Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-12
BOSSES OF THE BOYS IN BLUE
Board Of Fire and Police Commissioners of
the City Of 0maha,
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMISSION
Brief Glimpse OF an Average s~ession-some
Hobbies of the Mombcrs-Mayor
Bemis and His Colleagues
on tho Board.

Many people have heard of the Board of
Fire and Police commissioners and have
read of its meetings, which are held each
week. The board is appointed by the gov
eruor and IL arranged so that IL will be MS
nearly nonpartisan as possible. Four of,the
members are thus appointed and the MAYOR
prosidcs at the regular meetings and has the
deciding vote in case of n tic. The members
of the present board are: Mayor Bcmis, VIII.
liam Coburn, Chris Hartman, V. q. Stricken
and Howard ninth
These are the men who regulate aud dis.
cipltne the fire and police departments, pur-
chase supplies, give trials TO the officers and
hremen who are accused Of various oTenses
against tho rules and regulations and attend
to many other duties designated by the
statutes. The commissioners are a fine body
of men, intellectually, physically and in a
social and business sense. They are also
terrors to the men who do not live up TO the
rules set forth in the fire and police rogull-
tons.
The commissioners have pleasant quarters
in the third story Of the city hall aud they
hold a meeting every Monday evening.
Gathered around n long table, like u meet.
ing of cabinet officers, they give considera-
ton TO the routine of business which comes
before them.
At the head of the table sits Mayor
Bemis. To mis- right is usually Chris Hart
man or William Coburn, V. O. Strickler and
Howard Smith. Chief of Police Seavcy,
FIRE Chicf Galligan, and their assistant off-
GERS always attend the meetings regularly.
Secretary Brownlec sits near the reporters
table and reads the communications and
other papers, after which he hands them
over to the members of the press.
characteristics Of the Members.
With a pleasant smile Mayor Bemis says:
Come to order, gentlemen, y and they pro-
coed with business. Chris Hartman settles
down in his comfortable chair aud gives
close attention to all that is going on. Will
liam Coburn usually lights u fragrant Key
West cigar and Mr.. Stricken assists in keep.
ing the papers in order for the clerk, while
while Mr.. Smith handles the book in which
the records of the police and tiremen are
kept. After the board gets through with
its routine work it retires to its pri.
vate office and goes into executive session,
There the different questions are settled.
The personnel of the board is an interest.
ing study. Smith and Strickler are at.
torneys, while Hartmann is an insurance
man. Coburh Is chief clerk in the sheriff's
Office. Coburn is always well dressed, has
the air Of a man who thoroughly enjoys life
and is a most genial and companionable man.
He usually remembers his friends when
there is a meeting of the board, for he car
ries a supply of mighty good cigars and he
does not overlook the press gang when he
passes them around among his friends.
Good nature is one of Mr.. Coburn's char
aCteristics.
Whiskers on tho Depew Order.
Howard Smith is a quiet, little man with
Chauncey Depew whiskers. He does not
talk a great deal, but he has n most decided
way of calling down windy lawyers, VIII o
represent some one who is on the carpet"
He has the rules and legal points governing
| the taking of evidence before the board at
his fingers ends and uses his knowledge to
good effect.
Mr.. Strickler believes in strict discipline
and he does not hesitate to insist on repri-
manding the men who are guilty of violating
the rules. He is a jolly, good natured
gentleman and is 4 close friend ofthe mayor.
Like the other members of the board, he
dresses in good taste and his silk tile is al
ways from the latest block.
Chris nartman's Hobby.
Chris Hartman is the same the year round
and he gives fire and police matters an
earnest consideration. When there is n
large fire in the business portion of the city
Mr.. Hartman is sure to be there, and he
gives the men many valuable hints as TO how
to handle the flames to the best advantage.
He is very popular with the police ana ire
men and is always doing something for their
comfort around the engine houses. Since the
last big fire Mr.. Hartman has been actively
engaged in trying to. provide "a much better
fire machine service, In order to keep dow
the insurance rates.
Every one knows Mayor Bemis. Honest
and conscientious in everything, he makes
an excellent presiding officer. He deals
fairly and impartially with all questions and
is well liked by those with whom he comes
in contact, socially, politically or In a busi-
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