The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-03
DISREGARD The COURT
Omaha A. P. A. Council Ignores
the Restraining Order.
New Commissioners Appoint
Officers With Hurrah:
TALK.
Militia Ordered to be Ready in
Case of Trouble.
Salaries of the Old Employees
Are Held Back.

commissioners, acting under the
A. P. 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 oathbound organization in the
council has a working majority, and
the courts order was ignored. AS a
result, a citizens volunteer guard of
100 men is on duty at the police sta
tion to maintain peace and assist the
regular police force in holding posses
sion of city property. Messrs. Broatch,
Vandervoort and Foster were given
their certificates as police commits
sioners by the attorney general
and commissioner of public lands
and buildings. The governor refused
to sit with them, and warned
them that their course was Illegal.
The Omaha council held a special ses-
SION at 4:50 to approve the bonds, but
were met with an injun ctiOn, return
able to-day in district court The or
der was ignored with a hurrah, and
the new police commission at once ap-
pointed a full police force. They will
make no effort to get possession of
city property before to-day. At n
early hour the district court will take
up the matter of the council proceed
ings in contempt, and will probably
annul it's work. There is much in
fammatOry talk, and several COM
panies of militia in different parts of
the state have been notified to be in
readiness to move on Omaha in the
event of trouble. Governor Holcombe
is prepared to maintain the law, and
is using all means in his power to con-
serve the peace and have the whole
squa bble carried to the supreme court.
When asked what action he proposed
to take in the matter in case of an at
tempt to take forcible possession of
the Jail, Chief of Police White said
that he would see that there was no
rioting, and that the laws were en-
forced in any event. He said he did
not anticipate any violence, but would
be prepared to deal with such cases of
lawlessness 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
its plans, irrespective of the order of
Judge Hopewell. President Edwards
refused to receive the telegram from
the district judge, who is at Takamah,
which was handed him, and this exam
pie was followed by the ma jority.
It appeared that one or two of the
| mem bers, who were ready to vote for
any measure that would aid the A. P.
A. in their plans, were a little doubtful
| as to the prOpriety of a direct violation
| of the order of injunction. Conse-
| quently the majority took possession
| of the private Office of the president,
where the doubtful members were
| looked after until ten memb mbers 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 injunction. City
| Ill Of hn 0i4v
and left frank RaLson to advise
! the council in his absence. He adj
vised the council that it might, with
entire propriety, ignore the in unc-
ton. He declared that since the order
had been issued at Takamah the in
| junction was not in force in this coun-
| ty. More than that, he was Informed
that no petition had been filed in the
district court, and no bond had been
approved by the clerk of the court.
| Until this was done the in junction was
not in force, and the council was under
no obligations to consider it. Presi-
| dent Edwards then declared the bonds
of the new commission approved.
During the roll call a member asked
| the attorney to state whether the new
law repealed the law which stated that
all the commissions must be signed by
| the governor Ransom relieved him
necessity for any commission at all.
The law had designated the appoint
ing board, and this carried with it the
power to give proper notification of
the appointments. It was not neces-
sary that the governor should issue
any commission, nor was it even nee
essary that it should bear the seal of
the state.
At II o'clock last night the district
court issued a second injunction re-
straining the new police commission
ers from interfering with the old
force or any municipal property, or
from acting in any capacity. The case
will be heard at noon to-day. The
new commission has not yet indicated
its action on this injunction.
That the members of the A. P. A. ma
Jorlty IN the city council are bound to use
their authority to the fullest extent to
promote the present strife is again il
evidence today. The services of the
members of the finance committee
have been called into reQuisition, and the
July salaries of nearly 800 employees o
the city have been withheld to be used a:
a club to compel their allegiance
Contrary to all precedent the tinancia
committee instructed the controller no
to include in the ordinance tbs
salaries of the members of the board O
nre and police emmissoners. the license
board, the entire police depa rtment, tht
board OF health, and the emploves of the
street commissioners department
The excuse of Chairman Cadet Tavlo
for this Unprecedented proceeding