Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-31

RURAL POLICE BILL.
An Important Measure That Is Pending
Before the General Assembly.

RURAL POIiC6 6III'
An Important Measure That Is Pending
Before the General Assembly.
Section l. That the office OF
county constables and that of magis-
trates' constables, as now existing In
this state, shall be, and is hereby
abolished on and after the first day of
May, 1908.
Sec. 2. That a system of rural
mounted police, to take effect on and
after the first day Of May, 1908, Is
hereby established for this state, un-
der the conditions hereinafter set
forth.
"Sec. g. That the governor shall,
OH the recommendation Of the sena-
tors and members of the house Of rep
resentatives Of the various counties OF
this state, appoint for each OF said
counties a rural police commits
sion, composed of three discreet citi-
zens in each county, one of whom
shall be the sheriff Of said county,
who shall be an ex-offico member of
said commission and serve without
compensation other than that now or
hereafter, provided by law. The other
two members of said commission
shall each receive q per diem Of three
dollars per day and mileage, when
actually engaged in the discharge OF
their duties; provided, the sums receiV-
ed by any one commissioner during
any one year shall not exceed the sum
Of $50 and cents per mile. Neither
one of said commissioners, except the
sheriff, shall hold any political office
other than that Of notary public.
,bon hn "a IN
police commission in each county, on
or before the 18th day of April, 1908,
to organize by selecting a chairman
and secretary, and they shall, on or
before the said date, elect chief of
peiice for. their county and number
of rural policemen hereinafter provid-
ed for each respective county Said
chief and. other policemen shall each
be selected for a term of eight months
from the first day Of May, 1908, and
each subsequent election shall be for
a term of one year from the first day
of January Of each succeeding year.
Said chief and policemen shall be SUBJ
ject to removal for cause by said po-
lice commission at any time.
"Sec. 8. The chief Of rural police
in each county shall receive salary
of 75 dollars per month, and each ru-
raj policeman shall receive q salary OF
SEQ per month, to be paid at the end
of each month out Of the ordinary
funds of the county upon the order OF
the chairman Of the police commits
sion of each county. In addition TO
the said salary, each Of the said po-
licemen shall be entitled to receive
the usual fees for serving civil papers
as may be placed in his hands by
proper authority; but no fees shall De
charged in any criminal case by any
Of said policemen.
Sec. 6. It shall be the duty OF
said chief of police to take charge OF
the rural policemen for his county,
and direct their movements and assign
to each a territory or beat for regular
patrol. Each of said policemen shall
report to his chief, either personally,
by letter or by wire, at his own ex-
pense, at least once in every "a hours
Each of said policemen, including the
chief, shall keep and maintain horse
for his constant use, at his own ex-
pense.
"Sec. 7. Said policemen shall be
vested with all the authority now vest
ed in peace officers Of this state. They
shall be under the supervision and
control of their respective chiefs and
shall cooperate with the sheriHs OF
their respective counties and obey ana
execute the proper orders relating 10
the preservation Of the public peace
and the execution of the laws through
ont their counties. 1t shall be their
duty to see that all laws are properly
observed and enforced and to see thai
disorder and crime are suppressed
They shall have authority to arrest
any offender without warrant, provid-
ed they procure a warrant as soon
thereafter as may be convenient. They
NAV swear out any warrant De1ore
any magistrate and they are hereby
given authority to serve the said war;
rant themselves. No policeman, act
ing under this act, shall have any
other regular business and 1t shall be
his duty to patrol his section regular
". He shall have no regular hours
upon which to go on duty, but shall
consider himself a cOnservator or the
peace at any and all times. The police
commission Of any county may OF
may not, as they deem wise, require
the rural mounted police to wear uni
forms at their own expense. =,
"Sec. s. The chief Of police shall
have his office at the county seat, and
wherever convenient shall maintain al
his own expense a telephone in same
He shall have power and authority to
direct any policeman under his charge
to go anywhere in the county for any
purpose that may seem to him wise
consistent with this act; and he shall
also have the power to mass any num-
Der of policemen at any point In his
county, when in his judgment 1t Is
wise to do so. Any chief or other po-
liceman shall have. authority to cal
upon the police of an adjoining county
to assist in capturing criminals and
suppressing lawlessness; and in the
discharge of his duties, any policeman
shall have the same power and author
ity in an adjoining county that he has
in his own.
Sec. 3. The magistrates of the
various counties in this state may turn
over for service or execution any pa
pers to any chief or rural mounted
policeman and they are hereby re-
quired to serve all criminal paper:
without cost: and they shall be en-
titled to have taxed up and cOilec
regular fees in all civil cases"