The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-21
NEW COMMISSION
 GIVES UP FIGHT
Wier Will Probably Be Re-
 tained As Chief
NEW CODES PROVISIONS
Commissioner Tom Parker Says He Will Use His Influence on the Old Commission To See Prohibit
 tion Enforced Strictly.

The Police Commission of which Hal J. Copeland is chairman has won and within few days the other body will De formally busted. This is admitted by all concerned since the supreme court decision has been made public.
 The officers who have won out in the fight have gained control of the police department for one year and five months Under the municipal code in May. 1909, the form of police govern ment over which they are victorious. composed of a mayor and two com missioners, will supplant them.
 The campaign for new commissioners will begin very soon, as the primary may be held in June. Section of the municipal code says, "Officers elected before the passage of this act whose terms shall not have expired on the first Monday in October, 1908, shall hold office until tn cir terms expire in the provisions of the law under which they were elected. except as herein pro- vided.'
 Further down this is qualified by the following clause, "Provided, however, the term of no officer of the city hold ing office on the first day of January. 1908, shall in no event extend beyond the term of the mayor holding office at said time, except as herein provided"
 The only provisions of the code with reference to the election of commits sioners is, At the next regular elec- tion held for city officers there shall be elected two commissioners, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of four years"
 The term of Mayor Ward expires in May, 1909, and thereupon the comms- sion provided by the code will take its office. This will cut down the term of the commissioners elected this year to about two years instead of four.
 No Radical Changes Probable.
 With only a short term yet to serve it is not probable that the commission will make any radical change in the department. It seemed almost the unanimous opinion of citizens yester- day that the same chief and commits stoned officers should be retained Like J. D. Collins, they think discord at this time would be very bad move. In fact some do not believe the people would stand for it.
 While the commissioners will not state positively it is understood that Chief Wier will continue in the ofhce to which he was elected. He will! no doubt be tried for insub ordination, but inasmuch as he was acting on the ad- nf pit af ha twill hardly be sustained.
 5 Will Hold No More Meetings.
 Former Commissioner John B. Weak ley came to the conclusion yesterday that any further litiga tion in the courts would be useless, and that the case was decided in favor of the old body. The commission of which he is chairman will not hold any further meetings, al- though the actions taken by it are considered legal.
 The members of the old commission have not had even a preliminary meeting nor have they given the matter serious individual contemplation.
 Although gossip has already placed T. C.. Mcdonald in the light of a pros pective candidate. it is understood he has not spoken to any member of the old commission relative to his reported de- sire to be chosen chief Captain Me- Donald saw Hal J. Copeland, chairman of the old commission, yesterday morning but other than congratulating him on his victory in the supreme court, had noth- ing to say. Thomas F. Parker, a mem- Der of the old commission, ventured an opinion last night that Captain Mcdonald was not a candidate.
 Always Voted for Wier.
 When MT. Parker was asked what the old commission intended doing, he stated that he could not tell, for the simple req son that that body had not as yet been restored to power. MT. Parker has been police commissioner for five or six years. and in every election he has cast his ballot for Chief Wier
 You may publish if you care to-" said Mir Parker, in the course of general conversation, that with me Chief Wier stands better than do the members of the created commission. which tempora- rily busted us. I mean by this statement that Chief Wier stands a better chance of getting my vote if he remains quiet than if he endeavors to get members of the new commission to state terms. or dictate to us. While not stating for whom I will vote, most assuredly will not vote for Chief wier if he is instru- mental in having MT. Weakley or any other instruct us what to do"
 MT. Parker had heard the report that member of the new commission had stated that if the old commission elected another man chief than Chief Wier the supreme court would be again re- sorted to.
 There is one thing on which I am determined" continued MT Parker "Jn case the old commission is renstated. I will use my personal influence in enforc- ing prohibition to the letter was not in favor of prohibition and probably will not be in favor if ever the question is again raised. But prohibition Is the law. and I will strive to enforce the law. The people who ushered in prohibition should be made to know just what it is, and just how it will affect the community"
 While Mir Parker made no direct state ment to this effect, from his casual re- marks it was gathered that unless there occurred some drastic change in the present situation, Chief Wier would be again established in office, probably with a reprimand for his alleged insubordina- ton.