Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-22

Police COMMISSIONERS. regular
,earins of the Police Board was held
Las, hight all the members being pres
eut.
commissioner Bryant offered reso-
linton. which was seconded by Mr..
Frank Price, directing the secretary to
nifty Officer Spinks that he must give
nm his candidacy for the Office Of City
Sergeant by the 31st day of March or
resign his place as policeman.
Commissioners Price. Miller and Bry-
ant voted for the resolution and Ii was
adopted.
C5mmi, sioner Lindsey aud the May
or 70 ed against it on the grounds that
a simple regulation of the police board
could not deprive man, however
humble he may be. of his constitutional
right TO seek Office.
Mr.. Price thought that a police off
Ger under the rules had either to give
M mis- place on the force or cease to be
y candidate.
TIE Mayor said in reply that II rules
were legal, and certainly police rules
were not, when they fatty antagonizsd
the constitution of the State, their rigid
enforcement should affect others be-
side Mr.. Spinks, and that for the bene-
m OF Commissioner Price, who was
holding q position of profit under the
government of the United States, he
wou d quote from the laws OF Virginia
tn following:
No person shall be capable of hold
ing al office under the State who holds
auy Office or post of profit, trust, or
emolument. civil or military, legisla-
tive. judicial or executive. under the
government of the United States, or
who is in the employment OF such gov
-rnmeut, or who receives from 1t any
emolument whatever; and the accept
s,ce of any such Office. post, trust or
em1lument, or the acceptance of any
em0lument whatever under such gov
eminent shall pro facto vacate any Of.
ice or post OF profit, trust or emOlu.
ment under The govern ment of this
Commonwealth or under any county,
city or town thereof"
The Mayor said this was State law
which the Court of Appeals had pssa. d
upon aud that if any citizen desired TO
do so he could raise the question as
against Mr.. Price holding his position
as Police Commissioner aud the courts
would beyond any doubt sustain such
Contention.
Mr.. Price said the question was
raised when C)uncil elected him.
The Mayor said it was not properly
raise for there were no legal means
resorted to. II there had been he, Mr..
Price, would not have been sworn 10.
Mr.. Price further said that he had q
right to work for the government as
well as anybody else.
Tha Mayor said, Eyes. and Mr.. Spinks
mas the right to work for this corpora
ton as we'll as anybody else, but you
say he shall not unless he surrenders
his rights Is a citizsn, and say the
state law positively prohibits you work.
ing for the government and holding
an Office under this State. and you
would think it gr' at hardship if you
were made to either give up your po-
sitiOn under the government or leave
the Police Board"
Mr.. Price said if he was not legally
a member he did not want to be on it.
The Mayor said Mr.. Price was now
on the board, but that # the law was
invoked he would certainly be denied
the right to remain member.
nothing whatever was done with the
other question submitted to Mr.. Boothe
which was, Has any officer the right
under police rules to procure evidence
IN divorce suits and 10 civil courts for
damages in which railroads, newspa-
pers, steamboats, and individuals are
parties.