The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-09

1dSt nlgnI meeting oA lne bhiilnB- ham police commission suggested the pa thetic couplet:
 'If I was so soon done for
 T wonder what l was begun for"
 There wasn't much of a meeting. There was, however, no lack of "hot air This was furnished by Thomas F. Parker, the chairman of the commission; Lucien Brown and Ed Warren who. like the girl in the play. "knew but did not under stand" why the meeting wasn't pulled off per schedule.
 Only these three commissioners were present in Chief WeIs' office when the hour for the meeting to begin, o'clock arrived Commissioner Warren arrived at 7:45 and for ten minutes walked up and down, or stood in the city hall corridor unaecompanied by any of his associa- tes on the board. Casabianca, the boy who
 Stood on the burning deck
 "Whence all but him had fed" wasn't a marker to Warren in his lone liness throughout those almost intermin- able ten minutes.
 Had sneaking Motive.
 T have a sneakin notion,' confided Commissioner Warren, that there isn't going to be a meeting here tonight"
 Explain yourself" demanded the by stander peremptorily. Don't you know that a meeting of tn, police commission has been called for tonight? How dare you even intimate that the members of business engagements to interfere with the performance of their public dutiesF' Well, I don't know about that" War ren went on in a half-skeptical tone, Early in the day l thought thered be a meeting all right, but I got telephone message from Sid Jones, one of the com missloners, this afternoon that made me suspicious. Sid called me up on another matter and when he got through talking to me on that matter I said to him:
 Say, Sid, will you be down to the meeting tonight?'
 Why, there isn't going to be a meet ing tonight. said Sid.
 lSH kDliiE tO Dt u ihttilllB lOHlSIl. The deuce, you say Whats the m alter, Sid?'
 " Oh, we'll Sid said. There isn't going to be any meeting. I've got that straight And then" continued Warren, Sid Jones rang off,"
 As Warren finished speaking, Commis- sioner Brown came strlding down the cor ridor, whistling the military air, When Johnny Comes Marching Home.''
 Brown and Warren put their heads together. drew out of their pockets type written manuscript that began with Whereas" and ended with Therefore. Be 1t resolved
 It was reported on high authority that these resolutions related to Commission CT George G. Phillips.
 Parker Appears.
 Brown and Warren hadn't been talking long when Chairman Parker turned the corner and walked toward them. MT. Par ker's countenance wore its usually grave expression. and his manner seemed to say. as 1t frequently does, 'I don't often talk fight, but when it comes along J'm generally ready for it."
 By this time, Chief Wier's room, where fill up with people. Policemen Brown and Veitch, who had been suspended, were there and ready for trial Beside these two men were their witnesses, and not far away were a dozen or more persons who usually attend meetings of the com mission.
 After awaiting few minutes, some one suggested that there were only three commissioners present. and that in the absence of quorum -four commissioners) the meeting would be postponed.
 Whereat Lucien Brown and Ed Warren promptly got in the game.
 Let's wait awhile" they chorused, "till another commissioner comes"
 Couldn't Be Had.
 MT. Parker said it wasn't likely that another would come. Commissioner Fies, Mir. Parker explained, was away off at Atlantic City looking at the moonlight and wondering what the mad, sad waves were saying. Commissioner Donahoe was in Gadsden, visiting sick friend. Com missioner Phillips-well no one said where he was, and Sid Jones was somewhere but not at home.
 Let's send for Sid said Warren.
 Commissioner Brown despatched Police man Elledge, a mounted member of the force, to Commissioner Jones requesting the latter to come if possible to the meet ing
 The clock on the wall showed s:20 and stil no other commissioner came.
 Chairman Parker said there wasn't any use in waiting around there all night. and ay for him he was going home and at tend to some business.
 "It's our duty to remain here," said Commissioner Brown. We demand a meeting Let's wait till Sid Jones comes"
 MT Parker said he was willing to wait a reasonable length of time, but he didn't propose to wait all night.
 Let's walt till 10 o'clock, them said Commissioner Brown.
 q shall do nothing of the kind" said the chairman. "I have nothing to do with these commissioners being here. can't compel them to come here. I can't compel you MT. Brown, to come here. I have jurisdiction only over myself and