The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-12-12
SPECIAL POLICE
OFFICERS NEXT
To Take the Place Of the
Present Mine Guards
Of the State.
PROVIDED IN A BILL
Prepared by Mine Invest;ga-
ton Commission to Be
Enacted Into Law.

psilS proposed Dy the Mining lnVeSti-
setion Commission and made part OF
It's report to Governor Glasscock
seeks to remedy one CT the greatest
evils that early played such an inn
portant part in the controversy in the
Kanawaa valley coal fields and which
eventually caused the calling out Of
the state militia and then the declara-
ton Of martial law through procla-
nation by Governor Glasscock. Under
the bill proposed by the commission
and which it asked be enacted into
law, the governor is given the power
to appoint police officers, who are re-
quired to give bond for the faithful
performance of the duties imposed.
The company employing such police
officers to guard their property are
liable for any damages unlawfulE in
tiicted whether to person or property.
The bill also makes IT a misdemeanor
for a group Of persons to march unto
another PERSONS property or even
unto the county roads bearing FIRE
arms of any kind. The penalty is fine
and Imprisonment.
The bill in its entirety is as follows:
A bill providing additional rene
dies 10 preserve the peace, by pro-
hibting the employment of private
guards, and authorizing the appoint
ment by the governor Of special po-
lice, prescribing the method Of their
appointment their duties, their re-
moyal and their liabilities; and BY
forbldding carrying of firearms and
other dangerous weapons on certain
properties, and prescribing penalties
for any violation hereof.
BE it enacted by the legislature Of
West Virginia:
Sec l. II shall be unlawful for any
person, firm. company or corporation
except as in this section hereinafter
provided, TO engage or employ, or re-
tain in employment, any armed person
to do or perform police or patrol duty
of any sort in this state. Provided
this act shall not apply to or prevent
any public officer of the state, who is
by law police officer. from perform
ing the duties OF his office, but II
shall be unlawful for such public
officer to accept employment, and ii
Shall be unlawful fer any person,
firm, company or corporation to en-
ploy such public officer to perform
police duty Provided, further that
any person, firm, company or corpor-
alton owning property in this state
may apply to the governor to appoint
a citizen or citizens OF this state OF
good moral character to act as spec
ia, police officers for such person,
tirE, company or corporation, and
the governor may upon such applica-
tlon appoint and commission such
person or persons, or SO many OF
them as he may deem proper as such
police officers. Every officer so APP
pointed shall appear before some per.
son authorized to administer oaths
and lake and subscribe to the oath
prescribed in the 9Th section of the
4th article OF the constitution. and
shall file such oath with the clerk OF
the county court, or other tribuna
established IN lieu thereof, OF the
county in which he resides and in the
office of the secretary of state. He
shall also file certified copy of sucl
oath in the Office of the clerk of tn,
county court, or such other tribunal
established in lieu thereof, of any
county in which, by virtue of his en-
ployment, he will engage in such pc.
lice or patrol duty. The governor
shall prescribe suitable badge or
uniform or both to be worn by such
police officers, and no such officer
shall enter upon his duties until he
has provided, at his expense, or ex-
rensa Of his employer, the badge OF
uniform prescribed; the badge or uni
form prescribed shall be alike
throughout the state and he wcrn by
the police officer at all times he is on
duty. Before he shall be authorized
to perform any duties by reason Of
his appointment he shall ether into
and acknowledge bond in the penalty
of $5,oJO.O0 before the clerk of the
county court OF the county in which
he resides, with security approved by
such clerk, conditioned for the faith
full performance of his duties as such
officer, and said oilcer and the sure
ties upon said bond ahall be liable 10
any person injured or damaged by
any unlawful act Of such officer. Every
police officer appointed under the pro-
visions of this act shall be a conser-
vator of the peace within the county
in which he shall perform police duty,
and in addition thereto he shall