Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-09-21
DECLINES o: ! u THE HONOR
nar.. D. Q. Ashby Refuses the Fire Com
na'ssiontrship. and MIR y. A. R,r.h-
burg is Nouina.ed. Bot
Defeated.

-
the contracts for erecting the bridges
and city Jail will be awarded. The
bids were read out last night, but no
action was taken
Mayor Allan A. Moss had a large
supply of messages on hand Two Of
the communications related to unim-
portant matters. but the others were
lengthy. His honor vetoed the ordi-
nance adopted at the last meeting fix
ing hours Tor officials. giving as a
reason that the hours for the city clerk
We're not as long as they should he
me meeting last night was attended
by representatives of the bridge and
Jan building concerns and a number of
citizens. ~ ~
Following are the messages sent to
the council by Mayor Allan A. Moss:
ORDINANCE VETOED.
Hon. City Council:
gentlemen: return enclosed oru1-
nance for the following reasons:
!. do not think it is just to make
an exception of the clerk; besides IL
does not look business-like to find him
out in business hours Of the other Of
fees.
2. Should the clerk meet committees
four nights week at two hours per
night it would be only eight hours Der
week or six hours and fifty minutes per
day. = 80 II :
From my experience in the office l
md that people come in morning and
afternoon to see him for such as build
ing permits. bonds. plans and various
other city business.
think the clerk should be here to &C
commodate the people, and not the
people to accommodate the clerk
3. I agree with the Council that the
clerk is busy for the first two or three
days after its meetings, but after that
there is very little work to do, SO there
should be no excuse on account Of
labor
have no faultSto find with the clerk
l find him very courteous and oblig-
ing gentleman, but il his hours are
SO shortrthat the people must be here
at his pleasure. I do not ish to be held
! responsible; I therefore advise to. strike
out the words Except the clerk and
pass the ordinance.
Respectfully,
A. A. MOSS. Mayor
The ordinance referred to in the fore
going communication is as follows:
Be it resolved by the Common Coun-
Gil of the City OF Newport News that
the various officers of the City who are
furnished with offices in the Court
house building be and are hereby re-
quired to keep their offices open for the
transaction of business with the public,
during the following hours, Except the
City ClerlS) to wit: from A. NJ to ~
NJ. and from 1870 P. NJ. to 4 P M un-
less engaged elsewhere on business for
the City.
That notice be posted on the door Of
each Office containing the name of the
Office and the office hours of the occu-
pant.
That this resolution shall not apr
to the janitor. whose services shall
required at any time when needed
This resolution shall be in force from
ITS passage.
WANTS CHANGING.
Hon. City Council: -.
Gentlemen: The city jail is full of
prisoners. The chain gang is not work
ing and makes the Jail q good place for
a rest I think if these people were
worked it would keep out the tramps
this winter. I advise that you set the
chain gang to work at once cleaning up
the weeds ON vacant lots lin the city
along the line of march of the fire.
mems parade. 1t will make a great
difference in the appearance Of things
on that day.
Respectfully.
A. a. MOSS. Mayor
POLICE COURT RECORD.
Hon. City Council
Gentlemen: When came into Office
4 July l, 1898, I found there was no re-
cord kept of the arrests and proceed
ings of the Police Court except a slate
to mark on by the police officer, and a
book kept in lead pencil by the chief OF
police. I found prisoners bailed indis-
eriminately by justices of the peace. !
& tried to remedy this by notifying the
justices Of the peace that they could
not do this under the law, as it came
under the police Justice. but it had no
effect and it still continues. I notified
the chief of police to commence August
- to keep a regular record book on the
police Justices desk, have each officer
write the mans name arrested. charge
arrested for, color, articles found on the
person, name Of officer making Arrest,
number of beat arrested on, if bailed
name OF Justice bailed by, name Of
bondsman, amount OF security, If tried
who tried by, how disposed of, amount
OF fine. how paid, who paid to. This
has not been carried out am inform
ed that in many cases when man is
arrested it is marked on slate by an
officer, the man is bailed by paying
sixty cents TO some justice and the
slate is cleaned The. man is back on
the officers beat by the time the officer
Z returns and the case is probably never
4 heard of again. I do not see why a
record is not kept; it is kept In other
cities. The police justice gets thou
=, sand dollars year and sits few
hours day; other officers work from 9
A. NJ. to P. NJ. The Justice ard chief
could go over these arrests each day
S1ALGi SOAAS dAAAA ShpPAo IAC 1C|okNS.
Some one should be held responsible.
suggest the Council nave the finance
and ordinance committees investigate
the matter and report to the council as
they have finished their work, and with
it an ordinance regulating and govern
ing the same.
Form to make record book by:
POLICE COURT RECORD CITY
10 OF NEWPORT NEWS.
d Name of party arrested.
Charge arrested on.
gss w hite or colored.
Articles found on person.
Name OF officer making arrest.
W Number OF beat arrested on.
II ba!led. name Of justice bailed by.
Name OF bond smen. 484
Amount Of bond t3 p; 5:5s
ss henstraed name OF Justice :ss