The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-01

pcrty might at least have some rem.
edy in damages. As the law now Is
such police officers are appointed at
the VIII OF the corporation. and given
oil the powers OF constabies. and with
such powers extended into every coun.
W inethe State where such corporation
does business, and no bond Is required
OF him. and he IS answerable TO no one
for his conduct except to his employ.
or, who, as the governor says. uphlods
him in his unlawful acts. He most
times, II not altogether, Is selected by.
the company because OF his strong
arm, vicious and daredevil disposition,
contempt for rights of the laborers,
and the absence of liability for his
acts by way of ownership OF property.
II the people of magisterial district
want such an officer to serve them,
he must be nominated. and elected
at regular election, and before he
can serve he must not only take the
oath OF Office, but he must give a
bond In the sum OF $500 as seeur-
+, fly thar he will violate no persons
rights. hut the corporation can have
such an ofiicer-appoint him. pay
him. own him-all by his taking an
oath to support the constitution. Is It
any wonder these outrages which the
governor speaks of exist all over our
State? ls 1t any wonder that the
rights of the poor, ignorant laborer
are not considered by such constitat-
ed officers, when those rights In any
way conflict with the purposes Of
their empl oyer Fl afoynnok iloyersp
their employer? If any one Is unlaw.
fully assaulted, or arrested. or i'm.
prisoned or otherwise injured by
such police, he has no remedy what
ever. II he sues the company, 1t an
swers That the policeman was an ''of.
/ ticer" and not Its employe when he did
the injury. He serves, and does the
bidding of. the company; he does
nothing for the people: yet when the
company is asked to be responsible
for his conduct as 1t is for its other
employees, suddenly he becomes an "of-
fcer" of the people,
1t is certainly straying far from the
ideas of constitutional rights, when
any person or corporation can have in
his or its employ an officer of the
law. obliged to enforce the same at the
Gictation and will and to suit the pur-
pose of his employer. No one should
have the right to have an officer OF
the law of his own. The people alone
have this right. The law provides for
two constables and two justices in
each district, which seems sufficient
10 protect all the peoples property.
Bat II the appointment of these
kind OF officers by corporations is to
be continued, let the legislature make
provision for some one to be RESPONSE
ble for their misdoing. If their en-
ployer is made liable for their acts
1t will likely be more careful as to
whom II employs as police and as to
the instructions given him. II the
people shall be required to give bond
as constables are. he will think of his
liability thereon when tempted to VIC
late the law and desist. This will
doubtless have a tendency to elimin.
ate the thug and terrorist from the
list Of police in this State.
Delegate Strickling. of Tyler coun
! ty. introduced a bill in, the House,
/ known rs House BIZ No. SO. which Is
intended to correct this Ubiquitous
practice under the law.