The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-09-08
Secretary Buckmaster Of the Po-
lice and Fire Commission
Resigns His Office.
GoRMAN MUST SIGN ORDERS
Attorney Buckmaster Fails to Get Ac-
ton from the Mayor and Refuses to
Enbarass Work of Commission.

Late this afternoon A. E. Buckmas-
ter sent to the city council his resig-
nation Of the office of police and fire
commission of the city and the long
fight between the mayor and the COM
mission is now at an end. 1t is more
than probable that the council will
accept the resignation as the members
are not willing to have the work of
the commission interfered with>by
the peevish fight that has been wagedl
between the two parties. Mayor Cor
man is to have his own way IN regard
to the commission and he will be
given the chance to make the COM
mission political body by naming
his choice to succeed Mr.. Buckmaster.
The end of the long fight was de-
clded upon after a meeting of the
Commission on Saturday evening at
which time Mr.. Buckmaster told the
members of the commission that he
was not willing to longer interfere
with the work of the commission by
keeping up fight for the position.
Mayor German has made it possible
for the work of the commission to be
nullified by his refusing to sign orders
for the pay of the men appointed by
the commissioner, and in this way
he has managed to win his
point and Mr.. Buckmaster will retire.
In retiring Mr.. Buckmaster has
sent scathing rebuke to the mayor
through the medium of the council.
Since the fight started Mr.. Buckmas-
ter has urged the mayor to start an
action in the courts to GUST him from
the Office, but the mayor has refused
to do this and instead of proving his
arguments he has INDUCED in the
more boyish plan of holding up the
pay of police and fremen to force Mr..
Buckmaster to give up his Office.
The members of the commission for
a time considering plan of all resign
ing but later, at the request of Mr..
Buckmaster, the members of the COM
mission decided to remain in Office
and make an effort to carry out the
plans of non-partisan police and fire
commission. 1t is probable that the
mayor will insist on the council ac-
cepting the appointments of Mr.. Nicol1
to the ranks of the commission, but
there is some doubt as to whether or
not the council would now approve
the appointee of the mayor, and it is
also possible that the commission
would not receive Mr.. Nico11 even
with Mr.. Buckmaster out of the way.
Some time ago, at the onset of the
fight, Mr.. German stated that he
would sign the orders of the men now
working for the city when Buckmas-
ter retired from office, and in his letter
of resignation Mr.. Buckmaster de-
mands that Mayor German at once
make good this promise and see to it
that the men on the two forces are
paid for the services which they have
rendered.
The retirement of Mr.. Buckmaster
from the commission is greatly to be
regretted. Since the organization of
the commission he has served in the
capacity of secretary, and he has been
one of the most active members of the
commission, AT the time of the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Nico11 the commits
sion refused to accept him as mem
Der.
In retiring from the commission,
Mr.. Buckmaster is in no way admit
ting defeat, but he simply took this
action in order to make it possible for
the men employed, while he was sec
rotary of the commission, to secure
their money.