Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
A. P. AS IN CONTROL
THE NEW POLICE COMMITS
SIONER APPOINTED.
AN INJUNCTION IGNORED
of the COurt-CitiZenS Volunteer
Guard on Duty at the Police
Station-The Militia Waiting
a Call.

Omaha, Neb., Aug. 3.-Three police
commissioners, acting under A 2. A.
police law, are doing business in
Omaha regardless Of the fact that the
district court restrained the city
council from approving their bonds.
The oath-bound organization in the
council has a working majority and
the courts order is ignored. AS a
result the citizens volunteer guard,
100 men, is on duty at the police sta
ton to maintain peace and assist the
regular police force in holding pos
session of the city property.
MesSrs. Broatch, Vandervoort and
Foster were given their certificates
as police commissioners at noon by the
attorney general and the commits
siOner of public lands and buildings
The governor refused to sit with
them and warned them that their
course was illegal. The Omaha coun-
Gil held special session yesterday af-
ternoOn to approve the bonds but
We're met with an injunction re-
turnable today in the district court.
The order was ignored with a hurrah
and the new police commission ap-
pointed full force. They will make
no effort to get possession of the city
property before morning. At an
early hour the district court will take
up the matter of the council pro-
ceedings in contempt and will prob
ably annul its work. There is much
infammatOry talk and several COM
panies of militia in different parts of
the state have been notified to be in
readiness to move to Omaha in event
of trouble. Gov. HOlcOmb is prepared
to maintain law and is using all
means in his power to preserve peace
and have the whole sQuabble carried
to the supreme court. When asked
what action he proposed to take in
the matter of the attempt to take
fOrcible possession of the Jail, Chief of
Police White said he would see that
there was no rioting and that the
laws were enforced in any event He
said that he did not anticipate any
violence but would be prepared to
deal with any cases of Iawlessness
that might come up.
1t was evident from the first that it
was the intention of the A p. A. ma
jority in the city council to carry out
their plans, irrespective of the order
of Judge Hopewell, who issued the
injunction. President Edwards re-
fused to receive a telegram from the
district judge, who is at Tekamah,
which was handed to him, and this
example was followed by the ma
jority. 1t appeared that one or two Of
the members who were ready TO vote
for any measure that would aid the
A. 2. AS in their plans were little
doubtful as to the propriety of a
direct violation of the Injunction.
Consequently the majority took pos
session of the private office of the
president, where the doubtful ones
were looked after until ten members
were ready to defy the court. The
majority called for an opinion from
the city attorney as to whether the
council was bound to obey the in
junction. The city attorney, Mr.. Con
nell, is out of the city and left Frank
Ransom to advise the council in his
absence. He advised the council that
it might, with entire propriety, ignore
the injunction. President Edwards
then declared the bonds of the new
commission approved.
This resolution was passed by the
council: Resolved, that until other
wise finally determined by the courts,
the police commission be composed of
w. J. Broatch, A. G. Foster and Paul
VandervoOrt, acting under the new
law taking effect August 1, 1895, and
that they are the only ones who will
be recognized by the city council and
all interested parties will govern
themselves accordingly"