Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-15
POLICE COMMISSION MEETS Member Crawford Joins Har- moniousIy in the Session, CHIEF McDONALD'S REPORT Information That the Grand Jury Has Ignored the Serious Charges Against Off,
 cer ByarS.

The police commission met last night Present were the full board, Chairman A. H. Stevens, Messrs Thornton, Craw- ford, Garrett and Reynolds. They were harmonious in their deliberations. It will be remembered that Mr. Webb Crawford, the successor to the boards late chairman, MT. J. P. Mudd, was com missioned chairman of the body by Gov ernor Oates, through his private secre- tary, but the board at the installation of the new commissioner emphatcally de- clared that they were a law unto them selves and would not recognize the gov- ernors appointment to the chairmanshp, although they recognized MT. Crawford as commissioner under the credentials. MT Crawford accepted the action of the board under protest, and last night it was expected that he would gum the game so far as 1t was in his power. But he did nothing of the sort He acted in harmony with his colleagues, who are really his personal friends If he is hold ing dead hand it is certainly not up his sleeve, for he barred his wrists last evening on square game with the ma jority of his friends.
 After roll call and the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting Com missioner Crawford gracefully withdrew his former objections to the election of A. II. oleVeHS as CnalTmdn. I HIS pIO- voked smile. but the board accepted the voluntary act gracously and Chair man Stevens appropriately recognized the compliment.
 Business coming before the board ex- cluded the least sign of levity and police affairs were transacted with dispatch and precision.
 The following communication from the chief of police was read and ratified: Birmingham, Jan. IA. 1896. TO the Honorable Board of Police Commits sioners, Birmingham, Ala.-
 GentlemeD: I earnestly request your honorable body to urge the mayor and board of aldermen to pass an ordinance that will bear equally on the saloon men in regard to Sunday whisky selling, as the power is lodged in them alone to pass an ordinance to regulate the matter. As the law now stands it is impossible for the police department to make 1t op- crate equally on all the saloon men, and I assure you that 1t is my earnest desire to have this bear equally on them, and if it is so arranged l assure your honor able body will exert every means in my power to see that it is carried out. As there are saloon men whose places Of business are so situated that they can sell all day Sunday. it is almost a phys ical impossibility to prevent them from doing so. Other places are so situated that they cannot possibly sell without detection. This makes 1t a great hard ship on the saloon men who do not de- sire to do business on Sunday and on i those who cannot if they so desired. All l of our saloon men are required to pay $500 annually into the city treasury for selling whisky, and great number of these do business seven days out of the week and the rest of them can only do business six days. I think this very un- fair to those who do not try to do a Sum day business. It is also unjust to the chief of police and the police depart ment for this reason. The public do not understand the situation and cannot see why one man can sell whisky on Sunday and others are not permitted to do so. There are number of these saloons that have on guard sentinel ready to give the alarm on the inside of the saloon as soon as the police officer makes his appearance in the neighbor- hood. There are others who keep as many as two or three sentinels on the outside on the alert for officers, thus making it almost impossible for an of- flcer in uniform to catch them selling whisky. The law requires the officer to see the person buy the whisky and pay for 1t before he can convict the saloon man for selling. It would be worse than foolishness to put police officer in cit izen's clothes to catch them, as they are known as we'll by the saloon men and their spies in citizens clothes as they are in uniform. The city does not furnish the police department with any means IO eHDIoy ueteCtiNtS lo CdtCh tueSc Poi- ties. The consequence of 1t is that there are a great many citizens who do not un- derstand the law and the methods that these whisky men indulge in for the pur- pose of doing a Sunday business. and they tt'nke that certain saloon men stand 1n with the police department, thereby doing the department a gross injustice. Very respectfully.
 T. c. MCDONALD.
 Chief of Police
 "A communication was read from Solc- itor Pro Tenn. Lee c. Bradley stating that the grand jury had ignored the charge against Officer Byars. No action was taken in open meeting.
 Chairman Stevens reported that he had given the oath of office to several men connected with the market house. Unan- imous1y ratified.
 The chief of police was requested to express his views of the necessity of su- pernumeraries for the force. He recom- mended the election of two supernumer- arles. Deferred until the executive ses- sion. Business of minor importance was dispatched and the board went Into ex- ecutive session.
 Executive Session.
 Messrs. J. H. MuIIin and J. ]. Gambil1 were elected supernumeraries of the force.
 One of the patrolmen was fined five days for the violation of police regu- 1ation.
 Officer J. N. Byars. who shot and acci-