Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-03
THE CRISIS IN OMAHA.
Two Forces of Police Now Ex-
 ist In That City.
AN ORDER OF THE COURT IGNORED.

The American Protective Association, HMv. ing a Majority, Has Seized the Police FOrce-AnOther Force Appointed by the Now Commissioner.
 OMAHA, Aug. 3.-Thc police commits. sioners, acting under the A. P. A. polica law, are doing business in Omaha regard. less of tho fact that the district court re- strained the city council from approving their bonds. The oathhound organization in tho council has a working majority, and tho courts order was ignored. As a result citizens volunteer guard of 100 men is on duty at the police station to maintain peace and assist the regular po- lice force in holding possession of city property.
 Messrs. Broatch, Nan(trrvort and Foster were given thcir certificates as police com missionerS at noon Friday by tho attorney general and, commissioner of public lands and buildings. Thogovernor warned them that thoir course was Illegal. The Omaha council held a special session at 4:30 o'clock to approve the bonds, but were mot with an injunction returnable today in the district court.
 The order was ignored with q hurrah, and the new police commission appointed
 
 get possession of city property during the night. Today the district court will take up tho matter of the council proceedings in contempt and will probably annul it's work. There is much inflammatory talk, and several companies of militia in differ cnt parts of the state have been notified to be in readiness to move to Omaha in the event of trouble.
 Governor Holcomb on Hand.
 Governor Holcomb is prepared to main. tain tho law and is using all means in his power to conserve peace and havs the whole squabble carried to the supreme court When asked what action he pro- posed to take in the matter in case of an attempt to tako forciblc possession of the jail, Chief of Police White said that he would sec that there was no rioting and that the laws were enforced in any event. He said he did not anticipate any vio- lcncC, but would be prepared to deal with any cases of lawleSSness that might come up.
 It was evident from the first that it was the intention of the A. P. A. majority in the city council to carry out their plans, irrespective of the order of Judge Hope well. President Edwards refused to re- ccivc the telegram from tho district judge, who is at Takamah, which was hand od to him. This example was followed by tho majority.
 It appeared that one or two of the mem- bers, who wero ready to vote for any measure that would aid the A. r. A. in thoir plans, wcre a little doubtful as to tho prepricty of a direct violation of tho order of injunction. Subsequently, the majority took possession of tho private office of the president, where the doubtful voters were looked after until ten mcm- berS were ready to defy the court.
 The majority called for an opinion from the city attorney as to whether the ooun- cil was hound to obey the injunction. City Attorney Connell is out of the city, and he left Frank Ranson to advise tha council in his absence. He advised the council that it might, with entire proprie- ty, ignore the injunction.
 uo declared that since the order had been issued at Takamah the injunction was not in force in this county. Moro than that, h0 was informed that no poti- ton had been filed in the district court and no bond had been approved by tho clerk of the court.
 Until this was done the injunction was not in force, and the council was under no obligation to consider it. President Edwards then declared tho bonds of tho new commission approved.
 
 attorney to state whether the new law re- pCnlcd tho law which stated that all tho commissions must be signed by the gov ernOr Ransom relieved himself by tho assurance that there was no necessity for the commission at law. Tho law had deS- ignated the appointing board, and this car riCd with it the power to give a proper no titication of the appointments. It WAS not necessary that tho governor should issue any commission, nor was it oven necessary that it should bear the official seal of tho state. This resolution was then passed by tho council
 Defiant Resolution Adopted.
 "Whcrcas A proclamation has been is sued by Charles k. Brown and D. Glenn Dcaves police commissioners under the law which was repealed to take effect Aug. |, declaring their purpose to con tinuo to act as commissioners under the law which Governor 'HolComh certifics over his own signature took effect Aug. 1, and under tho provisions of which new commissioners have heen appointed; and. "WhCreaS, Under the said law, the only authorized appointing power has appoint cd w. J. Broatch, A. C. Foster and Paul Nandervort as such police commissioners for the city of Omaha, and their bonds havo been duly approved by the city coun-
  with the city clerk, as required by law; i; and,
 Whereas, It is important that all off cers, employees and those having business with the city council should not be misled as to which will be recognized by the city council; therefore,
 Resolved, That, until otherwise finally determined by the courts, the police com mission composed uf W. J. Broatoh, A. C. Foster and Paal Vandcrvort, acting under the new, law taking effect Aug. 1, Is the only one which will be recog- nizcd by tho city, and all interested par ties will govern themselves accordingly"
 At noon Governor Holcomb sent letter to tho attorney general, in which, as exc cutivo of tho state, ho respectfully and most earnestly urges him to begin quo warranto proceedings in the supreme court at the earliest possible date in or der to try the title of the respective claim ants to the office i'll question, and by col lateral proceedings restrain any efforts which may bo made to take possession of said office by force, surreptitiously or in any other unlawful manner.
 At II o'clock last night the district court issued a second injunction restrain ing the new police commission from inter- fering with the old force or any municipal property or from acting in any capacity. The case will be heard at noon today. The new commission has not yet indicated it's action on this injunction.
 TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFS.