Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-01


BROATCH AND ms OUTLAW METHODS.
Whenever William j. Broatch has &C.
cupied public office he has been a law
unto himself. His outlaw methods as a
member of the present fire and police
commission are in keeping with his law
less methods ON the Russell Churchill
police commission, when he prostituted
his powers to selfish political ends. The
latest performances of this political
highwayman are absolutely indefensible.
Ten days ago Broatch ordered the
chief of police to serve notice on twelve
saloon keepers that patroniZe the Metz
Brewing company that he would have
their licenses revoked if they did not
close their resorts Saturday night and
keep them closed until the following
Monday morning. While these twelve
saloons were held to q strict observance
Of the Sunday closing provisions of the
Slocumb law, all the other saloons in the
city were allowed to run open without
let or hindrance.
Last Saturday another edict was is
sued by Broatch in the name of the po-
lice commission directing the chief Of
police to enforce the. Sunday closing law
against ten saloons that had been al
lowed to run open the previous Sunday
and to notify the keepers of the saloons
that had been closed the previous Sun
day that they were at liberty to do bus
mess without molestation last Sunday.
In other words, Buccaneer Broatch or
dered the police to grant in~dulgences to
rorized on the previous Sunday and to
swing the police club over the heads of
ten other saloon keepers who are sus-
pected Of political disaffection.
The question that presents itself is,
Where does Broatch or n other police
commissioner, or the entire police board,
get authority to serve notice through
police officers IN law violators that they
will not be molested? What right has
Broatch to use the police as instruments
Of political biackmail? Is it not about
time for the law authorities of this COM
munity to enforce the provisions of the
statute that makes it a misdemeanor
and penal offense for anybody either
verbally or in writing, by himself or by
an agent, to threaten to do any injury
to the person or property of another, or
to compel the person so threatened to do
any act against his will2
Aside from the palpable violation of
the law defining and prohibiting black
mail, the urs of Broatch is a usurpa-
ton of power that would not be toler-
ated in any other community. The law
creating the fire and police board does
not contemplate that the police commits
sion shall exercise functions outside of
its legitimate sphere, which relates
solely to the appointment, removal, gov
eminent and discipline of the officers
and members Of the fire and police de-
lartments. Nowhere does the charter
authorize the police board or any mem
Der of that body to order the opening or
closing of saloons or in any way to in
terfere with any legitimate business for
which a license has been granted. If
the saloon keepers violate the law
charges can be preferred against the
keepers before the police court and upon
conviction the police commission is en-
powered to revoke the license. The DO
lice court alone has a right to impose
other penalties.
1t is not the prerogative OF the police
commission to give personal orders to
policemen or to instruct them against
impartial law enforcement Unless the
commission disavows the course pursued
by Mr.. Broatch there will be no other
alternative than a resort to the courts
to compel it to remain within the bounds
prescribed by law or a formal present.
ment of charges to Governor Mickey,
who is empowered and required to de.
pose any member of the police commits.
sion upon proof that he has been guilty
Of a misdemeanor in office.
Judge Ryan will have no difficulty IN
producing sufficient testimony to prove
that the constitutional amendment ex.