The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-03
rrw LAWS FOR COMMISSIONS.
ICE AND PARK COMMISSION
ACTS TO BE AMENDED.

voxor TO BE the Head of the
poIice Department. With Broad
.ors-A Provision For Appoint
is without the Chiefs Recon-
dation-The Park Commission
nave control of the Cemetaries,
y EmpIoy Its own Force and to
r.nend Its own Appropriation.
- changes Recon- ended by
the Council.
+ 7,s, eitv council will offer amendments
,,e notice and park and tree commits
~, hills. The proposed amendments to
hills we're submitted to the council
NIGHT ana by resolution the represen-
4 .,res from Chatham were requested to
'~+roduce and support them.
q THE amendment to the law creating the
4 .l,oo commission is of special impor-
"a The first section of it makes the
q .1-er Of the commission to fix the salary
,,e chief of police and officers and pri-
81 ..as If the force subject to the revision
- control Of and to such limitations and
Ranges as may be prescribed by council,
aroyided that in any action the council
,ov take in these matters, it shall require
j.. .4rmative vote of at least nine MEM
hers the mayor having the right 10 vote,
n order to limit or change the compensa-
linn fixed by the commissioners.
Tho second section provides that the
u,aror shall be the official head Of the
,o-ics force, with the right and power in
he said mayor, in the execution of the
ordinances of the city, in the maintenance
4 of good order and in the preservation of the
Uasce to give such orders and directions
as in his Judgment are proper, directly to
tbs chief of police or any officer or mem
har If the police force. with the authority,
n Ease of disobedience of his orders, to sus-
IND the chief of police or any officer or
member of the force, until such disobe-
Hence has been passed upon by the board
80 rolice commissioners, which shall have
~ mower 10 remove from office for such
Ijsobedience. and further, the mayor shall
have the power and authority, in
anv emergency, as he may deem
hest to swear in, or cause to be sworn in,
snecial policemen for such time as he
NAV Designate reporting his action there
on to the police commissioners for their
information And the said powers given
Inv said section to the board of police COM
mlssioners shall not be so construed as to
sbridge or impair in any way the juris-
dicuon. power or authority of the mayor
\ as the official head of the said police force,
ranking as said official head the chief of
4 notice and all other officials and members
of the said force"
The third section of the amendment pro-
vides that hereafter it shall be lawful fer
The police commissioners, by an
unanimous vote, to appoint ad-
ditions to the police force without
the written recommendation of the chief
The present act requires the written rec
ommendation of the chief before the com
mission can make an appointment.
The fourth section makes the board of
police commissioners or any member SUBJ
ject to removal from office by the mayor
and aldermen for n1alfeasanse in office, in
competence or neglect in the discharge Of
his duties or for inability from any cause
to discharge such duties or upon convic-
ton of any crime against the state of the
grade Of a felony, or Of a crime involving
moral turpitude. Before such a removal
can be effected charges in writing must
he preferred, specifying in full the
grounds upon which the charges are
brought. The hearing must be in open
council. No removal can be effected I'M
less there shall be at least ten votes in
favor of it, the mayor having the right
to vote.
The park and tree amendment places the
cemeteries controlled by the city
under the care and control of
the park and tree commission,
but the keeper of Laurel Grove cemetery
Is to be elected by council. 1t gives the
commission control of its own laborers
with the expenditure of its own appropria-
ton. At present the Keeper of Laurel
Grove cemetery is appointed by the COM
missioner of pubic works and the labor
ers Of the commission are also employed
and Directed by the commissioner.
The power to remove the commission or
any member Of it is on the same terms as
provided in the amendment to the police
commission act.