Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-03
MAYOR GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Resolution by Police Comm issfOners
Affecting His Authority.
No. 1O1 King St,
Bell Telephone No. 1913,

No. 1O1 King St,
Bell Telephone No 1913,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, December g. 1900.
The rules adopted at the last meeting of
the board Of police commissioners, directing
Mayor Simpson to transmit his orders to
the police force through the captain, lieu
tenant or sergeant, were read to the po-
leemen this morning for the first time.
When the mea assembled In the mayors
office for the o'clock relief they were ad-
dressed by Chief Webster. who stated that
he was required by. the board to acquaint
them with its action. He then read the
resolution, with amendments, as finally
adopted.
In commenting or the matter this morn
ing. Mayor Simpson said that after all the
commissioners mad practically abandoned the
ground they mad taken in the original res
olution. He referred to the amendment of
that portion directing the mayor to give his
orders through the chief. which was condi-
toned by the following clause. Unless in
case Of necessity, demanding instant ac-
ton on the spot In his opinion this
amendment greatly reduced the force of the
ruling and rendered it vague and Intangible
He thought that the question would natu-
rally arise as 20 whether the case, which
might be involved, was one CT necessity,
and who, he asked, was to be the judge Of
such matters?
Mayor Simpson alluded to the controversy
between the DOdTo VI poiiCc
and Mayor Thompson several years ago.
The questions involved, he remarked, were
very different from those now attracting at
tention but he said Judge Keith of the
court of appeals. In passing upon the case
expounded the relative authority of the
mayor and commissioners. He quoted from
Judge Keith's decision, in part. as follows:
II have been unable to find any provision
In the city charter which prescribes 1t as
specific duty resting upon the mayor to re-
port to the board of police commissioners
in ii event of his finding 1t necessary to
suspend any member Of the police force.
I have no hesitation in saying that to do SO
would be within the scope Of his general
duty to see that the laws are fully exc
cuted, and, with that object in view. to act
in accord with the other officers Of the
city.
This. the mayor said clearly outlined the
position of the mayor as executive head Of
the city. and therefore in sole control of
the police force, as the law specifically stip-
ulates He declared the commissioners act
ed as though he were member of the po-
lice force as we'll as being it's director, and
therefore subject to their control. The de-
cision of Judge Keith, from which the
above quotation is taken, stated:
He (the mayor Is clothed with
the duty and authority to take the initial
step in investigating any actual or sup
posed misconduct upon the part Of any
member Of the police force"
Mayor Simpson stated this morning that
he had not yet signed the resolution adopt
ed at the last meeting Of the city council
permitting the Washington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon railroad to supply city mer-
chants with electric power for Illuminating
purposes during December. He said the
statement that he intended to veto the bill,
which appeared in The Star, was correct.
but that since that time he had been ap-
preached by members Of council who had
promised to arrange the matter so that it
wou-~ approve the resolution If these steps
were taken. 80 81