Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-08
CHIEF LICKLIDER TO
REORCANIzE POLICE
FORCE FOR COUNCIL
Changes Subject To Mayors
Approval-0ther Business.

The City Council last night in
structed Chief of Police Licklider
to reorganize the police department
of the city Immediately, his an.
pointments and suspensions to be
subject to the approval of Mayor
Seibert upon his return from a vaca-
ton. The action was taken in exc
cutive session after the whole mat
ter Of the police department had
been discussed with Chief Lickld-
err who reported on some investiga'
ton which he had made as to con-
ditions. The instructions as given
empower Chief Licklider to employ
officers temporarily, their perman
ency to be subject to the approval
Of the mayor: and the chief is also
given authority to suspend, his &C
ton to be reviewed by the mayor
also. The only restriction put upon
the authority Is that there shall be
two Democrats and two Republicans
as policemen. the politics Of Chief
Mcklider to be matter of no con-
Germ.
The action was a continuation of
the attention given earlier to the
alleged misconduct of Officers Hardy
and Blake in connection with the
reported hold-up Of a cargo of con-
traband liquor on the streets. The
officers In question were suspended
by Chief Licklider. pending investi.
CATION OF the case; and this suspen-
sion will be continued, It was said,
until Mayor Seibert reviews the
case. 1t was also indicated that the
dismissal Of the two officers would
be asked of the mayor for the good
of the force. No specific charges
have been lodged against the Off
GERS, 1t was said, and no persons
have asked to be permitted to ap-
pear against them: but afildavits
secured during the inquiry and 9th.
or evidence bearing on the case
was such, II was intimated, as to
make 1t advisable to have the con-
nection of the two officers In ques
ton severed.
The suspension OF these two men,
with the resignation of officer Bow
ers, has opened three vacancies on
the force, two of which have already
been filled Professionally. One vacan-
Cy remains untitled.
The Council last Aight also heard
the evidence in a case in which
Traffic officer Barber is alleged to
have demanded a reward for his eff
forts, assisted by two other officers,
in recovering a stolen car; but the
charges fell fiat at the hearing, it
was said, and no evidence was dis
closed that the officers had made
any improT er demands.
Two general amendments were
made last night to the scheme i'm
posing city taxes on retailers who
peddle commodities from wagons on
the streets. One was an agreement
on the part Of the Council to intro
duce an ordinance shortly which
will lay an annual tax of s25 on
each retail meat market, $25 for
each meat wagon operated on the
streets and viii eliminate all tax
on slaughter houses. The agreement
was made following a petition sub
mitted by the butchers of the city
asking for the change in taxation.
Under this ordinance no one will be
permitted to run a meat wagon in
the city without maintaining a place
OF business in the city. and all IL
censes must be taken out for a per-
lod OF twelve months, no less.
An amendment to the supplement.
taTU ord ir1a 10,
bread, milk and ice wagons and
trucks was entered Under the
clause as amended each ice wagon
Or truck operated in connection
with a store in this city will nay an
annual tax OF $40: a tax Of $50 must
be paid on each wagon or truck
selling bread or ice within the city
which is operated without main
tenance Of a store in the city Milk
wagons and trucks are not subject
to the non-store clause.
Garbage bids were opened last
night, but the award was deferred
until early next week, the Council
to check up on the items in the in
term and determine whether it will
have the garbage hauled TO the pres
ent city dumps Or taken out OF the
city. The bids last night were sub
mitted by ]. c. Zepp, Hez Wiley, r
L. Kendrick and W. z. Coffinbarger
A number OF routine items were
considered last night. among them
the following a tot . l!"case,
pool room license and j.. Oershop
permit were granted F. f. George
who will establish the businesses in
the basement room Of the Shenan.
doah Valley Bank and Trust Com
pany building.
An ordinance permitting the sur
render Of the Northern Virginia
Light and Power Company charter,
which was bought out by the Poto-
mac Light and Power Company, to
the city, was amended to provide
for the elimination Of duplicate
poles and lines within the city with.
IN period Of two years. and then
passed.
The supplementary ordinance
taxing bread ice and milk wagons
was amended as indicated previous.
ly and passed. j. w. Lloyd and ".
K. Caskey appeared with the request
that their competitors from out.
side the city be required to pay
tax for the use Of the streets, and
the amendment to the ordinance
was designed to answer their nett