The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-03
0MAHA'S POLICE BOARD FIGHT.
FIRST ROUND ENDS IN A VICTORY
FOR NEW MEMBERS.
The Attorney-Genera1 and Commits
sioner of Public Lands and
Buildings Appoint.

OMAHA (Neb.), Aug. 1.-The first round
in the fight between the old and the new
Boards OF Fire and Police has ended in q
victory for the new board which has been
appointed, and whose bonds have been
approved by the City Council. as the law
directs. This morning Attorney General
Churchill and Commissioner Of Public
Lands and Buildings Russell met at the
Capitol, and after waiting for the Gov
ernor, formally opened the meeting and
elected Russell Chairman and Churchill
Secretary. Then they formally elected
W. J. Broatch for the term ending De-
cember 81, 1895; Paul Vandervort for the
term ending Decembe 81, 1896, and A. c.
Foster for the term ending December 81,
1897.
Broatch is Republican, and was
Mayor of Omaha two terms, from 1884 TO
1888. He is an iron dealer. Vandervort
is the Commander-in-C of the Ma
tlonal Legion, the Populist Central or
gauization. He was Commander-in-
Chief of the u. A. 4. in 1873, and Is
very prominent in Grand Army circles.
Foster is the manager of Swift's Packing
Company, and is a Democrat. They were
journed.
The Governor then addressed this letter
to Churchill:
$40 Hon. 4. s. Churchill, AHorney-
General, Lincoln, Neb. - DEAR SIR: [
have just been informed that Messrs. A.
c. Foster, Paul Nandervort and w. j.
Broatch have been appointed members of
the Fire and Police Commission OF the
city of Omaha by the Attorney General
and the Commissioner Of Public Lands
and Buildings, acting as members OF the
Chapter III OF the provisional laws of 1895,
and fearing that an effort will be made to
retain possession of the offices, they will
be appointed without appeal to the courts.
l respectfully urge you to begin quo
warranto proceedings in the Supreme
Court at the earliest possible day, on or
der to try the title of the respective
claimants to the respective offices. In
order to obtain an early presentation of
the case to the court will render you all
the aid in my power. Yours. very truly,
''SILAS y. HOLCOMB, Governor"
To this the Attorney General replied as
follows:
"Hon. .SilaS Holcom6, Gouernor-DEAR
SIR: Yours of even date at hand and
contents carefully noted. In reply, will
say. as l have yet aforesaid, this depart
ment is perfectly willing to proceed to
have the question mentioned in yours
speedily determined, il, in fact, there is
any question to be determined, as soon
as possible after the Police Commission
ers have qualified as required by law and
the demand made for possession OF their
respective offices. If refusal be had,
proceedings will be speedily instituted TO
determine the rights of the parties
thereto. In the meantime, / assure you
there will be no breach OF the peace on
the part of the newly appointed Commits
sioners. Messrs. Broatch and Foster are
both men of means, and are largely in-
terested in the welfare of the city OF
Omaha. Mr.. Fandervort is a gentleman
having resided in Omaha many years,
and his interests are conferred here, SO
you need not fear any breach of the peace
by these gentlemen. l am very truly
yours, "A. 5. CHURCHILL,
Attorney
This afternoon a telegram came from
Takemah, serving notices on the men,
bers of the City Council that Judge Hop
we'll of the District Court had issued an
injunction restraining the council from
approving the bonds OF the new Com
mlSSIonerS.
The City Attorney met at 4:30 o'clock.
and Acting City Attorney Ransom was
asked to state his opinion as TO the legal
ity of the injunction. He stated that tue
Injunction was invalid, because no bond
had been filed with the clerk of the
court here, as especially required by law.
The council then ct once proceeded to
approve these bonds, which are for So, 900
each. large crowd witnessed the scene,
and Justify cheered the new board. The
old board is still in possession of the Po-
lice Board rooms in the City Hall, and is
in session to-day. The new board is also
i'm session, but its members declare they
will act conservatively and within the
law, a writ OF custer will probably be
issued tomorrow.
The city is perfectly quiet and peaceful,
and there are no Indications Of disturb
ance.
The new Police Board met tonight
and elected W. j. Broatch President and
Paul Vandervort Secretary. 1t issued an
order requiring the Police and Fire De-
partments TO recognize it as the legal
board. but took no other steps. Judge
Hopewell arrived here Tonight from
Tekamah and issued an injunction, and
the case will come up IN the District
Court before him tomorrow at l0 o'clock.
Very likely the new Board and Council
will pay no attention to it.
The City Hall is heavily guarded to-
night. but no one seems to want to mo-
lest it.