The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-01
WARD AND PARKER
 REPLY VIGOROUSLY
Officials Come to Defense of
 Police Department
CHIEF OBENNG ORDERS
Mayor Believes People Tired of Aeita- ton About Red Light District. Chairman Parker Refers to
 Commissioner Brown.

l Mayor Ward yesterday gave out a die tated statement in reply to the criticisms of Chief Wier made by the committee of citizens of the Seventh ward. in which he stated that the chief was simply car rying out orders issued him by officials higher in authority.
 Thomas F. Parker, chairman of the po- lice commission. dictated a statement last night in answer to the accusation made against the police department by Police Commissioner Lucien c. Brown l The publication of the statement of Chairman Tomppert of the citizens com mittee of the Seventh ward, wherein 1t was said that charges would be pre- ferred against Chief Wier. followed by the serious accusations against the police de- partment by Commissioner Brown, creat- ed comment in the city yesterday, es- pecally in police circles.
 Mayor Wards Statement.
 Mayor Ward was found at his desk in the city hall yesterday. having just re- turned from a trip to Franklin, Tenn. Asked for statement concerning the ac- l cusations against Chief Wier, Mayor Ward said:
 "The people I believe are thoroughly tired of the agitation three or four men are keeping up about a so-called 'red 1 light" district.
 | What their reasons are no one seems to know.
 1 A change of any kind in the present character of the neighborhood in question would be an improvement and should have l their support as good citizens.
 At any rate they should not be con l tlnually trying to put Chief Wier in a false attitude before the people by mak- Ing frivilous charges against him. Chier Wier is simply carrying out instructions given him by those higher In author ity
 Furthermore, those In authority are working for the good of all parts of the city of Birmingham, and to the injury of no part of it.''
 Chairman Parker's Reply.
 Thomas F. Parker. chairman of the po- lice commission in reply to the charges made by Commissioner Brown made the following statement:
 q seriously object to appearing before the public in any capacity. especially in a newspaper Of this the public of Bir- mingham is aware.
 | "For the past ten years I have been connected with the city in an official i way. either as an alderman or member of the police commission. and have never appeared in the press as 'hot air mer- chant I have tried to do my duty as I have seen it for the benefit of the whole people, without fear or favor regard less of the consequences.
 "As far as the views of Commissioner Brown are concerned regarding the po- lice depar tment, he Is at perfect liberty to air them through the columns of a newspaper or elsewhere. This Is his in- dividual right. l desire to state that an inspection of the minutes of the police commission will show that Commissioner Brown has never presented or offered a resolution for the betterment of the de- partment that has not been concurred in by majority of the commission. Previous to the election of Commission CT Brown, harmony and good will pre- vailed among the members and the police department. Since he became a member of the commission naught but discord and discontent have prevailed not only among the members of the commission, but the police department as well. l make this assertion and l believe ma jority of the commission will substantiate my remarks. My individual opinion is that such state of affairs will continue as long as Mr. Brown is a member of the commission.
 A Good Department. For three years l have been chairman of the commission. It has been my sole aim and desire to better the police de- pertinent in every way. l refer the public to Chief Wier to my administration of affairs. I have sanctioned every move he has made for improvement and will continue to Sdo so, regardless of some persons statement.
 Under present conditions as a whole think Birmingham has department that has no equal.
 AS far as l am individually concerned am ready and willing to face any and all accusations of whatsoever character that might be brought In this connection desire to explain by stating that what ever charges that might be made. either directly or indirectly, must be in the open. want those who make accusations to call things by the proper name. without evasion of any kind. want to make the n1attnr c1ea rer hv ga vir,p that fhoSa Who