Evening star., 1897-03-25
ARGUED BEFORE JUDGE KEITH.
trying to Settle the Police Board Con
troversy I'm Alexandria,

eorresir ndenoe of The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va. March "a 1897.
hearing took place today before Jude,
Keith OF the supreme court of appeals n
the controversy between the mayor an,
board OF police commissioners of Alexan
drla, Judge Keith having been reaueste,
10 act as an arbitrator in the matter
MI. A w Armstrong argued the case O,
behalf of the police commissioners Will,
Mr.. Samuel ]. Brent, the corporation coun
sci. looked after the interests of the mayor
The conference which was of a stri,tn
private nature. lasted two hours and thos,
present. when seen on the subject after
WARD, said that Judge Keith would Tender
ms decision in a few days.
The questions presented for the consif
Grafton of Judge Keith arose under ce..
tain acts of the general assembly, amend,
ing the charter of the city of Alexandra
ana involving the management and contro
of the police department of that CITY
Prior to the acts of 1S.eS-94 tie pole;
department was under the control ru,
management of the city council. The DO
ncemen were elected by that body eyer,
two years, and, by an act passed i'm ls.,l
the mayor was authorized TO suspend q,
remove any police officer for misconduct
in office or neglect of duty and in the
event of removal of police officer lie was
directed to communicate the facts with his
reasons TO the city council without de-
lay, that the vacancy might be filled Eu,
In the event of the suspension of a polio,
officer. he was not required to make 81,
such report.
During the session of lS93-a4 the chart-,
of the city was amended as to cslab.
lish board for the government and man.
agement of the police force.
In the argument before Judge Keith this
morning his honor's attention was called to
the charters of the cities of Lynchburg and
Norfolk, which Authorize the mayor of eacf
city to suspend any policeman from office
and take acton in the matter.
The authority vested In the mayor of the
city CT Alexandria is therefore different
from that of the mayor of the other two
cities. and counsel for the mayor contended
that il the legislature had deemed il proper
to take away from the mayor Of the CITY of
Alexandria the power of suspension vested
In him by the act Of 1S91-'92 until the
police board had convened and taken action
In the matter it would have said so in clear
and distinct terms, as il did in the charters
OF Lynchburg and Norfolk.
An intent to change an existing law
should fully appear and statutes shall not
be SO construed as to interfere with rights
previously granted by the legislature until
the intent to do SO was clear.
1t Is claimed by counsel for the mayor
that The section of the act which Judge
Keith is asked to construe invests but one
power, that of removal, i'm the board of
police commissioners. while the power of
suspension is exclusively vested in the NAV
or, who is the chairman of the board and
has charge of the police force for the pres
ervation of peace, the enforcement of the
laws and the good order of the city II the
mayer could Tuspend for cne day and then
have his act of suspension reversed by the
board. his authority would amount to moth
ing. His action, however is authorized by
the legislature and therefore cannot be re-
versed by the board of police commission
ers.
Judge Keith's decision will probably be
rendered this week.