The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-20
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.

ALEXANDRIA. Aoril 1s-The first le-
gal proceedings In the affair between
Mayo, George L. Simpson and the Board
of Police commissioners were enacted to-
day, when Corporation Attorney Gardner
| l.. Boothe rendered his legal opinion in
| the three. salient questions which have
| caused the mayor and commissioners to
| lock horns. The following were the ques-
| tons: Whether the mayor was empow-
cred to- detail an officer to collect
| licenses; whether the commissioners had
| authority to set aside the sentence of the
mayor on an officer found guilty of an
! offence, review the case, and pass their
own judgment upon it: and If the mayor
| has power to appoint a man of his own
selection to be stationkeeper.
In the opinion of Mr.. Boothe the mayor
has right to detail a policeman to col
lect licenses, and he quotes the last sec
tion of the ordinances of the city council
imposing taxes on persons, etc, which
especially provide for 1t. In reply to the
! second question Mr.. Boothe is of the opin-
ion that the commissioners have power
to reopen such cases. and he quotes Judge
James Kelths opinion when the same
question was submitted to him by the
counsel of a former mayor His reply to
the last query which is considered the
most important Of all, is as follows;
I'm reply to this question l would say
that the mayor is the chief executive OH
Ger of the city, and that 1t is his duty
to see that the laws of the State and the
ordinances of the city are faithfully exc
cuted: hence. although the board of
police commissioners has power, under
the city charter. to prescribe rules and
regulations for the police force, these
rules and regulations must not be such
as will prevent or hinder the proper en-
forcement of the State or city laws, and
1t would, of course be against the letter
and the spirit of the law to place an
officer st the stationhouse who would be
incapable Of attending to the duties of
such position. Subject to this qualifica-
ton however. 1 am of the opinion that
the board of police commissioners has
power to- prescribe rules for the placing
of men at the stationhouse."
The case Is now in the hands of Mayor
Simpsons attorney, and he viii await an
opinion I'm the matter before announcing
his determination.
Miss Esther S. Dempsey. daughter of
p. J. Dempsey, died suddenly at o'clock
this morning. at the residence of her par
ents, 217 South Fairfax Street. Deceased
had been in ill health for some time She
was the eldest daughter and was We'll
known and highly esteemed. The funeral
will take place from her late residence to-
morrow afternoon at o'clock.
The Westminster League of the Second
Presbyterian Church held its regular meet
ing last night and transacted considerable
routine business. special musical pro-
gramme was rendered.
Paul r. Evans. of the Fourth ward, de-
nies that he will be a candidate for mayor
In the coming election.
The alarm of fire this afternoon was
caused by the burning of chimney in a
house at the corner of Pitt and Princess
Streets. The fire department did not go
into service. AN axle of the Hydraulion
responding tO
the alarm.
Health officer Julian T. Miller today re-
ceived a communication from the Washing
ton Health Department requesting him to
investigate. the report that there had been |
three four deaths from smallpox at I
the gypsy camp at Adisson Heights, In |
camp and ascertained the report to be |
false. He has requested Mayor Simpson to |
keep the gypsies out of the city, and his |
request has been complied with.
The Fairfax County Court has appoint |
ed Ulysses G. Winston administrator of |
the estate of the late William Fl. Win
ston. and iEouie Winston guardian of |
the infant children of the deceased.
The Alexandria police have been re-
quested by the Washington authorities |
to look out for Lewis +. Franks. Of that
city. who is thought to be demsnted and !
whose whereabouts Is unknown. Franks
is about thirty -four years Of age.
George 81 Finch has purchased from
the Germs n Building Association No. ;.
a house and let on the north side of Queen
Street, betweerstsirfax and Royal Street,
--es.--Sv.- -Tompkins. n native Csrrrn,io.-
was today in the Corporation Court grant
ed naturalization papers.
The funeral of the lsye Elizabeth Gar
wood. whose death occurred in Washing |
ton Thursday, will take place from the
residence of her father, l022 King Street. |
in this city, tomorrow afternoon at :
o'clock. The interment will be private.
A number of councilmen and aldermen |
have signed a paper which Is being cir
culated by A. J. Wedderburn. in favor of
Fair Association permission to hold a
that the affair is an assured success. The
carnival will be held from May 20 to 25.
The Episcopal High School baseball
team will play game with the team rep
the Roanoke College tomorrow
afternoon on the High Schools grounds.
The store at the southeast corner of
King and Royal Streets, known as
'Creighton's corner. Will be sold at pub
lie auction tomorrow.
The Board of Managers of the AleXan-
iria Intirmary today announced num-
ber of donations to that institution by
citizens.
The Joint Committee on Finance, Streets
and General Laws held meeting tonight
and decided TO report favorabIy on re-
Dealing the repeating clause in the ordf-
nance requiring the Washington, Alexan-
iria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway |
Company to pay into the city treasury |
he sum of 81 800 per annum for the use
If Royal Street. Their report will lie sub
nitted to the city council next Tuesday