The times., 1901-04-20
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.

ALEXANDRIA. Aorfl 19-The first le-
gal proceedings IN the affair between
Mayor George T. Simpson and the Board
of Police Cepmissioners 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-
| tions: 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 man of his own
| selection to be stationkeeper
| In the opinion of Mr. Boothe the mayor
! has a 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 Keith's 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 offi-
Ger of the city, and that it 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
II would of course. be against the letter
and the spirit of the law TO place an
officer at the stationhouse who would be
Incapable of attending to the duties OF
such a position. Subject to this qualifica-
ton, however, / 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 s attorney, and he VIII await an
opinion I'm the matter before announcing
his determination.
Miss Esther 5. Dempsey, daughter of
?. j. Dempsey, died suddenly at 1 O'Clock
this morning, at the residence of her par
ents, 2l7 South Fairfax Street. Deceased
had been In i'll health for some time. She
was the eldest daughter and was Well
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. A special musical pro-
gramme was rendered
Paul r. Evans. of the Fourth ward, de-
MES that he will be candidate for mayor
in the coming election.
The alarm of fire this afternoon was
caused by the burning of chimney in
house at the corner of Pitt and Princess
Streets. The fire department did not go
into service. AN axle Of the Hydraulion
engine was broken while responding 10
the alarm.
Health officer Julian r Miller today re-
ceived a communication from the Washing
ton Health Department requesting him 10
investigate the report that there had been
three or four deaths from smallpox at
the gypsy camp at Adisson Heights, in
Alexandria County. DR.. Miller visited the
false. He has requested Mayor Simpson to
keep the gypsfes out of the city, and his
request has been complied with.
The Fairfax County Court has appoint
the estate iof the late William H Win
ston, and E9uie Winston guardian of |
the infant children of the deceased
The Alexandria police have been re-
uuested by the Washington authorities |
to look out for lewis h. Franks, of that |
city, who is thought to be demsnted and |
whose Whereabouts is unknown. Franks !
is about thirty-f0ur years of age.
George 81 Finch has purchased from !
the German Building Association No. .. /
a house and let on the north side of Qneeu |
Street, betweers~Fairfax and Royal Street,
for $f001 ~
-ts.-ST.~r rompkins. native or CsrItusio.
was today in the Corporation Court grant |
ed naturalization papers.
The funeral of the iaye Elizabeth Gar
wood whose death occurred in Washing |
ton Thursday will take place from the /
residence of her father, 1922 King Street !
in this city, tomorrow afternoon at |
o clock The interment viii be private.
4 number OF cOuncilmeu and aldermen |
have signed q paper, which Is being cir
culated by A. J. Wedderburn, in favor of
granting the Agricultural and industrial |
Fair Association permission TO hold a
street carnival in this city. 1t now seems
that the affair is an assured success. The
carnival will be held from May 20 to %.
The Episcopal High School baseball
team viii play a game with the team rep
resenting the Roanoke College tomorrow
afternoon on the High Schools grounds.
The store at the southeast corner of
King and Royal Streets, known as
'Creightons corner Will be sold at pub |
lie auction tomorrow.
The Board of Managers of the AleXan-
dria Infrmary today announced num-
Der of donations to that institution by
citizens.
The Joint Committee on Finance, Streets
and General Laws held a meeting tonight
and decided TO report favorably re-
pealing the repeating clause in the ordi-
nance requiring the Washington, Alexan- /
dra and Mount Vernon Electric Railway
TO pay into the city treasury |
the sum of 81 SEQ per annum for the use
Of Royal Street. Their report Will he sub
mitted to the city council next Tuesday