The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-03-17
The Police Middle.
Seven Aldermen Block the
Removal Of the System.

The Charleston metropolitan police
matter is still tied up The un
expected action of some of the
alderman of that city on Monday in
refusing 10 sign the agreement which
Governor Ellerbe required is the only
cause. From all that s:an be learned
when Mayor Smyth was in the city
last Saturday to see Governor El!erbe.
The governor gave him an agreement
for the aldermen 70 sign, pledging
themselves to use their influence in
enforcing the dispensary Law and
spromising if they did Sign it tina: he
would at once remove the metropol-
itan police
a secret meeting Of tie council
was Leid Monday and all except
aeven aldermen signed the agree
anens Governor Ellerbe vas notified
Eoff Inc fact yesterday morning and
Immediately afterwards telegraphed
so Mayor Snpth that the police board
pf commissioners consisting of
himself, the secretary Of state ard
the comptroller general-would not
issue an order of removal until all the
alderman has signed the agreement
No reply has; been received from
Mayor Smyth and the matter seems
TO remain 10 this position.
The agreement signed by ma
iioriiy of the alderman was received
by the governor yesterday, though no
minority report has been received by
him. The agreement reads:
Whereas. the State board Of off
GERS authorized by law to appoint
polcie commissioners have consented
to discontinue the government of the
city of Charleston in the manner pro-
yided By an act entitled can act TO
provide for the appointment of
board ofpolice commissioners, and for
the the reorganization of the police
and to provide salaries for the same,
10 cities and incorporated towns,
when deemed necessary and advisa-
able for the better enforcement of law
In cities aud towns" approved Dec.
"a, 1894, upon the express condition
that the city council will faithfully
and efficiently to the best of their
ability execute all the laws of the
State of South Carolina and especial
~ the dispensary law and that the
mayor and aldermen will individually
and ofiiaily pledge themselves SO to
do.
Now we, the mayor and aldermen
Of the city of Charlestn, Individually
hereby promise aad pledge ourselves
10 the said board to do everything
we can officially to execute the dis
pensary law and to enact all ordi-
nances necessary for this purpose,
and to rigidly enforce such ordiances,
as we'll as to execute all other laws
Of the State of South Carolina
] Adger Smyth. mayor Geo W.
Williams, Jr +, G P Costello, r. G.
Rhett. Zimmerman Davis, Thos. Rod
dely. R. NJ. Masters, G S Gadsden,
P. Broderick. A. F. c. Cramer W.
E Holmes, J. Fred Liiienthal, w.
F. Strong. J. NJ. Pearlstine Opposed
TO dispensary). FL Buck, JOS. F.
Kracke, G. A. Roessler.
Accompanying this was a letter
from MIR. George ". Williams, Jr..
saying that he did not think it neces
sary to sign the above as his oath of
Office for alderman covered The some
ground. but he did so as the gov
ernor desired it. Mr.. Kracke and
Mr.. Raessler said the same
The aldermen who refused to sign
the pledge are: Messrs. Schmidt.
Percival. Beckman, McCarreil. Mat
thies and Pregnall. The reasons they
gave for declining'to sign the pledge
to enforce the law are as expressed
IN the following paper, whlcn taey
signed !:
eve, the undersigned members of
city council, desire to enter protest
against any change, for the following
reasons:
eve are of the opinion that under
the present suspices, with the COM
munity at large 80 opposed to the
provisions Of the dispensary law,
that the only practicable way to en-
force the law is police operated as
it is now constituted.
"Bosh municipal and State mana
cement have been restored to to sup
press the illicit sale of liquor in this
city since the passage of the dis.
ensary law. and comparison Of the