The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-08

him that hath no eistern provide him
self with one. A word to the wise is
sufficient"
The members looked from one to
ment. They hardly had time. for in an
other moment the Chief Executive OF the
city paid his compliments 20 the Police
Department in this language:
This department has donei much
good work in reforming the city. Much
remains undone. We have had many
obstacles cast in our way by those who
are In league with the devil, and are US
Gng every effort to prevent any reforma-
ton OF the abuses and vices OF the city.
The force Is entirely too small t5' COM
pete with the crime that exists. 1t
should be increased IN order to accom-
plish better results and give increased
security to life and property.
AFTER the recent decision Of Judge
Hanckel in the Atlantic City manda-
mus case, declaring in effect the Sixth
Ward to be virtually without police
protects:n, / 1mme diately addressed q
communication to your honorable bodies
setting forth the facts In the case. and
further stating that the Board of Po-
lice Commissioners had instructed me L.
appoint by warrant four patrolnen for
this ward to serve under section SO of TIE
city charter, as 'ex!Gency policemen. Yon
your Fb:d.es. and plead with you to In.
crease the number OF men so that the
Fifth and Sixth wards could have law.
fully appointed patroImen. This your
honorable bodies re fus ed to do, which left
your Police Commissioners In a dilemma,
not knowing what to do for the best in
teres;s of the tax-paylng people of those
wards. The time having expired by I'm
itat.on for an exisency TO exist. and
as the Sixth Ward had no police pro;ec-
ton, and needing 1t as badly as the four
old wards. we could do nothing more
and therefore sent our fegulars from
our already badly protected wards to the
Sixth for its protection: SO that the mon
ey appropria ted by the four wards OF the
city has been used In paying for police
protection In the S!ati ward. The Fifth
Ward has ever been without police pro-
lection, having no duly authorized pa
troimen. This Is n sad and strange con-
d!iion. growing out of the fact that un-
der the charter neither she Fifth nor
Sixth Wards can have police pr-tect!on
except from the number authorized by
the charter for the four old wards. This
condition can he reinedled either by
| changing the amendments TO the charter
admitting the Fifth and Sixth Wards or
ty the increase OF the number of patr,l-
men by your honorable bodies.
Being compelled to send our regulars
to the SIKH Is ard necessitatcd the doub-
ling up Of the already TOO large pcats
and thus rendering insecure the lives and
property OF the people OF the -four Gid
wards We did not ihlnK 1t l,apor.a.t
10 send our regulars to the Fifth Ward,
as they do not need much protection,
being without saloons and grogger!es.
Please see 10 Il that the number of
policemen Is increased so tina. we may
have better protection, and the Fifth and
r1 f,a CT, tod ,x,it1 \,
and legally constituted police force
The officers and patrolmen are very
poorly paid, while their duties frequent
ly place them in perllous situations.
The force Is made up generally OF
good class Of men, and but for the un-
fortunate education which some of them
nave received. weuld Aave been bet
ter and more united and under much
better discipline.
Too many heads in any department
VIII elfectually destroy the successful
ness OF the work OF that department.
HAD your Mayor. who is supposed 10
be, and who has always been until the
present administration, the Chief Execu-
tive OF this department, been permitted
IL exercise his functions. many serious
mistakes would have been avoided. and
the men composing the force would have
been unit In effort and action for tha
suppression of vice. The reverse is too
irue'-oiilcers arrayed against officers
and men against men. Tattl!ng and tale
bearing has been encouraged, and in
duised In by some, with the hope OF
truinping up sufficient evidence to guar
antee the removal of others, and in some
cases their efforts were crowned with
success.
The question has frequently arisen In
| my mind What are the powers and
prerogatives of the Mayor? The C9nsti-
| tuition guarantees TO him certain rights
while the infamous charter under which
we are working, places two men, the an.
pointees of the Councils, over him. who
seem TO have the power to undo all ne
| may do except iu the matter of sus-
pending an officer; not in any way con-
nected with the police force, with no
| more strength TO put en- order into execu-
| ton than an infant Of a day old: while
| the appointees OF the Councils are acting
| as executives, whose orders are obeyed
while his are frequently ignored.
'The charter was made up for specia,
purpose, TO hum!liate and degrade one
| Of Norfolk's former Mayors, but he nor
his successors were ever made to feel
the smart as the present incumbent
The Mayor should be ex-offic!o chairman
| Of all the boards, have power not only IN
| look into all their acts, but examine
all contracts made by them. He should
| have the veto power, and the privilege
of appointing or nominating his Board
| OF Policd Commissioners. Either have
| a Mayor. and let him be Mayor with GER
tam delegated powers, or do away with
the Office"