Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
THE POLICE FORCE TO BE REoR-
CANNED.
Proposed Investigation of Affairs
Shunted for q While-Gen-
eral Matters.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, va, June "A, l9O0-
There was full attendance at the special
meeting of the board of police commission
ers held last evening, when the plan pro-
posed by Mayor Paff for the reorganization
Of the police force by the appointment of
a captain and three sergeants instead of a
captain and lieutenant. as the department
is now constituted, was Endorsed. The
mayors proposition was offered by Com
missioner Graham as an amendment to a
motion by Commissioner Fisher to remove
Chief james F. Webster from office and
proceed with the election of a new execu-
tive head for the police force. 1t is not
within the province of the board to do more
than indorse the measure presented by the
mayor, as its contamination will require
special legislative assent. AS before stated,
the city charter provides that there shall be
a captain and lieutenant of police, while
no provision is made for one or more SER
geants.
In connection with his motion to remove
the present captain, Mr.. Fisher explained
that he was actua ted by desire to improve
the force by placing young and active
man at its head He called attention to the
recent action of the board in dsmissing
Officers HowsOn and TIGER on account of
old age and physical intirmities, saying
that he saw no reason for making a differ
ence in the case of Capt. Webster Com
missioner Hill and the mayor stated that
the cases were not parallel They called at
tentton to the fact that both the removed
officers were sufferers from paralysis. The
mayor stated that Capt. Webster was an
unusually well-preServed and active man
for his age. mentally and physically. The
mayors plan provided that Capt. Webster
be made station keeper, with easy but es-
Sential duties.
Question of Terms.
The board INDUCED in considerable discus
sion over the suggestion by Commissioner
Lawler that policemen should be elected for
term of two years. Mr.. Hill advocated
only half that time, expressing the belief
that under such an arrangement the police
men would render much more efficient serv-
ices. In line with the recent report of the
grand jury in the corporation court, recon-
mendIng radical changes In the department
and suggesting the employment of young
and active men as policemen, Mr.. Graham
stated his desire to go into an Investigate ton
of the record for efficiency and general fit
ness of each man on the force. He asked
Mr. Lawler. who was a member of the
grand jury, to furnish the name of each
witness who testified before that body re-
speeding the condition of affairs in police
circles, but Mr. LAWYER declined to comply
on the ground that he should not divulge
what transpired in the jury room. Mr.
Graham then made a motion, which was
adopted, providing that Mr.. Worth Hulfish,
WHO was ltICiIldll Oh the SIduu jury, De
summoned before the board to be examined
as to evidence affecting the police depart
ment. The board adjourned until Monday
night, when Mr.. Huliish is expected to APP
pear a witness.
According to the plan adopted by the state
board OF education III Richmond last night
arranging the state for the purposes of the
board in five subdivisions. Alexandria city
and county are placed i'll the fifth circuit
Mr.. Charles S. Maphis Of Charlottesville
was named as Inspector for this circuit.
Miss Eva G. Dent of this city was among
those at the german given Thursday even
ing after the commencement exercises at
the Virginia Military Institute Miss Dent
danced with Cadet Henry T. Elgin of Dan
vile.
Mr. Angus McC. Crawford of the Epis-
copal High School has sailed for Germany
TO spend the summer.
The remains of Charles Richardson, who
was killed Thursday evening in an accident
at a railroad construction camp in AleXan-
dria county, Were forwarded yesterday aft
ernoon to Strasburg, Va, for interment