we'll
earned money for some days.
After some days writ of mandamus
was sued out and argued quietly before
Judge IIanckel without my knowledge,
and which WAS granted on the ground
that Richardson had had trial as set
forth in tho petition, and that be had
been acquitted ana restored to duty by
your Commissioners. In this tho peti
ton did not set forth the facts in the
case. for, according TO the minutes of
the meeting, no attempt was made at q
trial.
Now, gentlemen, il your commits
sioncrs huvo such powers delegated to
them by the charter, which | do not
admit, to rclnstate nn officer under
charges, who has been suspend
ed Ivy your Mayor, without hearing
the proofs In tho case, would it not
hn well for you to ascertain whether
the two commissioners now acting nre
the proper persons to bnvc such arbi.
trary powers, and whether the CHARTER
gives such powers to tho commits
sloners.
Besides. would 1t not be well, under
the present circumstances, to call
halt III tho matter Of voting the city's
funds to persons not Untitled to receive
the same?
Unfortunately that is a power con-
ferred upon the Commissioners by the
miserable charter under which wo are
acting. But because it is n privilege,
it does not follow that we are to use
it ali timos.
1t becomes my painful duty 10 re-
N ID
and undlsciplined condition, arising
from tho fact that the men do not
know how TO deport themselves,
whether TO obey tho orders of the
Mayor, or of the Commissioners. ono
OF whom spends several hours of ench
day giving his orders and forming his
plans for future notion.
Now, gentlemen, my understanding
OF the law, aocords with the
course pursued by former Com
missioners while IN office. They
did not arrogate to themselves the
privileges and prerogat ves of the
Mayor. They consider themselves as
purely ministerinl while the Mayor
WAS the executive aud was compelled
by law to carry out the rules and regu.
intlons made by them in their stated
meetings.
Now, gentlemen, leave these state
ments ana complaints in your hands
for your disposal, feeling that have
performed duty which / owe TO the
people whom | serve, aud especially to
myself nnd tn You. well assured that |
cannot and will not he held RESPONSE
bio Tor my mistakes made by the police
force while under the present manage.
ment, M tho force Ia without head and
proper discipline. Nor Will my iespon-
slbinty commence until the question is
forever settled Ds to the powers of the
Mayor to control exclusively the DO
lice force when not IN conflict with any
order OF the Board of Police Commits
sioners or nuy rule or regulation made
by them for the government of tho
force.
Respectfully submitted by your
humble servant,
CHAs. w. PETIT,
Mayor.
MIR. Cooke said that the charge mnde
by Mayor Petit WAS IL serious one de-
Mandins an investigation by the coun.
ellis nnd moved that 1t be referred to
SPECIAL committee.
Mr.. Beas!ey thought it should go to
the Committee on Police. The presi.
$500 ""'' cum aCtiOu WIS uOI ueCeS-
snry.
MIR. Goodrjde, in speaking to the
motion, said he could see nothing
wrong III Police Commissioner going
TO tho station dnily; that 1t WAS the
pest way to obtain Information; TINT
the members of the Fire Committee
went TO the Fire Department when.
ever they chose. Ho thought the force
was without head; that Tho had
never seen such u middle headed set
OF galoots in his life."
MIR. Prince did not think that Mr..
Goodrldge would go To the Fire De-
pGrimcnt and undertake to tell Chief
Ryan how he should handle the men.
Lie Claimed that no single Commits.
sloner had right to give orders.
MIR. Wrenn thought tho condition of
affairs serious when n man under in.
dlctment was allowed to go around the
city making arrests. He insisted that
the communication should go to
committee and that the committee
should mako u thorough investigation,
The motion was adopted, and Messrs.
COOKE und Brougnton were appointed
on the special committee.
MIR. WRE%N'S RESOLUTION.
MIR, Wrenn offered the following res.
olutiOn
HcSolred, That it is the opinion of
the Select and Common Councils that
no person under indictment by the
grand Jury should be appointed as
policeman or be allowed to serve