Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-14
WILL NOT BULGE.
Police Com III DESIGNERS Stuart and Doughty
Claim They Were Legally Elected.

Claim They Were Legally Elected.
Mr.. NJ. V. Doughty and Attorney w.
c. Stuart, who We're appointed mem
bers of the Board of Police Commits
sioners by Mayor Walter ~. Post just
before that gentleman'S term of office
expired. are not losing any sleep over
Mayor y. A. Moss message to the Com
mon Council in which his honor says
those gentlemen were not legally elect
ed and advises the council to elect two
members to fill the alleged vacancies.
When seen yesterday by u reporter
Attorney Stuart said:
Il was somewhat surprised to notice
in this mornings paper the commune
cation sent by the mayor to the Com
mon Council last night in reference to
filling the So-called vacancies on the
Board of Police Commissioners for |
had hoped that Mayor Moss would
possibly be able to arise above the pet
" political spite which he has shown
in this matter. His course is without
any legal justification whatever. and
therefore must be considered as the
result of personal feeling.
The r1litico-dramatic tricks which
our Juggling mayor is beginning to
spring upon the people may help him
in Il dema gogic way among those sup
pnrtsrs who are idolic enough to per-
suade themselves that he has any legal
tainiy lose him the respect of the great
majority of good Democrats"
To Il representative of the Daily
Press Mr.. STUART said such action on
the part uf the mayor had Il tendency
10 demoraiZc the police force: in fact,
he had heard ii said that some police
men We're already questioning his au-
thority. II am 4 member of the Board
ui Police Commissioners said MIR.
stuart 1t is not the office that so
much appreciate bu. the fact tina it
Was conferred upon! me by Mir. Post. a
gentleman who is universally es-
teemed. We were duly appointed and
confirmed and Will serve out oar terms
OF office. Police commissioners are
State officers and Mr.. Moss fails to
draw the distinction between city and
Stale officials"
Other attorneys in the city agree
with MIR. Stuart. They hold that police
commissioners are State officers and
are not under the control of the mayor.
AS Yet Commemorative Attorney J. *.
NJ Newton has not prepared his opin-
ion, but it is thought it Will sustain the
Nld administration, for it is not i'm
old administration for it is not proba-
bic that eNMayor Post acted without
legal advice.
What Mayor Moss object is in en-
deavoring to have the Board of Police
Commissioners dissolved is not known,
but it is thought that his honor de-
sires to make some changes in the per-
sonnet Of the police force. and if he
got men ON the board who shared his
Views Chief OF Police S. j. Harwood
would lose his scalp. I Ills is. OF
course. merely conjecture. as Mayor
Moss has not expressed himself public
ly. There are those who hold to the
opinion that his honor has j personal
spite to vent.
During the controversy over the
Jones case there was considerable dis
acussion regarding tue jurisdiction of
the mayor oNer4th he; Board of sss5s 2 olice
Commissioners ana it became generally
understood at that time that these Off
cals Mere State officers