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February 1Mth.
<br />
<br /> The Commission, after receiving copies of transcript of all testimony tsd~en
<br />at the hearings met again in special meeting and after careful consideration of same handed
<br />down the follov~ing decision~
<br /> 'That--Officer J. C. Peavy be reinstated with full pay for all time lost on
<br />account of his~ suspension and exonerated from all charges preferred against him.' J.P. Hofler
<br />dissenting.
<br />Stat~ement of Mr. Foster Staples as to cost of tr~.script of all testimony
<br />taken at the hearings on January 16th~ l?th and l~th, has been approved by t~he entire Commie- R
<br />sion and was presented to City Clerk & Auditor L~ . Brinson for payment. The Commission trust~
<br />that payment will not be withh.eld unnecessarily. ~
<br /> - It is th~ opinzon of the Civil Service Commission that ~here exists in the Po- t
<br />lice Department an utter lack of discipline s~ud respect for superior officers, therefore the ~
<br />Commission does recommend that suitable z-~les and regulations to govern all the members of said
<br />department, be drafted and posted conspicuously at Police~ Headquarters, ~d that a copy be sup~
<br />olied to each member of the Department.
<br /> The Commission gladly offers i~s services to that end.
<br />
<br />Very respectfully yours,
<br />
<br />H. J. Kraemer, Chairman
<br />H~ Eo Phelps, Sr.
<br />J. P. Hcffter."
<br />
<br />NEW BUSINESS
<br />
<br /> The privilege of the floo~ was granted Er. Paul Scarborough, Jr., represen- t
<br />tative of the C & P. Telephone Company, ~ho stated that the State and several cities had agree~
<br />to install teletype for better police service, and suggested that this city install same; the .
<br />cost would be $2~.50 per month.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Er. Fox to refsr to City Manager for further study and to make con-
<br />tract for same if he thinks it advis~ole, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> The privilege of the floor was granted Er. G.B. Kittrell, who stated that he
<br />was working on a plan to have the playgrounds open all the yea~, instead of six weeks each
<br />year, and a eked ~hat the Council appoin~ a committee to meet with the City Manager mud himself
<br />in consideration of same.
<br />
<br />Notion of Er. Howard $o appoint said committee, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> The following petition was read:
<br /> ~In the behalf of the negro children of Portsmouth city, the Woman's Council, t
<br />Department ef Child Welfare, prements this appeal to your honorable body.
<br /> We ~ask of you the pro~sion of three equipped and supez~ised playgrounds andi
<br /> mmi co~ lccaSed in an accessiole place for the'colored children o2 theentire city.
<br />of
<br /> a
<br /> We feel that in ~he outset, we should in~orm you, that in no way do we re - ~
<br /> swi ngp ~ ~ ~ ~
<br />
<br />gardthe~gPA recreational program as approaching what the children of. ~he city need in the field
<br />of recreation. 'A~ain, we wish to express our appreciation for the summer spraying of children,
<br />but here, we must again advise you, that the spraying in no way can be considered as a substi-
<br />tute for a playground or a swimming pool.
<br /> We must further, inform yourhohorable body, that for Negro children and par.
<br />ents in the Southland, a p~ayground_ has an added significance, and value over such ~rounds for.
<br />the white race, in that the economy of the Negro family, in the greater majority, requires the
<br />emoloyment of both pa~ents away from the home. The playground, when properly ~uper~sed, fur-
<br />niches a continued discipline for the children of these parents. This is a proven fact, of
<br />the days, when the city operated a supervised playground.
<br /> The closing of the schools for sammer vacation places in the streets the
<br />Negro children of Portsmouth~ to live the greater part of the time, an unsupervised existence
<br />until ~he fell opening of the schools. During ~is period r~ving groups form, orgaAized gangs
<br />come in~o b~ing and adolescents acquire the will to disregard parental admonition. By the time
<br />school reopens parents find that they have lost contel of their children. The influence of th~
<br />summer's freedom is extended by truancy, which is the most distressing form of disobedience
<br />that the employed mother has to deal with. As a result, we have in PortSmouth, a large number
<br />of boys ~nd girls between .the ages of l0 and 15 that are runaways and accomplished thieves;
<br />housebreakers, snatchers m~t only of fruit, but. of meat, crated eggs, chickens, tobacco pro ~
<br />ducts and milk from stores and delivery wagons. Junking is now the profession of the t ru&ut
<br />boys. Their stealing of ligh~ and plumbing fixtures, lead and other metals run into the thou-
<br />sands of dollars in replacement cost. As a consequence, our city Jail carries constantly a
<br />number of beys under 15 years awaiting the State Welfare Board, or the local court's placementI
<br />in foster homes. ~ ~ ~
<br /> We ~axed your time with this mo~est mS~atement of conditions among Negro chil~
<br />dren, to impress yon with the serious impairment of q~ality, of one t~ird o~ the future citi -~
<br />zenry of Portsmouth City, as a result of the lack of modern w~lfare play provisions for chil -~
<br />dren~
<br /> Like the children of other races,, play &s the chief interest and attraction
<br />of Negro children. When supervised it leads to health and the desired qualiti~s cZ adulthco~
<br />and citizenry- NegleCted and permitted to run wi!d~ it leads finally to delinquency, criminal-
<br />ity and to high cost to the public for correction.
<br /> ~ne 'provisions for playgreunds are now a recognized function of municipal
<br />governments, therefore:
<br /> We pray of your h~nor~le body, a prov~sion for three.equipped playgrounds
<br />and s~preved su~oervision for each, and that such prevision be made prio~ to'the 1940 school
<br />
<br />
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