Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-15
FLASH IN THE PAN.
The Expected Turbulence at
Nebraska's Metropolis.
LOOKS PRETTY STORMY FOR A TINE,

But Calms Down to a Conference Between
the Opposing Boards in Which q Com
promise Is Arranged-M Matter To He Re-
ferred to the state Supreme Court, and
an Early Decision Will He Had Of the
Disputed Point.
OMAHA, Aug. 15.-All probability of a
resort to arms to settle the municipal
muddle over the rival police commissions
Is now very remote but for two hours it
looked very much as though a serious col.
lision was inevitable. The sidewalks and
streets surrounding the city hall wero
crowded with people, and the interior OF
the building was crowded with sheriffs
and officers. The new commission con-
vened at 10 A. IL. amid considerable ex-
element. The members were encouraged
with cheers from 200 friends. They we're
expected to at one, place rival police
force on the streets of the city, atte empt to
oust Chief of Police White and storm the
city hall. This was the schedule as given
cut by those supposed to be on the 'fn-
side"
Agreed to Confer with the aIns'
The situation was intensified by the re-.
port from Kansas City that the A. p. A.
councAs there had ), ,000 armed men ready
to send to Omaha to maintain the new
commission. At the same time the old
committee was in the mayors office ready
to issue orders and repcl any force neces-
sary to maintain its position. After a
brief conference the new commission con-
cluicd to confer with the old board before
resorting to arms. The conference was
the result Of n letter which Mayor Bemis
sent to the new board asking the mem.
hers to meet the old board and endeavor
to reach a peaceable settlement of the
controversy. The members of the new
board replied that they had decided to
meet Mayor BeInis and his colleagues,
and the mayor replied that they were
ready.
Wires to Governor and Court.
The two boards remained closeted for
an hour or more. When the door was
opened it YVES announced that an agree
ment had been reached. Mayor Bemis
then sent telegram signed by himself,
as chairman of the old board, and by W.
j. Broatca, chairman of the new
board, to Governor Holcomb and A. 5.
Churchill, attorney general, as follows:
ii the supreme court will meet at an
carly date, all the members of the two
boards Of fire and police commissioners
will unite in a request for an early hear.
ing. Can you get the court to fix short
date5 Answer" This telegram was
sent to each OF the justices of the supreme
court: "All parties agree to submit po-
lice matters to supreme court if early
hearing can be had"
Each side Disclaims Concessions.
This was also signed by the chairman
of each board. They wanted 1t under
stood that neither board had made any
concessions. Each side stood as it had
before and in that respect there was no
change In the situation. They had sim
ply agreed that tho best interests of all
concerned would be served by an imme-
diato submission of the controversy to
the supreme court, and they had united
to that end.
Rcticent About the Future,
Members of the new board are reticent
in regard to what their next procedure
would be. When Nandervoo-t was asked
whether the new board would proceed to
organize police force in opposition to
that controlled by the old board he would
not answer directly. but stated that
neither board was going to be very hard
on the other while the matter was pend
ing before the supreme court.
Will Hear the Case Today.
Chief Justice Novel, of the state su-
preme court, announced late last evening
that a special session of the court will be
held today to settle the Omaha case.