The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-28
COPELAND WON'T
 ANSWER QUESTION Will Chief Wier's Authority Be
 Restored ? TWO OFFICERS REINSTATED Many Rumors as to the Outcome of Commissions Session Tuesday.
 Some Terse Expressions
 On the Situation.
TWO OFFICERS REINSTATED

The first act of the police commission of which Hal J. Copeland is chairman, after it regained power, was to ignore every action of the other commission, order Acting Chief J. S. Johnson to take charge of the department, to reinstate Policemen Hyatt and Hood, and to place Officer Perkerson temporarily in the posi- tion of captain as Vacated by Captain Johnson.
 Chairman Hal J. Copeland apepared at headquarters yesterday morning and gave these orders, which were immediately carried out, Hyatt and Hood were the two men discharged by the other com mission on the charge of disorderly con- duct
 Chairman Copeland has also issued a call for meeting of the commission next Tuesday night for the purpose of trying Chief Wier, who is now suspended in- definitely, charged with insubordination When asked last night the chairman said it was impossible to tell who would be chief after next week. Asked whether ly refused to be quoted.
 Rumors Are Rife.
 Captain Johnson when seen yesterday afternoon said: "I am obeying the orders of the commission, as there Is no other course for me to pursue That is now the commanding body and has the right to direct me-" w
 Chief Wier was cheerful, appearing on the streets in his citizens clothes.
 Meanwhile there is considerable specu- lation over the probable chief Two com mlssioners are out of the city, and 1t Is impossible to find from the others what the action Tuesday night will be. The rumors of the election of Detective Bode- ker and the dismissal of Chief Wier are rife. However, many believe that the man who was elected to the office by the vote of the people will be retained.
 The subject was the most interesting In circulation on the streets yesterday. Many seemed to be puzzled over whether Chief Wier had really been guilty of ln- subordination in the first place. City At torney b. D. Smith said: "ln his di- lemma, created by ,the conflict between the old and new commissions, the chief called upon me and asked me what I thought he should do. l, as required by tHc city COue, dQVlSeu nm. My aQVlce was that, while in my judgment the vali- dfty of the new commission act was more than doubtful, he, in my Judgment, ought not to take upon himself the burden of construing the constitutionality of laws passed by the legislature, but should fol- low the law as it appeared by the latest act of the legislature until this act was declared by the courts to be unconstitu- ional"
 Some Terse Statements.
 James Bowron said: No one knew who was in authority, and in my opinion Chief Wier dida exactly as an officer should. l would regret very much to see anyone take a partisan advantage of his action." It was the opinion of Lee c. Bradley that it was Chief Wier's duty to obey the law, and not to presume it's unconstitutionalty.
 Representative Urquhart said: 'T don't see how he could have done otherwise. The legislature enacted the law and it was his duty to enforce il"
 J. M. Caldwell said: Chief Wier was acting under the advice of the city at torney and is not guilty of insubordina- tion." Alderman Harry Jones said: "The same people who elected the commission elected Chief Wier."
 Attorney l.! K. Campbell said: 'I don't think 1t is the duty of the men appointed to execute the law to decide it's constitu- tionality. It is his duty to enforce it until 1t is declared unconstitutional"