Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
STAR CHAMBER PROCEEDINGS ON
THE POLICE QUESTION.
Last Meeting Reporters Were Excluded
and Told That the Secretary Would
Give Out Information.


Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. July s. 1905.
There is considerable speculation among
citizens as to when the board of police
commissioners. which recently declared In
favor of star chamber proceedings In order
to avoid the publication of the discussions
at the meetings, will again see fit to make
any announcement of its actions to the
public. Nearly two weeks ago the board.
after adopting Mayor Paff's motion to ex-
clude newspaper men from all future ses-
sions adjourned with the understanding
that a meeting would be held within
short time from that date for the further
consideration Of the tangled question of the
reorganization of the police force. 1t was
announced to the reporters then present
that whatever Information the commits
sioners wished to convey to the public
would be furnished by the secretary after
the meetings to be held In the future. The
specific day for the initial meeting behind
closed doors was not mentioned, but from
the remarks Of the commissioners Ii was
evident that they intended to get together
either some time In the last week In June
or early In the present month. Up to this
evening. however, there has been no inti-
nation OF any meeting having been he'd
nor has any word been given out concern
Ing the prospect for any meeting In the
near future.
Citizens are now entirely In the dark as
to the developments, IL there have been
any, in the police problem with which the
commissioners were struggling when they
decided to cut off the light Of publicity
from their endeavors. But while an i'm
penetrabe veil surrounds the present
course of the commissioners, the weighty
matter which they were considering has
not by any means passed from public at
tention in Alexandria. Citizens are repeat
a fn uyhn CT hay
taken or what means projected for carry
ing out the recommendations of the grand
jury for the absolute reorganization of the
police force
Will Probe Postal Robberies.
Among the new cases which have been
added to the criminal docket in the United
States court for the eastern district of vir-
ginia. which opens here Monday morning.
Judge Edmund Waddill presiding, are sew
erai involving post office robberies In diff
ferent parts Of the state. A robbery of the
post office at Manassas will be investigat-
ed, and several witnesses have been sum-
moned from that place. Among the large
number Of witnesses summoned to testify
in the criminal cases are Police officers
from baltimore and members of detective
agencies in that city. 1t Is understood that
these will be examined in connection with
the operations Of a gang OF yeggmen I'm a
number OF cities and towns. not only In
virginia, Jul Also III Otner states. 1t Is
thought probable that the session of the
court will take up the remainder of the
month.
General Matters.
Mrs. Annie F. Charles. whose death oc-
CURED this morning at Charlottesville. was
the widow of Henry Charles and a daugh-
ter of the late Jonas Fisher. She was six
ty-etght years of age. The remains will
be brought to this city, and the funeral
will take place Monday afternoon at
o'clock from 1918 King street.
According to the assessment of the city
just completed by Mr.. Edgar F. Thomp son.
state assessor, the total taxable values
amount to 81, 500. $50. This is an increase
of SO, 4O6 over that of the preceding year.
Under the state constitution all city taxes
after this will be based on the state assess
ment. and will stand for five years.
Mr.. John s. Green fell through the eleva-
tor shaft in store Fairfax street yes
terday evening and was painfully injured
He was removed to his home, where he re-
ceived surgical attention.
Mrs. Mary G. Boothe is In Spencerville,
Md. where she will stay several weeks