Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-14
CRISIS is IMMINENT
Omaha Police Fight Reaches q
Critical Stage.
NEW BOARD DEMANDS POSSESSION

And the Old One Refers the Claimants to
tine Courts-Pres2ects Very Good for
Dual Pclice and Fire Departments with
the Probable Resultant TurmoiI-some.
thing Likely to Happen Todsy-Peace-
makers at Work for q Settlement.
OMAHA, Aug. 14-Thc following motto,
has been served on the old board Of police
and fire commissioners by the new board:
although you are already apprised Of
the fact VIC hereby formally notify you
that We have been appointed fire and po.
lice commissioners OF the city OF Omaha
under the law OF 1895, and pursuant to
that law we have filed our bonds in the
sum OF g., coo each, and the same has been
approved by the city council OF said city,
according 20 law, and and We have filed
our oflicial oaths with the city clerk. ond
in all respects have duly qualified and
are recognized by the city council. and
also by the court decision rendered by the
Hon. NJ. r. Hopewell.
Omaha on the Verge of q Crisis.
Therefore, we hereby notify you that,
having duly qualified and been recog.
niZ.d as before set out, and having as.
sumed the duties of said Office, we name
Wednesday, Aug. II. at 10 o'clock a. m.,
aS n suitable time to receive from you the
records, property and rooms that proper.
ly belong to US as tho lawful board Of
fire and police commissioners"
II is quite evident therefore that Omaha
IS on the verge Of crisis as a result Of
the police row and the indications point
n,,k y -. al
when the new commission attempts to
take forcible possession of the city prop.
ctty. While everything on the surface
seems quiet there is strong undercur.
rent of excitement and 1t Is beloved that
a crisis IS ut hand in the conflict between
the contending factions. There is feel
ing, however. that the new board will
not carry out its threat Of putting n new
fore, on duty today.
Alleged Plan OF the New Board.
Cnc plan Of the new board Is alleged to
be to organize new police force and put
new men on every beat in the city. The
old officers will arrest them and take them
before Poiice Judge Berka, who will at
once rcleass them, holding that the new
men Are real officers instead of being men
who arc impersonnting officers. As soon
ms tho new men are released they will
bring heavy damage suits against the of.
ficers making the arrests, including their
bondsmen in tho suit
Reply Of the Men in Possession.
The old police commission replied to
tho new commission and declared that
while 1t deplored n possible con dict 1t was
legally conducting the affairs Of the po-
lice department of Omaha, and that If the
new commission disputes its authority
1t has recourse in the courts to get pos
session. The fire and police forces men,
bcrs all received n letter to visit the office
OF the new board today and recognizs its
authority or be discharged. a few MEM
bers Ci the forces will probably do so, but
the majority will ignore the letters and
act under the present commission. Chief
of Police White replied 10 the new COM
mission, refusing Co recognize any au-
thority but that established by the state
law.
Efforts for n Peaceful Settlement.
1t is not improbable that If the new
board puts its plan into operation con.
hlct between the old and new officers VIII
cnsuc. In the event Of any disturbance
the charter constitutes the MAYOR OF the
city chief in control Of the police. his an.
thority over. riding that of the police COM
missioncrs. Both forces would therefore
be under the mayors control Efforts
are being made to bring about peaceful
termination OF the quarrel, and it Is not
improbable that they will succeed.