The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-02
CHIEF WEIR |S IN
 MIDDLE OF BAD FIX Old Commission Wants Him to
 Answer Questions COPELAND IS AGGRESSIVE Says Something Will Be Doing Soon. Old Commission Intends to Main
 tain Its Rights In the
 Courts.
COPELAND IS AGGRESSIVE

Courts.
 The old police commission is addressing letters to Chief of Police Wier in an at tempt to prove him guilty of insubordina- ton. As soon as the chief denies their right to give him orders he will be sus- pended and another chief appointed in his place.
 Something will be doing this week" were the words of Chairman Hal J. Cope land. We will have no special meeting of the board, but in the next few days we will act, and that promptly. l have the authority. as chairman. to suspend an officer at any time, and to appoint one to act in his place. The trial and elec- ton of another chief would come later. '
 As all the policemen and detectives have taken the oath of office under the new commission 1t is not thought that any of them would accept the appointment under the old one They are all loyal to Chief Wier and will follow his lead. A chief might be appointed from the out side who would only bear the title until the courts decision is rendered
 Chief Wier, 1t seems, so carefully worded his reply to MT. Copeland's first letter that there could be found no in in it, therefore. yesterday morning MT Copeland addressed another to him, which pins him down to more specific answer.
 MT. Copeland says he has no idea of establishing a dual police force. "Chief Wier and all the officers are my friends In case the chief makes the mistake of adopting the other commission l wiR not hold the officers responsible, nor will any of them be discharged. We intend, how ever, to fight this matter out to the fnish.'
 Copelands Last Letter.
 Here is the wording of the last letter: w. E. Wier. Chief of Police, City
 Dear Sir-I am just in receipt of your letter of this date in reply to mine of the 3oth ult It seems that did not make myself clear to you At the time l wrote you I had received a copy of City Attor- ney Smiths letter to you and was fully advised as to his opinion on the subject
  position in the matter, and not rumors or hearsay, and not the advice of the city attorney to you. l think l am at least due answers from you to my ques- tions, none of which your letter answered simply want to know from you the fol- lowing information:
 Did you take the oath required and demanded by the commission appointed by the governor under the act approved March T. 1907, referred to you in your letter, and did you issue the order to Lieutenant Hagood for him and the patrolmen to appear at the Mayors office and take the same oath, which was re- ferred to in my letter to you, and do you now recognize or refuse to recognize the police commission of which l am chair man. and do you decline to receive from and carry out the orders of said com mission?
 q think a frank and candid reply to the above is due to me and the comfnls- sion of which l am chairman. yours truly, HAL J. CoIELAND'
 Yesterday morning Chief Wier received the first letter from MT. Copeland. and made the reply, following 1t, which MT. Copeland says does not answer his ques- ton. The chief has not yet answered the last letter received.
 MT. Copeiands First Letter.
 Birmingham, Ala, September 50. "W. E. Wier Chief of Police
 "Dear Sir:-I am advised that you, as chief of police of Birmingham, have rec ognized the alleged commission recently appointed by the governor, and have ex- pressed your intentions to receive and execute the orders and instructions or said alleged commission, of which his honor. George B. Ward, assumes to act as chairman, and have taken the oath prescribed and required by said commits sion. I note also that you have issued an order or instructions for Lieutenant Hagood and all patrolmen who have not vet taken oath under the new police com mission to come to the Mayors office Monday morning and be sworn.
 .'In order that there may be no mis- between you and the com mission of which l am chairman, l wish now to ask you if l am correctly in formed on the above matters, and l de- sire to know from you personally whether or not you decline to recognize and carry out the orders and instructions of the police commission of which l am chair man, and do you now refuse to recognize, obey and carry out the orders and instruc- tions of said commission of which I am CndlTfHdnf
 This information Is sought solely for the purpose of ascertaining correctly the position which you have assumed in this matter, and that there may be no mis- take or misunderstanding as to your po- sition between you and the commission of which I am chairman, A prompt re- ply will be appreciated. Yours very truly,
 HAL J. COPELAND, Chairman"
 Chief Wler's Reply.
 Birmingham, October 1. Hon. II. J. Copeland, Birmingham.
 Dear Sir:-I have received your letter of September 30. and in reply thereto have to say that l am advised that the legislature of Alabama at it's recent ses- sion passed an act to establish police in cities of 5000 population or more fin counties of 125,000 of popula- tion and to define their terms of office duties and powers. This act was approved by the governor on March T. 1907; 1t pro- vdes that the Mayor and two other com missioners, to be appointed by the gov ernor, shall constitute the police com mission, and that the commission thus GRINDING