Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-06
ASKS COUNCIL TO
RESTORE KRENGEL
Vice Commission Appeals to
Mayor to Urge Ordinance
Enlarging Police Force.
GIVE SHOEMAKER FORMER RANK
Mayors Good Offices Asked to
Urge Police Board to Undo
Sergeant's Demotion.

Sergeant's Demotion.
Expressing It's deep Indignation at
the action OF the Police Board with .
respect to Sergeants Krengel and Sho- ,
maker. and condemning the four com
missioners to whose votes .his action
was due, the Vice Commission sent to
Mayor Ainslie yesterday Il special COM
munication asking him to recommend !
to the Council the passage OF an ordi-
nance cnlarging the police force so as |
to permit Krengers reinstatement
The commission also asks the Mayor
TO call a meeting OF the Police Board !
at the earliest practicable moment and |
to urge the board to restore former |
Sergeant Shoemaker to the rank from
which he has been denoted. Ills good /
Offices are asked, also in securing the !
Councils passage of the ordinance en- |
larging the police force and in urging 1
upon the Police Board Krengers re-
election. The communication was pre-
pared by a subcommittee from the Vice
Commission. composed of Rev. g. II |
Melton, chairman; Rev. J. j. Grayatt, |
d. D.. and DR.. +. y. Calisch It was |
officially filed with the Mayor a few
minutes before : o'clock last night.
MAYOR WILL FORWARD PAPERS
TO COUNCIL AND POLICE BOARD
Il shall forward both to the City
Council and to the Police Board the
request OF the Vice Commission in the
manner requested by them" said the
Mayor. The Police Board meets to-
morrow night in regular session to
attend TO the general business Of the
department. which usually takes sew
eral hours. For this reason ! think
shall call q special meeting for the
consideration of this particular busi-
ness. The Police Board itself has not
the authority to add a man to the
department, Section Sc of the city
charter providing that the force shall
consist of as many members as the
City Council may. by ordinance. pre-
scribe"
The Vice Commissions latest COM
mun!cation to the Mayor was prepared
by the subcommittee in conformity with
n motion adopted by the commission at
its meeting Monday night directing
such n step. It contains no criticism
of the Mayor. It's condemnation is |
extended 10 Commissioners Bradley and
Boykn as we'll as TO Commissioners
We'll and Goode.
FIRST DRAFT Is
RADICALLY CHANGED
As tentatively presented yesterday
afternoon, the paper appealed TO the
Mayor as chairman OF the Board OF
Police Commissioners to urgc that
body to reinstate Krcngel and Sho-
maker in their former positions. Mayor
Ainslie directed Chairman Melton's at
tention to the fact that the Police !
Board is without power TO reinstate |
Krcngel until a vacancy occurs In the |
police force, or until the force is en-
larGed by councilmanic action.
To leave this portion oil the communi- |
cation as first written. the Mayor
pointed out. would be to ask him 20 |
urge the Police Board 10 do a thing 1t |
had no power 10 do--manifestly an |
absurd proceeding. Captain \. B. |
Guigon. "A member OF the Vice Com |
mission, concurred in the obje9tion, and |
the paper was temporarily Withdrawn
In order that the objection might be |
met by amendment.
In Its final form there is added the |
recommendation that the Mayor ask |
the Council to meet the situation b, or
dinance enactment. The Mayor waited |
in his Office until nearly : O'Clock for !
the corrected paper 70 be filed.
ACTION OF POLICE BOARD
MAY BE NULL AND VOID
\ development with startling JOS
sibilties took place yesterday after !
noon, when Police Commissioners |
Thomas, Parker and Gordon held a |
serving notice that at to-night's meet
ing of the Police Board, Commissioner
Gordon will raise the point that the |
action of the Police Board on Septem-
bcr go was illegal and ineffective. for |
the reason that the notice Of such
meeting stated specifically that the
meeting was called for the purpose Of |
trying e. y. Leiss.
'I have not inquired into the legal
question involved" said Mr.. Gordon, |
"but will make the point for what it |
is worth"
Mayor Ainslie. when asked last |
night for his opinion as to the merit !
of the point that will be raised by
Commissioner Gordon. said that he
could express no final opinion until he
had had an opportunity to look into the
matter further.
HAS BEFORE DONE BUSINESS
AT SPECIAL MEETINGS
This is not the first time. however,
that the board has transacted busi- !
ness not specified in the call for
special meeting" said the Mayor THE
practice has been quite common This
meeting was not peculiar in this re-
spcct."
The point, ii was agreed. raises in
terestinE possibilities. Should tho
Mayor sustain the objection, the de-
motions. discharges and promotions or
dered by the board at Thursday nights
meeting, excepting the discharge OF
Policeman Leiss, will de declared void. |
The business Of electing the officers
whose terms expired on October ! will |
then come UP dc novo.