The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-09
TIL MAYOR AND THU POLICE,

result OF tEe TWO reports OF IKE WV N"i'AA'AfS
sion. Whether he will simply forward the re
ports and the correspondence relating to them
or will send message summarizing the re
ports and recommending action is not known
The Mayor can hardly expect the Council to
be sufficiently familiar With the subject 10 take
hold Of the reports Of the Vice Commission
and take immediate action that would he either
wise or helpful to moral conditions in the com
munity The more natural way. It seems to
lis, would be for the Mayor whom We presume
is familiar with all tho work Of the Vice Com
mission as the result Of his knowledge OF con
ditions and ~ the scope and character Of the
commissions Investigations to recommend
what course the Council should pursue.
The Mayor of Richmond as the chief execu-
tive officer Of the city government IS the per
son responsible for the enforcement Of the law.
II laws intended FOR the protection of the PEG
pie from vice and its evil effects have not been
enforced and the Mayer has known they were
not being enforced, the Mayor must realize, as
do the people. that he has failed To measure
up to his oath Of Office and the duties OF that
office The Code Of Virginia has the following
to say Of the Guties Of the Mayor. Section 1888
states
I'm evey city there shall be elected by
the qualified voters thereof, mayor for
a term OF four vears who shall be the
chief executive officer Of such city, and
shall take care that the bylaws and or
ainances thereof fully executed. The
mayor shal' see that the duties Of IN"
various city officers, members u the pc
lice and FIRE department. whether elect
ed or appointed in and for such city. arc
faithfully performed. He shall have power
10 investigate their acts. have access 10
all books and documents in their Offices.
and may examine them and their subor
dinates oath The evidence given hv
persons so examined shall not be used
against them in any criminal proceedings
lie shall also have power 10 suspend such
officers and the members OF the police and
fire departments. and to remove such Of
hcers for misconduct in office neglect
Of duty 10 be specified in he order OF
suspension or removal bot no such re-
moval shall be made without reasonable
notice the officer complained Of and
opportunity afforded him To be heard In
person by counsel, and 20 present tes-
tinony in his defense. From such order
Of suspension or removal. the city oficer
70 suspended removed. the member
Of The police or FIRE department
pended unless the charter OF the city pro-
vides for appeal to the board OF po-
lice commissioners or to the board OF fire
commissioners shall have appeal OF
right 10 the corporation court, or if there
be no such court 10 the circuit court OF
such city IN which court the case shall be
heard de novo hr he Judge thereof. in
term time or In vacation whose decision
shall be final liz shall have al other
powers and duties which may he conferred
and imposed upon vim by general laws"
II the members o. the Board OF Police Com
missioners. 81 which board the Mayor IS ex.
5n1cio chairman. have been derelict in their
duty or have IN other ways been culpabIo the
Mayor head Of the city government and as
chairman OF the board. ought to have been able
to ascertain these facts as well as the Vice
Commission. which made the investigation at
his request II the Police Commissioners were
dereiet or culpable and the Mayor knew o,
these facts, he. and he alone possessed the
remedy. II the Police Department has been
derelict in the enforcement Of the law or has
been restrained from enforcing the law, the
Mayor of Richmond whose sworn duty IT is Ia
see that all OF tho departments discharge their
duties faithfully and carry ont the law. ought
70 have known Of such dereliction or restrain
ing influences. This Information was as easily
available for him for the Vice Commission
and there can be question az 10 where re
,ponsihlity for not requiring the enforcement
Of the law has rested
Vice Commission. Investigations correspon
dence and newspaper discussion may all be very
we'll, but the important thing for the people
of Richmond is that the laws against immortality
shall be rigidly. continually honestly and fear
tessly enforced. Do Mayor Ainslie and the Pc
lice Commissioners need further light than wha
.hey already knew and what the Vice Com
mission has made more evident to convinc
them that these laws have not been enforced
and that the proper officials knew they wer
not being enforced? Are the Mayor OF Rich
nond. the Police Commissioners and the Chic
Of Police addressing themselves now to the i'm
p0rtant task OF having the laws against vice
both as regards the segregated district and i'm
moral houses outside that district praperly en-
sa-eAd' This Is the vital question: any in