Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-01-28
NEW CIVIL
POLICE JUSTICE.

The act passed at the last SEES
sion of the General Assembly provlo-
ing for civil police justices Tor GER
tain cities in the Commonwealth,
Alexandria being one which comes
under the provision of the law, Is a
subject of discussion not only IN the
CITY Council but among citizens gen.
erallv. A resolution calling upon the
Senator from this district and the
Delegate from Alexandria city ano
county to endeavor to have the Ia"
so amended as not to apply TO AleHah-
dria was introduced in Council last
Tuesday night The resolution was
referred to the committees on IL
nance and general laws for the prr-
pose of ascertaining if the new la"
would be benefit to this city.
When the bill made its appearance
in the Legislature at the last session
most Of the prominent cities OF the
state. through their Senators ana
Delegates, were exempted from Its
provisions. and when it finally passed
II only included Alexandria ana
Ncwport News The latter city IS
now anxious to be exempted also'
and Delegate Mlstead is endeavor-
ing to get the amendment through at
this special session.
Most of the members OF the GltE
Council of Alexandria. us we'll as
many private citizens are aVcrse 70
q change in present conditions ana
are eager that our representatives
in the Legislature follow Delegate
NIilstead in his course.
The committees to whom the mat
fer has been referred will, it Is OK
pected, hold an early meeting and
formulate report Should Council
he convinced that the act will prove
ayncnsiye or detrimental to our Guy
tha Legislature will be asked to eX-
cmpt this city from the provisions
CT the new law.
Some members Of Council. however
rs we'll as others not IN official pos
, ;t;ons believe that the act creating
civil police justice will increase the
citvs receipts from the Police Court
as all civil suits will be decided IN
this tribunal. the costs from which
will be covered into the city'S trea-
surv. This will. Of course take al!
the civil cases from the Justices o.
the Peace in the several wards.
There have been attempts 10,
more than twenty years to have
police justice for the city OF Alex
ondria. In the oldcn times the Mayor
IT the city was eX officio justice o.
The peace and he presided in the 70
lice Court. In the year 1895 ali ac'
was introduced in the Legislature
nroviding for Il police Justice 'of
,lox,ndria. James K. Cation was Al
+s,t time a member of the Common
Council from the Third ward. and ne
;,trodnced resolution setting tortA
that the City Council was averSe u
tho new Office. The resolution passed
The lower board by unanimous V''e'
.,,d there was but one member "hc
obiected to it's passage by the Boar"
or Aldermen. Hon. C. c. Carlln, wnc
r.s , member from the Third "ara'
and when the resolution reached the
rnper body he asked that action up
on it be deferred until a Subsequent
meeting as he had reasons fer thls
course The action of the Common
Council was concurred in, however,
and nothing further was heard OF
the act
In 1901 the people of the city, as
well as most Of the officials At that
time. discovered that another act had
silently crept into the Legislature
and been passed by both bodies and
signed by the Governor providing For
police justice for the city Of Alex
andria. Il Went Into effect six weeks
afser the news reached this lcity.> and
I by this act Nthetpfesen$ police Justice
holds his position.
When the act which is nov caus.
ing discussion appeared in the Legis
,ature . year ago. and before II be