The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-22
THE ALDERMEN SHOULD CONCUR

THE .ALpl BNiN SHOULD tONtl IL
There is slight question that The Board Of Al
dersnen in its session tanigat Will concur IN the
amended resolution Of The Common Council pro
.idiug PR 81 complete Investigation of ,he Rich.
ruoud : ice Department.. The Aldermen cannot
fail To see that ;de action ot The Council, while
it may lot have beea necessary Ter the end
sought certainly VIII not hamper the attain
naent Of tie end The letter Of Mayor Ainsie and
the orlgins! Investigation resolution stated that
there should be an Investigation Of the charges
contained in TIE papers reports and evidence Of
the Vice Commission. Certainly there. can be no
question but that any action based on those re-
ports would have 30 take into consideration the
Whole range Of police administration in the city,
for I'm most thorough manner the three reports
Of the Commission touched on almost every
phase OF police administration and failure 10
administrate on oa3c,alized ana unonlcialized
vice, and al forms Of social conditions in Rich
mond Therefore It is certain that in taking &C
ton on the basis OF those papers. even though
only three commissioners are mentioned ad
vcrsely aud only two in commendatory man
uer. there is abundant range for the Council
Committee Ia investigate The whole Police De
partment.
However, 1t WIS very wise, as Mr.. Haddon
clearly pointed out before the Council, that there
should be no question Of the powers Of the com
mittee that Is to investigate this most important
problem and all doubts III the minds of anyone
should be resolved in favor OF the broadcast pow
ers. The mere fact that there should have been
any debate as to the scope of the investigation
as provided for In tho resolution Of the Alder
men should be sufficient ground for. broadening
that scope. for whero doubt existed in the mind
OF one single member there might be given cause
and ground for questioning the whole proceed
ing and certainly all means should be taken to
prevent any complaint against the investigators
themselves For these reasons We trust that the
Board tonight viii promptly concur in the
amended resolution and let the work begin.
The Firgtntan would sharply emphasize once
more what 1t had 10 say yesterday TO the
character of the men to be charged with this
most important and also most disagreeabe duty
NO men who connected in any way with
members Of the Police Department should be
put TO the embarrassment of approving con
demning their own close friends or relatives
In fact. we do not believe that any member OF
the Council so connected should be put in the
position, by the presidents of the respective bod
les, Of either resigning from continuing on
the committee, when there might be criticism OF
their motives in taking either course Of action
The people could not be expected to have conf
denee or lend support 10 an investigation in the
hands OF either friends or enemies Of the Police
Commissioners officers. II there those id
the Council who have any misunderstanding
with the department they should be carefully
excluded from the investigating body as those
who might be inclined 10 favor those under IRE.
It In fair neither to Investigators nor investi-
gated that there should be previous relations
between the two bodies.
Let the Aldermen concur and let those be ap-
pointed who are neither friends nor enemies of
the Police Department