The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-13
The POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
How They Should Spend the Money Re-
uiVd From the Police Court.
The COUNCIL .0AnllItE ON fOLlCt
Decided Not TO be the Proper suherai"'s
That Brass Band and supper Was Never
Eepeated Statements of the CITY
Attorney, and Accountant


a special meeting yesterday at'ernoo"
at 5 o'clock in the Office OF the Ohiei -
Police to which the members oil '''
Corncil Committee on Police were ~"
vited. Those present were Mayor lay
Ior and Messrs. j. b. Welsh, l.. {. flss'
= q Kosher. ]. +. Jacob. and ID. A.
Weinbrunn. OF the Police Board Messrs'
T.. D.. starke, John NJ. Blanks, ana Noi
ton Deane. Of the Council Committee Oh
Police; Police Justice John }. Cru'e"-
field City Attorney Charles Y. Mereoi'n'
and Special Accountant Carlton Mc|ai-
thy.
The Chair explained that the meet
ing had been called for the purpose Oh
considering the question as to no" the
Police Board should expend the money
turned over from the Police Court ana
station-houses as costs.
Mr.. starke explained that he had re-
Owed a communication from Mr. Nc
carthv. the special accountant, giving a.
his opiniou that the board should account
IN me Council Committee on Ponce iot
fine expenditure OF the money received as
costs" Subsequently he had address,"
tho following letter TO Mayor Iayloi as
president OF the Board OF Police Coiiiinia-
si0ners.
Hon. Richard VI. Taylor, Mayor CITY oil
Richmond and Chairman or fohce
Board. Richmond, Va:
Dear Sir.-i am informed by carton
Mccarthy. special accountant, that the
money collected in the Police Court anu
police stations, known as costs, ana
-.
CHIEF of Police office, should be accounted
FOR in disbursements through Committee
Oh Police. lie claims that the charter
proyidcs that the Police Committee shall
pass on all bills for expenses. since
have been chairman OF the Police Com
mittee no such expenses have been ac-
counted for. and / desire TO call your
attention TO this fact as chairman OF the
Police Board and II the Police Cominis-
sioners' expenses have been irregular so
far as this fund Is concerned, / desire I'M
the future that the law shall be complied
with. Yours respectfully,
r. u. STARHE, Chairman.
The Chair stated that he had made no
reply to the letter. because he desired
that its contents be better discussed by
ali parties interested in the matter.
MIR. MEREDITH DIFFERS.
city Attorney Meredith here stated that
he could not see any requirement on the
POI e. Board to make any report TO the
con..nittee in regard 10 the expenditure
| OF the money in question. lie did not
| think that il was covered by section -
OF the city charter, which he thought
only referred TO money appropriated by
the city TO the police department, and
not 10 the cash fund turned over TO the
| board. In his opinion section 81 dis
| tinctly explained that this fund should be
! held subject TO the order OF the board
ana not turned into the city treasury.
He also read TO the board from a similar
opinion which he had rendered i'm 1891,
when the money of this fund had been
legitimatoly used i'm the purchasing of
! helmets for the members of the police
! force. He believed then, and believed
now. that this money could Doe used with
| out the approval of the Council Commit
tee on Police.
The two sections of the charter referred
TO by Sir. Meredith read as follows:
Section 50. The salary or pay of said
! chief and policemen shall De determined
by the city Council. and the payroll and
an bills of expense on account OF the
Police Department shall be audited and
approved by the chairman of the Com
mittee on Police before payment.
Section N. The said Chief OF Police and
policemen shall generally have power "a
do whatever may be necessary 10 pre-
serve the good order and peace of said
city and to secure its inhabitants from
personal violence and their property from
loss and injury. such members Of tho
said police force as the Police Commits
sioners may designate shall I'm criminal
! cases have the same powers and duties
and be subject to the same penalties tina
d.. d f.f IN .I. 40
| All fees and allowances arising from th'
exercise OF such powers shall be collected
/ by the Chief OF Police and held subject
TO the order Of Police Commissioners.
CAPTAIN MCARTHYS QUERIES.
Special Accountant Mccarthy admitted
that be had been knocked out on the sub
ject under discussion, but added that h'
desired 20 bring up several other matter
! in order 10 obtain the opinion OF the Cit
I Attorney. He said he had been informed
that the Police Board had made pur
chascs I'm 1895 for the Police Patrol DE
! pariment with view OF paying for thi
same out of the appropriation for 1886
II that was the case he would advise tn
city Auditor not 10 pay these bills.
Commissioner BOsher explained that II
December last the board had ordered I'VE
patrol boxes and the necessary wires
delivered. The City Council during th
past year had increased the pay OF th
two drivers OF the patrol wagon ten
dollars per month each, but had failed q
provide the necessary money. Th
amount Of $40. therefore. had TO com
out Of the Patrol Department and hal
made that account run short.
city Attorney Meredith stated tina
neither the Board OF Police Commissioner
nor any other city department had tn
right 10 oxpend one dollar beyond tn
appropriation made by the City Council
Commissioner Jacob explained that th
board had started the patrol system wit
S,ll. which had accumulated durin
five years ont OF the cost fund.
BRASS BAND AND a SUPPER.
Mr. Mccarthy next stated that he ha
found that several years ago the pres
coat Of the Board Of Fire Commissioner
bad paid on account Of his dopartmer
{ / 10 Mt charles G. Bosher the sum d
/ si.-, and ne had failed 10 End in the chai
TER any provision that justified any suc
= / transaction between the two deDar;
ments.
Mr. Bosher explained that abou. 81
| years ago the Police and Fire Department
haI a joint parade and insp- tion an
the amount referred 10 was merely th
share Of the Fire Depa mont IT, -
. expenses incurred on that occasion T.
tn hiring of a brass band and iuruishin
Of supper 10 the men in ne two l
parimenfs. However. some of the men
bcfs Ct the two boards did not Apr =.
= L