Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-19

;cuss that matter with the governor on
another occasion.
Mahoney Gets Facetious.
" At o'clock T. ]. Mahoney took the floor
and began with a fAcetious reference to the
range Of Judge McHugh's remarks.
when Judge McHugh and others int
pugn the motives OF the protestants we
+, rise TO remark that we notice they are not
above reproach" began Attorney Mahoney.
you are in the same position" sharply
retorted Commissioner Thomas.
Wen come to that Also rejoined Mr..
Mahoney.
Attorney Mahoney then alluded 10 re-
ported opinions said TO be entertained by
the commissioners regarding public senti-
ment on the Sunday closing matter and an
alleged. prediction on the part Of the
commissioners to maintain liberal inter
probation of the law" to which Commits
sioner Spratlen said the commissioner
might entertain those opinions privately
and yet not consider them as a police
board.
Il have made no charges that the COM
missioners have been servile tools for any
interests" quoth Mahoney but l contend
they have acted with perverted notion OF
their duties and will not charge the com
missioners with anything more serious
the motives Of the board has been that the
members have deemed. It unwise strictly to
enforce the Slocumb law, because they
thought the people wanted a lax enforce
lnent Of that law and they have followed
that policy rs.-.
Or. Miller rose to remark he admitted the
members entertained such ideas person
ally. but not ofiicially. realizing they had
no power TO act in the premises if they
wanted to.
Admitting the police board has discre-
tionary powers Mr.. Mahoney contended 1t
had power to issue orders to the police de-
partment and showed by the boards own
records, which were on exhibit that on
June 1s. 1903. the commissioners ordered
the chief of police to suppress prostitutes
IN certain quarters and on the streets. re-
move various features from saloons and
effect other reforms. which were accom-
pilshed. Mr. Mahoney said the boards own
books had many such orders, showing the
board had and knew II had complete con-
troll over the police department in the mat
ter of law enforcement.
~ s. Merely N Reaaest.
Mr., Broatch-.My. recollection is we mere
~ requested the chief Of police to do those
things.
Mr.. Thomas--while We did those things
we realized We had no, real authority to
back us up should the matter ever be
called in question, but we issued those
orders expediencies
Governor Mickey--when Judge McTIugh
was appointed a commissioner he and /
had conference and he told me the ae-
ton OF the board in those matters was 10
accomplish certain ends and not as a stand
~ - what powers the board had.
Mr.. Mahoney-There tS "A Simple ard
eornmon,sense. view OF this matter Sup
pose the board knew that a gang of thieves
was operating in "a esr1ain part of Oma la
and that the police were not making ar
rests would not then the commissioners
take prompt action and discharge those o.
fcerse or course they would Then. on
that reasoning. there IS no difference fer
policeman to refuse 10, arrest "a man
for picking q mans. pocket thar for hia
to refuse to arrest a man violstmg The
Slocufnb law, The duty OF, the poll aillu
and the commissioners In both instances is
Identical. The verg- authority which
givesIhe board power to discharge the 90
lceman for refusing to arrest ihc nicli-
pocket commands the board TO discharge
the policeman who refuses u arcs. The
violator OF the sIocumb law, The board
knows that nearly every saloon man n
Omaha in violating lie slocunib Law.
Captain Broatch then introduced the ar.
gumeht about enforcing every law to thu
letter, such as the Sunday labor law.
sunday saloons the Issue.
Governor Miekey~.rhe question IS
whether Omaha shall have open saloons or
Sunday and We may wei. meet IN,
issue
Mr.. Mshon4y The Sl,cumb law is .
matter OF state regulation and no one had
powet TO nullify it in Omaha. We con,
cluslvely proved TO the board y1sr ago
that 10 saloonkeepers had violated thai
law and yet would not say the rcart
was br1bed in turning down our protests
az thar time
Then Lee SpratliL Or George /.