Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-16

POLICE COMMISSIONERS "A called
meeling of the Board OF Police Com
mis.ioueis was bel; last isht, all the
members being present. Capt. Bryant
hronvbt up the case of Officer Spinks
being a candidate for city sergeant and
no with Commissioners Price and Mil
Iar took the position that police OFF,
cor under the rules and regulations
nrohibi!iug participation in political
shurs coul0 not remain on the force
sod he a candidate for office at the
anne time, and further that police Off
c.rs shall devote their entire time to
rhpir duties. Commissioner Lindsey
and The Mayor took opposite grounds,
claiming that under the constitution a
voter was eligible to any office within
me gift of the people, aud that police
otIicer being voter he was therefore
entitled TO be an officeseeker, and that
n Law not in the power of police rules
and regulations TO shridge citizens
cons itutionsl rights; further, gentle
men having in charge body of men
.7ould not Interpret rule so as to
d-ny the rights OF citizenship to man
.,mllv because ne was q policeman; In
6ct. mixing a police officer surrender
bi4 living before he woul1 have the
risht to apply 10 his people for 40 office.
Mr.. Price made a motion requiring
officer Splnks to resign his position or
eve up his candidacy for city sergeant.
Captain Bryant said he preferred hav
mo- the Corporation Attorneys opinion
uD,n the matter and ne offered reso-
luton asking the Corporation At.
torney's decision as 10 the right OF
police officer to run for an office before
me people. The Mayor suggested an
amendment, also, asking the Corpora
uon Attorney if an officer OF the police
force had right under the rules and
regulations requiring said officer to de-
y),e his whole time to his duties. TO
engage 10 the business OF procuring
witnesses in divorce cases aud
actively interesting himself in dam
age suits against newspapers, rail.
road companies and other corpora
tloas The resolution as amended was
uaanim ously adopted. Mr.. Price said
there was more gambling and
sunday liquor selling going 90
in this ely than ever before
aud that ne proposed TO speak
out boldly. The Mayor said he was
very glad 10 hear the commissioner
statement that he was going to speak
out boldly, and now, in tie presence o.
the board, he wanted Mr.. Price 10 say
where this gambling and liquor selling
on sunday existed. Mr.. Price said he
did not know, but that he had been told
80. The Mayor asked: "Do you know
VINO told you ?" Mr.. Price replied:
Yes" Then" said the Mayor, "if
YOU are sincerely interested 10 the sup
preston of these offenses l want you 10
give me the names of the parties giving
YOU this information. The Mayor,
after throwing out this challenge, said
he wanted it distinctly understood that
# there were any violations of law such
Is nd been mentioned, the officers in
charge of the police force were well
paid 10 find these out and they were re-
sponsible, and that he, the Mayor OF
the city, did not propose to act as po-
ceman or detective.
City Attorney Boothe is expected to
render his decision in the matter To-
morrow. 1t is understood that he will
hold that while policeman under t, re
regulations cannot electiOneer or en-
gage in politics. while on duty, yet he
has the constitutional right 10 be ca j.
didate for office-but this must not in
terfere with his duties as an officer.