The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-19
CONFLICTOF AUTHORITY
THE MAYOR And POLICE BOARD oF
ALExANDRfA Ar OUTS.
The Chief Of Police 10 Between the De'"
and the Deep Blue Sea ana n"'"''
Know. whom lie Must Obey

ALEXANDRIA, March ls.-Speciai.-
The Official relations between The Mayor
ana the city Police Board are straineo
and as the mayor and each member OF
the boari present at a meeting held last
night upheld the action taken there ~
considerable interest manifest with reSaIu
to tho iinal outcome OF this and IN"
question what AMI who are the powers
that be-
The board meeting last night was held
with closed doors as usual. but on ad-
journment tie secretary gave out
statement TO tho effect that report or
chief Webster was received and That
Mayor Thompson suspension OF Scr
seant Smith and officer Ferguson was
discusse-. the Mayors order suspcndinx
them for thirty days WAS revoked ana
Captain Webster was directed TO rcinstatN
tho men Immediately
Mr. Thompson tho eX-ofllco president
of the Board OF Commissioners. dissent
ed. and the session must have been the
livelest Of all the meetings OF this rather
unpopular tribunal
When Chief Webster was ordered 10 re-
Thompson who told him not to do so
for the board In assuming this power
were going beyond the authority given
them either by the constitution OF the
state or the charter Incorporating the
board.
THE ORDER DISOBEYED.
The only thing new to-day is that
Captain Webster has not reinstatod the
sergeant and officer. and does not pro-
pose TO do 50 until the Mayor orders it
dorc In the meanwhile. both parties
are loaoing their guns Corporation At
torney Brent upholds the action OF Mayor
Thompson in an opinion OF the law on
the subject given to-day. Whether tho
Mayor will call a special meeting Of the
Council or not Is not known. The talk
Is pro and con.
! There is q great deal back Of this
/ r'atfer Tho newspaper correspondents
of two Washington papers are largely
accountable for tho main trouble and this
/ has sequei~ beginning with the Webster
/ SmoOts a. ais. damage suit flied on Tues
day and uuning back almost 10 the be-
ginning GO The present Mayors official
4 term. and 10 good deal is to clear the way
/ for some political work for the munich
i pal hght in April and May
Sergeant Smith. II will be remembered
/ was rather A new policeman. who took
ar attitude for carrying out orders vcrg-
! ing something on the nature OF detective
work and In this he was aided by WI
/ Ham Webster. a son OF the Chief. who as
constable. is given considerable OF this
work 10 do.
A CRUSADER
Smith recently swore out warrants
/ against scores Of policy men ami tad
! Captain Webster order them served
: MI h.
number of arrests and convictions. and
! the Washington papers sang out that
! there was coming "A moral crusade. Then
/ came the bawdy house crusade. and the
/ result was that Sergeant Smith who
some declare IS anything but the most
| reliable and one Of the cruelcst and mean
est men on the force. became lauded 10
the skies. and mentioned ever from the
pulpiis Of the churches Of the town.
Later on young man lost his watch i'm
"A clearinghouse and offered 500 reward
for It's recovery young newspaper man
was at first charged with the theft bur
/ got of. and another was convicted. but
the watch was not recovered Sergeant
Smith and officer FERGUSON had IN their
pockets letter telling them that it was
! believed that young Webster knew where
! the watch was or had H. as some said.
! Webster WAS finally arrested and acuuit-
! ted. and the officers making the charge
were then hauled over the Goals FOR not
showing that letter To the Mayor or to
| the chief and were accordingly suspend
ed for thirty days on the charge Of in
subordinatlon and contempt 10 their SUI
| perior officers and carrying I'm their
pockets Information that should be given
! up 10 their superiors in the interest OF
public order
NEWSPAPER MEN COME IN.
There figures in many parts OF this
! trouble a young newspaper man. a son
of an eX-Mayor who has given the police
considerable trouble and others who Is
I said to know things that would give the
! police trouble. or at least binds most OF
! them He has a brother a ministerial
| student AT the theological seminary, an
! active reporter OF some years ago who
| has the correspondence Of one OF tho
4 Washington papers. and has 80 ratified
! Mayor Thompson OF late that his Honor
was once compelled TO order him ont of
the station-house. and he not moving
fast enough. ordered him elected. which
IL is said was quickly done.
The Police Board is composed OF a body
OF most worthy and just citizens NJ tho
| town and that they believe that SER
geant Smith and officer Ferguson have
! been badly treated is plain. The Interest
manifested in this matter VIII doubtless
| grow.
fl there is 20 be reorganization OF the
police force it IS likely row soon 10 come
Mayor Thompson has served very satis-
factoriiv 10 the people. and can be relied
on t. do hts full duty with regard to the
| offenders OF the law. II will be remember
ed that on two or three occasions men
ton OF policy Sunday liquor selling and
! petty gambling has been mentioned IN
this correspondence. and IL IS due to Tho
! Times ~ say that these prescriptions
were honoeed by Mayor Thompson, and