The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1951-03-01

meeClng, curing ulSCuSSIOl dJ Jul
table on war casualties, l happened
to mention that l got Whit of gas
in World War l, to which Ellsworth
Roulette replied: "And you haven't
got rid of all of it yet" How true
how true.
In all the years that, as a reporter,
| have been covering public meet
ings of one kind, or another, l have
never heard a public official make
more disgraceful, or untruthful
statement than one made by Coun-
Gilman Roy Knight at last weeks
meeting of the Mayor and Council
with Police Commissioner M. E.
Ellinger. Here are the facts:
When Knight asked for the de-
tails regarding the retirement of
Sergeant Leroy Harms, Commissioner
Ellinger first read the section of the
City Charter dealing with the re
tirement of police officers, in which
it is stated that any application for
retirement by a police officer, be-
cause of physical disability, must be
accompanied by medical certificate
from two doctors The Commits
sioner then read certificates from
DR.. Jack H. Beachley and DR.. R. S.
Stauffer, both of which stated that
Sergeant Harms had not only Angina
Pectoris, but also Diabetes, and both
doctors recommended his retire
ment on the ground that he was
physically unfit to continue the
duties of a police officer.
At this point in the discussion,
Knight interrupted the Commits
sioner and made the following state
ment, which quote, word for word;
anyone in this room, over 40
years of age, could get certificate
like that from any doctor in Hag-
erstOwn."
Later on in the discussion, Coun-
Gilman Knight showed that he was
not even familiar with the provi-
sions of the City Charter, under
which he is supposed to help govern
Hagerstown.
Turning to City Attorne y Bruce
Lightner, Knight asked him if the
Council could pass an ordinance
changing the provisions of the
Charter as it applied to the retire
ment of police officers, to which the
City Attorney politely replied that
there is another section of the
Charter, which forbids the amend
ing any of its provisions without
referendum of the voters of Hag-
erstown, either at a special, or gen
eral election.
And while I am on the subject of
that meeting, let me say this:
Although Coun m n Luther
Broom has, in the past, criticised the
Police Department, he stated at the
meeting that he had never been OPP
posed to the retirement of Sergeant
Harms, and he also stated that, at
the budget meeting of the Mayor
and Council, he advocated that the
base pay of all police officers, ex-
cept the rockies, be $4,000 year.
l am also glad to be able to report
that when, on the motion of Coun-
Gilman ]. Frank Elliott, seconded by
Councilman Melvin c. Jennings, the
Council passed resolution giving
a vote of confidence to the Police
Department and commencing Com
missioner Ellinger for the fine work
he is doing, Broom, along with FL
lott, Jennings and Councilman Jack
Hellane, voted "aye." knight chose
to remain silent.
There is Senate bill-number
183-noW in the hands of the finance
committee of the Senate, which I
feel, along with good many others,
should not be passed.
The purpose of the bill is to en-
able the State of Maryland to pur-
chase land along the Potomac Riv-
er and then make an unrestricted
gift of this land to the Federal Gov
eminent for the purpose of con-
structing a C & o Canal Parkway
from Washington to Cumberland.
State Senator D. Kenneth Nc
Laughlin in opposing the bill, points
out that the construction of this
parkway would be detrimental to
Maryland industries along the Po-
tomac River in view of the present
national legislation.
This legislation only permits the
National Parkway Service to grant
revocable permits for water rights
If the Potomac River Under land