The Butte inter mountain., 1902-01-14
TWO VIEWS or the LAW.

From the exciting mass meeting sun
day afternoon to the session of the city
council tomorrow evening Is only short
step in the march of events connected
with the row between the county at"
torney and chief of police. 1t Is ex-
pected that the controversy between
these two officials will be transferred to
the council meeting, and that the fur
will fly when that body convenes and
the order of business Is reached under
which the suspension OF the four police
men may be properly called up. 1t goes
without saying that Wednesday even
ing's council meeting will be hot one.
Both sides of the contest are said to he
preparing for the fray.
County Attorney Breen read a section
OF the city ordinances before the mass
meeting audience Sunday. That portion
of the ordinances which he claimed gov
erned the case of the four suspended
policemen is not accepted as good law
by the city attorney. 1t is rejected by
the mayor. who depends upon another
and different statute, enacted at later
date, to support his position Chief
Reynolds said in his mass meeting talk
that the proof against the men suspended
was overwhelming, and at the proper
time 1t would be presented This may
be taken to mean that action will be
taken looking to the final dismissal of
the men suspended. In the event that
such action is taken, the aldermen
must know the nature of the charges
and the evidence supporting them.
This may be offered tomorrow night.
Those who hope to see an early settle
ment OF the wrangle in official circles
hope ii will.
Upon the nature OF the proof against
the policemen will turn the issue now
made up between the mayor and those
who oppose him. IL the men accused
are innocent and no proof warranting
their dismissal can he made, the coun-
cilmen will not vote to have them dis
charged from the force The charges
against them have not been specifically
stated as yet. 1t may be that their CHIEF
offense Is refusal to obey the instruc-
tions of those in authority over them.
If 1t can be shown that offenses of this
nature have been committed by the po-
licemen, the sentiment of Butte's citi-
zens will be Overwhelmingly against
giving them place on the force.
II is fact that residents of this city
want the head of the police department
to run that department, to appoint men
to serve upon the force and weed out
those who show by their acts that they
are not working in harmony with their
superors. The mayor will be held re-
sponsible for the work done by police
men. He will be blamed for their neglect
OF duty, and Ii he has not the power to
enforce obedience he must be blamed un-
justly. A spirit of fairness has entered
into public sentiment from the beginning.
and there will be no quarrel with what
the city council finally decides. As the
final authority in the case, its Judgment
Will be respected and, as far as the case
OF the policemen is concerned, there will
be no disposition to set aside the YER
diet. Whatever other matters may call
Tor investigation may all be decided be-
fore the same competent judges There
Is no occasion to call mass meetings or
resort to irregular practices to decide
matters which may be taken care of In
the regular way. Until the decision Of
the council is made known all other
proceedings are premature.