The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-29
MAYOR MELDRIM's VIEWS.
.upIF RECOURSE AFFORDED CHI
IzENS BY THE COURTS.

CITY Authorities Not Required to
r,sorce state Laws-The City Adj
transformation Not Responsible For
40 Work of the Police Force, 1t
p.,,r Under the Control of a Com
ts.ion-Any Citizen Has the
pto,,t TO Make n Complaint or to
T,I.e steps to Bring Offenders Be
fore the Courts.
,r,vo- Neldrim returned yesterday from
r,ttnau county, where he spent Monday
=. laqal business. When seen yesterday
-, Morning News reporter in reference
"a the sermon of Rev. A. M. Williams on
no.r Moral Quarantine, delivered at
wesley Monumental church last Sunday
AMI rnblished in the Morning News the
r.v+ 57v Mayor Meldrim said that he had
mai ti-na to read the report carefully, but
to7 merely glanced over it. When asked
his views as to the trend of the sermon in
a. criticism of the authorities for their
1oxity in the enforcement of the moral
laws, he said:
"Thera are two propositions to be con-
sidered in discussing this subject. The
FIRST is as to the Jurisdiction of the city.
Who're the offenses complained of come
in conflict with the state laws, and where
there are no city ordinances relating to
these offenses, the burden of their en-
forcsment falls upon the state courts. The
poIice are employed to protect the lives
and property of the citizens, to preserve
neace and order, and to enforce the ordi-
nances. 1t is not their duty to interfere
in matters which purely concern the
state courts.
The second proposition is that the po-
lice force, being entirely under the con-
troll of the commission, the administration
is in no wise responsible for its failure
to enforce the laws. if such be the case.
This fact is frequently overlooked by per-
sons who undertake to criticise the admin
istration. When a complaint is made to
NE Of any alleged violation of the law, L
promptly refer the matter to the police
commission for investigation. l frequent
" receive letters making complaints.
Some of these letters are anonymous, the
persons making the complaints not having
the manhood to give their names. No at
tention is paid to these. When the name
of the party making the complaint is CIV
en-, and there appears to be any foundation
for it, I refer the matter to the police
commission.
81 have often stated it and I wish every
citizen to know that there is a complaint
book kept at the city exchange where
any citizen, who has any complaint to
make of any violation of any city ordi-
nance or any neglect of duty by any Off
cial is invited to come and register his
complaint. The complaint should be specif-
lie and not general, and in every instance
the name of the person making the COM
plat should be given. There is also a
complaint or information docket kept at
the police barracks where persons having
any complaints or reports to make of VIC
ladons Of the ordinances can enter their
charges
The offenses complained of in Mr..
Williams sermon, as L understand it, are
all violations of the state laws. Any citi-
zen knowing of violations of these laws
can take out a warrant before a magis-
trate, ana have the offenders arrested, or
he can present the matter to the grand
jury and have the parties indicted, provid-
ed the evidence is sufficient. The sale of
liquor on the Lords day is prohibited
both by the statutes of the state and the
ordinances of the city. Any citizen know
ing of violation of this character can
'lILci tame Out Il warrant, OF present the
Offenders to the grand jury, ortenter a
charge against the parties upon the po-
lice docket. Ample opportunity is afford
ed 10 every citizen, who desires to aid in
the enforcement of the law.
II am satisfied" said Mayor Meldrim in
conclusion, that the moral condition of
the city is as good as it ever was, or as
1t is in any other city, and great deal
better than in many, no doubt. There are
certain evils which will exist in spite of
the law, and all that can be accomplished
by the enforcement of the law is to min
imize them"