The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-20
where the ResponsibiIity Belongs.

where the Responsibility Belongs.
The police ofHcers should see to it
that the gambling houses are closed.
Daily News.
This would be nice reversal Of
lawful authority Where, in all this
shifting OF responsibility and lodging
OF the real issue, are Mayor Wood
and Chief OF Police Stealey to come
ing Pray, for what did, the people OF
C1afKsburg elect them to Office?
Settlon 30 OF Clarksburg's city
charter says: The mayor shall be
the chief executive officer of the city,
and shall take care that the orders.
bylaws. ordinances, acts and resolu-
tfons of the council thereof are faith
fully executed He shall be ex-ofacio
Justice and conservator of the peace,
within the city, and shall within the
same, have, possess and exercise all
the powers and perform all the duties
vested by law in justice of the
peace. Any warrant or
other process issued by him may be
executed at any place in the county;
he shall have control of the police OF
the city, and may appoint special po-
lice officers whenever he deems it
necessary. and it shall be his duty
especially to see that the peace and
good order of the city are preserved,
and that persons and property there
IN are protected -
Section IS of the same instru-
ment says: The chief of police
shall have all powers, rights and
privileges within the corporate linz
its OF said city in regard to; the arr
rest OF persons, the collection OF
claims, the execution and return Of
process, that can be legally exercised
by constable of district within
the same, ="
Section 10 of an ordinance of the
city, passed December 8, 1898, pre-
scribes: 1T shall be the duty of the
CHEZ OF police to enforce the ordi-
nances of the city generally; to insti-
tute proceedings for the punishment
of all ofEenses against the same; and
IL after having been informed OF any
OfEenses against any of the said or
dinances, he shall neglect or refuse
to institute a prosecution against the
offender or OFFENDERS he shall forfeit
and pay to the city not less than five
nor more than twenty dollars for
every such OnenSe.
Section 22 of the same ordinance
prescribes. in part, that policemen
shall act as deputies OF the chief II
police and shall be subject to his
orders; 80
Section % of the same ordinance
states that ut shall be unlawful for
any person TO keep or exhibit within
the city any of the tables commonly
ut n
or E. o. tables, or faro bank, or keno
table, or any table of like kind, under
any name or denomination whateve",
whether the game or table be played
with cards, dice, or in any other man
ner, ETC."
Section IS of the same prescriPes
that 1T shall be unlawful for any
person within the city to bet or play
at such table or bank as mentioned
in the preceding section, or at any
hotel or tavern, or other public place,
or place of public resort in the city,
10 play at any game except bowls
chess, backgammon, draughts, or
licensed, game, or bet on the sides OF
those who play"
In view Of the foregoing explicit
words. 1t is mere chIld's prattle for
the Daily News, or any one else, to
assert that the policemen ought to
start crusade against the gamblers
OF the city when the mayor and chief
or police are supposed to be on tho
Job. azai
& Gambling dens are in operation In
the city. 1t is the obvious duty Of
the mayor, assisted by the chief OF
police, to abolish them and run the
ganlblers out. The Telegram and
the decent Reople Of the city Of
dIarksburg ask why does not tine
present administration enforce the