The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-04
Mayor Wants the Force Taken
Out of Politics.
HAD A LIVELY DEBATE
Two Liquor Licenses Declined. Ex-City Clerk
Ham Smith Highly Commended ant
the Routine Work Of the Board
All Attended To.


Among the most important events of
the meeting was the increase in the pay of
seventeen of the police force of the city
by $40 month each for three months, the
declaration of the Mayor that he wanted
to see the police of the city taken out Of
politics and the refusal of the Board to
grant two liquor licenses which were
asked for.
There were ten aldermen present when
the business OF the session got under
way. This began with the report of the
Finance Committee, which showed thar
during the month of December the Chief
of Police had collected $4,149.94, including
liquor licenses, and that through the Tax
Collector the city funds had been in
creased $7,761.SS, as follows: On 1902 tax
list, $7,62S.07, costs $7515, street paving
1856. The expenditures for all purposes
for the month were reported as being:
5,923.31, this including the $13S.55 paid
by the city to B. w. Jones as a COM
promise settlement of his suit against the
city.
The Light Committee reported that the
49, arc street lights which are to be used
for the lighting of the city's streets had
arrived, the delay having been caused
by a freight blackade. These were to
have been put in position by the Raleigh
Electric Light Company by the first of
January, but the delay having been un
avoidable the time for their erection was
extended to the 25th of this month.
The Sewer Committee made it's report,
this being in the form of statement
from Street Commissioner w. Z. Blake
who gave a detailed report of the work
for December.
The Fire Committee reported adverse
ly on the application of Mr. A. j. Bash
ford for permission to repair his stables
on Martin street, and favorably on the
application of w. D. King to run a parti
tion in his fish stall on East Martin
street. The Board ratified this report.
Chief of Police Mullins reported 144
arrests during December, as against 14f
IN November. OF these there were:
White, 70 males, l female; colored so
males, ii females. The causes of arrest
were: Drunk 43, affray IL larceny 49,
drunk and disorderly II, drunk and down
IS, assault with deadly weapon 3, .disor
derby conduct 81, assault and battery 10,
drunk in market /, violating city ordi-
nances 4. exposure 2, suspicion !.
The report of the Keeper of the Market
showed that he had made % arrests, dis
tributcd 345 orders from order box to
dealers, and had condemned the following
articles during October. November and
December: Hogs Is, cows l, hams 10,
beef liVers Is, hog haslets 50, pork 447
pounds, beef so, sausage rs, tripe 25 null
lets, eight kegs; fish, 331 punches; oys-
tiers, So gallons: chickens, 20; ducks, 5;
rabbits, 49, birds, 100; cabbage, Is bar
rels; turnips, u punches.
The report from Rex Hospital showed
81 patients cared for during December.
at an average cost of LA day. All the
expenses amounted to $432.10 of which
the patients paid $270.14.
Mayor Powell called the attention of
the Board to the necessity for providing
for the payment of the $4,000 borrowed
in 1899 from the Penn Mutual Company
for expenses, which was to have been
repaid $4,000 year with the option of a
full payment on the first of May 1903. He
also suggested that there be a radical
change in the management of the police
force, which he declared should be taken
out of politics. He recommended that
suitable steps be taken to have the con-
troll of this department placed in body
to consist of three Police Commissioners,
whose full term should be for six years,
the first set to be elected for two, four
and six years respectively.
On motion of Alderman Andrews these
recommendations of the Mayor were re-
terred to a committee of three, and tho
City Clerk was authorized to have pub
lished the necessary advertisement for so
days so that application might be made
to tie Legislature for necessary power
The Mayor appointed on the committee
Aldermen Andrews, Croker and Wilder,
who will act with the City Attorney.
This committee will report at the next
meeting Of the Board.
A special committee named at the last
meeting reported a very complimentary
set of resolutions concerning Mr.. II. +.
Smith, who lately resigned as city Clerk
These expressed appreciation for his
faithful services of seven and one-half
years, ordered that they be placed on
the permanent record and that copy be
sent Mr.. Smith.
liquor license applied for by d. F
w est, WHO Q6SlISU W Odil y ChA DNSii4~"'
at 500 West Cabarrus street was reported
on unfavorably and the Board declined
to grant it, The application of Denton
&z Dixon for a license to sell liquor De-
yond the city limits in outside East OF
Hargett street was reported without pre-
iudice. Col j. G.. l.. Harris appeared fol
Denton & Dixon and asked for the
license, saying they would keep an order.
" house and that if the license was
granted it would put stop TO the sal'
of LIQUOR in that section on the sly
Messrs. Wilder and Andrews expressed
opposition to having any license granted
ANYBODY at the place mentioned ana the
Board declined to grant II.
! Then came the question of increase II
the pay of the city police. Alderman
Barbee, of the Finance Committee, mad
a minority report, asking that the tWelV
roundsmen, two turnkeys, janitor keepe
of the market and assistant sanitary IN
spector each be given so increase 10
January February and March, this on &C
count of the increased cost Of living
These now receive $50 month each an
the report increased this to $50.
Aldermen Andrews and Habel spok
for the majority report, which oppose