The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-09
CHIEFS OF TEXAS POLICE.
They Arc Now 10 Annual Session ut
Waco.
THE JURISDICTION OF POLICE COURTS
10 the Absorbing Tonic for Their
Consideration - Criminal court
Decision lIcIpful OF Crime.

waco, Texas. June s.--The Chiefs OF Po-
lice and City Marshals' unL,n was called to
order this morning BY First Vice President
M. j. INLAND Of Corpus Christi.
Rev. Frank Page. rector OF ST.. paui,s
Episcopal church, invoked divine blessings
Mayor G. @. Mcculoch OF Waco welcoai-
Cd the delegates in briei address. Presi-
dent INLAND responded briefly thanking the
mayor and chief OF police for tho cordial
reception rendered the chxfs.
After calling the roll tho convention nd.
1ourned I'LL o'clock out OF respect TO the
late Chief Arnold of Dallas, president OF the
union.
me absorbing question with the Chiefs OF
Police ana City Marshals' Union now in s IS.
SION IN this city. is the question OF the
jurisdiction OF the police courts OF the va
rous cities of The State. Since the court
of criminal appeals decided that The eliy
courts had no Jurisdiction in criminal cases
provided Tor In the State code. there has
oeen tendency In the cities to cut dawn
the police forces, leaving only enough men
70 handle yiolators of the municipal laws
In Waco this course was taken In April. and
as result the city is not properly patrolled
especially at night, and there is percep-
ienses over which the city prior to the late
decision exercised iurisdfntlon, The sher-
Ill aud constables departments are alert
and perform their duty with proper dis
patch, but they have not men enough TO pa
troll the city, their forces being limited by
law, and the only relief they afford Is in
running down the criminals after the COM
mission of the crime.
The chiefs viii cndeavor to have the iu-
risdiction OF the city courts restored. II
this shall require a constitutional amend-
| ment, a committee Will be appointed to PEI
tition the next legislature to submit such an
amendment. City Attorney Tom L. Nc
Cullough OF Waco In resisting the appeal
TO the county court, attacking the jursdic-
ton of he,spolice court took the position
that the city court ought not to be emas-
culated without a unanimous decision from
the higher court. Judge Hurt he said, dis
scented from the other two members OF the
| court of appeals, 10 the extent OF holding
that the police court could acquire jurisdic-
tion by legislative act providing for prose-
cutions In the name of the State. Should
this decision be relied upon, relief Will
probably be sought in the amendment of
city charters
Sheriff Baker of this county is anxious to
see the Jurisdiction of the police courts re-
stored He has underworld TO do the work
formerly done by the police OF the city, but
the effort has almost exhausted himself ana
deputies. He will aid the chiefs of police
aud city marshals In their efforts to re-
store the jurisdiction Of tie city courts.
The afternoon session Of tho City Mar
shals' and Chiefs OF Police union was con-
vened at o'clock. The discussion OF topics
was cut short by motion to refer all sub
jccts to committees for report before dis
cussion.
The mayors OF Houston, Galveston, waco
Fort Worth, Dallas, sulphur Springs, Cam
oron. Austin, Taylor, Plano, West, Yoalum,
Corpus Christi and Paris wore made hon
orary members also representatives of the
press present In the convention.
Chief INLAND, acting president. delivered
his address this Afternoon. recommending
Il strong effort on the part of the chiefs to
get the Jurisdiction OF the city courts re-
stored.
The convention adjourned at / o'clock tn
go on street car excursion.