Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-27
VICE COMMISSION HOLDS
CONFERENCE At JEFFERSON
Gil Investigation, but Makes
No Statement.
ACCUSED EMPLOY COUNSEL
Many Complications Arise as TO Con-
fiicting Provisions of City Ordi-
nanccs-COuncil's Right to Re-
move Policemen Is Questioned.

Members OF the Mayors Vice Com
mission held Il meeting in Room $50
, at the Jefferson Hotel at 4 o'clock yes
terdaS afternoon to determine upon "a
definite course Of action to be pursued
by them when the investigation Of the
itoard or Police Commissioners and OF
! the Police Department begins next
| tuesday night. 1t Is Il forcSonc con-
ciusioil, however, that tho investiGat-
ing committee appointed by Presidents
iHtcrs and Adams, OF tho two branches
OF the City Council. will conduct the
| INJURY according to It's own ideas and
mat tho examination will largely be
upon the lines OF a trial court. which
VIII mean that only positive evidence
VIII be admitted and considered and
mat the Investigation will be only as
- thosc who were considered in the
POLLOCK resolution calling for an in
QUESTION into the official conduct OF
the board and the force
The three commissioners whose
names are mentioned in report No
nave engaged counsel to represent them
AT the hearings. Hiram NJ. Smith,
Assistant United States District At
torney. son OF II. NJ Smith. Jr.. will
appear for Commissioner L. " Goode:
Rohcrt r.. Scott Of Scott Il buchanan
will represent Commissioner u. r
Mccarthy. and Leigh r Page will ap-
pear IN The interests of Commissioner
SUMMONSES ARE ISSUED
FOR MEMBERS OF HOARD
Subpocnas were yesterday issued for
INC eight members of the Board OF
Folicc Commissioners and for every
member of the Police Department.
NOTICES first went to the Chief Of Police
ana to the captains of the three dis
tricts. and from them to the men OF
INC force. Narrowed down the in
curry may result in an issue as TO
vcracity between the informing Wit
hcsscs and the commissioners accused
ana stress Will be laid on the fact that
many Of the resorts mentioned I'm m.
reports of the Vice Commission were
IN existence, with the full Knowledge
81 the Police Department, before some
OF the accused commissioners wore
members of the board
question has arisen as to the author
ity OF the City Council to conduct an
inquiry into the conduct of members
OF the force, as the city charter pro-
Nidcs that all jurisdiction as to Tho
controi and direction Of the farce rests
III the hands OF the commissioners and
$" lar as the force itself is concerned
makes no mention OF the CITY rounciI
The Council has authority I'm rcr,r,i 80
the commissioners, since il elects ,bom.
out In no clause of the charter is iur;s
uictioii as 10 the force itself given TO
the Council " ~
me 'he vice Commission is con-
tlnulnE to Investigate vice condi,ions
In Richmond, 1t has not been annn,,,,on.I
whether IL is still collecting evidence
against the police commissioners Such
evidence az il has submitted in IT,
'hrec reports has been copied for tho
use ana guidance OF the attorneys ron
fesentinG the accused and II fur,hn
evidence is brought i'm. tho Iawvars Iii,
avail themselves of their right to sna
beforehand. so that they may know
W nat 10 attempt to combat and re,
flute '" IT,
CONFLICTING CLAUSES
IN CITY ORDINANCES
30 connecting are the city ordinances
ana inc city charter in their relation
10 the subject that it would take a
lawyer of cNceptionablc ability To d.rn.
,hc exact status of the Board or Police
commissioners and to determine IFS no
Sition in law ~
FOR instance. the City Charter SAWS
ihat the police force shall be under tho
control and management OF a hoar,,
VI ponce commissioners. and a city
ordnance says that the police force
small CONSIST of a board OF commits
sioncrs and Us men. 1t would apncar
pam then that the commissioners arc
component part OF the force and mar
every commissioners Is "a policeman. The
'"F charter says further that tho
members OF tho force shall he elected
by tho Board Of Commissioners. hui
the commissioners have never elected
themselves members of the force. nor
nave they ever Allied TO act as policc
officers
The City Charter also states that
member of the Board OF Commissioners
may mot hold any other office vet ar
'ofdlnS TO city ordinance, he is both
a member of the board and a police
officer.
The city ordinance in question saws
that member Of the board is a mem
Der OF the police force, and it also saws
that member of the police force shall
receive salary of S3.02 per diem The
Clty Charter says that a member of the
board shall serve without paw One
commissioner yesterday afternoon in
CURED whether it would be proper for
nm 10 apply for back pay as police
"iiiccr as he has never yet received a
cent in salary.
Struck In Eye.