Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-08
Trai siIon Of Hampton From Town
into City Of The Second Glass
Causes the Trouble.
POLICE COMMITTEE WITHOUT POWER
City Attorney TaIiaferro Says Mayor
Must Punish Offending Members Of
the Professionalism SpratIey
Wants to Know When the Next
City Election Will Occur.

Under the opinion of City Attorne!
William &. Taliaferro. given TO tht
; Hampton city council AZ its meeting
last night. the present polio" commit;
tee has absolutely no jurisdiction II
! Furnishing an officer for 4 breach OF
the rules. Mr.. Taliaferro says the
| mayor has the trial of officers III
hand and that the mayor can suspend
or recommend the dismissal OF pc
lireman from the force :or cause
His actin in suspending is final.
The session OF the council last
night was similar 10 the weather
conditions. Q little uncertain in al
most every respect. for most of tn
:wo hours consumed in n" meeting
were given Up to an attempt to IN
tangle complication that has been
brought about BY the transition o.
the town OF Hampton inc the city or
Hampton. The old charter of the
city does not seem TO il" c2ari>r
under the present status 2n1 lamp
tn i. .:avtrsirg reads that may
prove uncertain al almost ANY turn.
The discussion WAS brought about
when Councilman c. Vernon Sp-at-
lev brought Up the matter Of the &C
ton of Mayor Jones in suspendlnS
Officer Hope for thirty days for be-
ing intoxicated while OF duty. NJ!
Spratley said ne wanted an EXPIRES
sion from the council, for the ponce
committee had not been consulted IN
the case OF the officer. although he
felt certain that Mayor Jones ha;
acted as he was Informed Of the law
he thought the duties ii tue police
committee should be defined.
Chairman Moore. Of the police com
mi,tee. said Sergeant W. E. Owens
had Preferred written charges aSainSl
Officer Hoe with the committee. bu-
all that the committee knew about
the evidence in the case was Wha'
they saw in the newspapers.
City Attorney Taliaterro was then
asked for his opinion. which he gave
in very lengthy statement. MI.
Tal:aferro said that under the ne"
constitution the mayor has the rlSn'
10 dismiss any city officer except 20
l:cemcn. for cause and can suspend
a p,lice officer. The mayor mus,
howevc-, in the case Of a police o.
fcer, Il, :he council dismiss him and
then he officer can appeal % the Cir
cult Court. Mr.. Tal.aferro does nor
believe a police commission o. police
committee is invested with the an-
thority - dismiss any officer on the
force.
After corsiderlbl. discussion. VI &.
Taiiaferro said that in the case ol
Oficer Hope the matter was settle"
when the marc. gave his decision or
suspension for thirty days and tha-
tn. council could TO; dismiss tie OF
6cer in the face 0: the decision q
the mayor.
Finally i; vas determined to refer
the government Of the police ofhcer"
10 the police committee and the city
attorney. when the proper rules ana
regulations Can b. framed
When Comes Election.
Another matter that was discuSseh
BY C.Ircilman Spratley ana OF CVeal
interest 10 the poole IN Hampton Is
xhef her or not there Is 10 be cleo
ion OF CITY Offices next June. tcua-
Gilman SpraiIey secured III" appoint
1n.a: Ct a committee 10 confer with
the county Democratic committee 20
enirayor TO untaDgle this feature o.
the "n.w ,ity. Mayor Jones ud'n'
Cd on the committee Eess.s. John
Weymouth AID {. Vernon SrTa'icy
and Ci.y Attorney W c. TaliaieTro.
Thee arc SOM who holI that "a"
r.!ay-- and council should have been
elected las; JTre and therefore VIII
hold over until ths. Eext general eiec-
tk.n In cities. There a-e others VINO
contend iba: fhr &C, under which
Hampton was mad" city never con
tor. !a'cd that ihe election should
have occurre! las Jurc. ba' that !;
must occr- next June. Tbs Sh'
rove = very Interesting fight ans
under the contest tat will likely b
brought in the Irt The entire ac'
Of tho Legislature nav be tested.
When the proposition 20 nlune N"
committee vas brought Up ana Coan'
Gilman Richard.nn suggested the
names Of the members. Mayor Jones
remarked that he mus, ex."ctfc his
pr ogstIys and !"fuse 10 entertain
rae motion as &c Vas given the riga,
a nan,. tho n,n-c h.. Of The cnum-l.