Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-05
NEW TACK on CHEF JONES
Commission Restrained fron PUTTING in
Force Order Of Removal
FORHAt CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST hin
"wednesday Has Been Set for Hearina,
bnt 81 May BE Delayed By jones
GqihE Into Court 20 Test
LeEality OF Commission.

Robert w. Jones is stin chief OF the. fire
department Judge Wheeler Of the dis
trict court 30 held yesterday afternoon and
when It came to a showdown the FIRE and
Police Commission admitted It had erred
ana had been somewhat premature in ap-
pointing Charles NJ. Nichols as head OF the
department. The Fire and Police Commis-
sion took another tack yesterday IN Ste de-
termination to GUST Chief jones and had
charges preferred and fled with Clerk
sapp against Chief Jones. with the pres
snt makeup Of the comrnission and it's
avowed determination to get rid Of Chief
Jones at any cost. there is little question
but that 81 viii finally be successful.
Al the hearing before Judge Wheeler
yesterday afternoon the controversy was
submitted on an agreed statement OF facts
and in an answer flee ~. the commission
and Nicholson both denied any intention
Of interfering with Chief Jones "oA account
Of any action heretofore taken by the
Board Of Fire and Police commissioners. OF
for and on account. or by reason Of any
appointment Of him nicholson as chief
Of the FIRE department previous to this
date"
In the answer It is set forth that the
regulations governing charges and trials OF
ofhcers and members OF the fire depart
ment and that on May 4 written and reri-
fed charges were made and filed against
Chief Jones
In holding against the Fire and Police
Commission in it's appointment Of Nichoi-
son the order does not restrain the COM
rnissiOners from proceeding against Chief.
a.. A.
Charges Against Chief
The charges against Chief Jones were
fled ~ .. P. MeKess6n, a former resident
of this city. who after the transfer Of mis-
interest IN the Union Transfer company
to ". A Southland. removed with his
family to California For several weeks
Mr.. McKesson has been making his home
at the Grand hotel IN this city. The
| charges are eIeven' IN humber and are as
follows:
Guilty Of misconduct, unbecoming an
/ oficer Of said department
/ Has faxed and neglected to perform his
/ duty as such officer.
! Has failed TO properly care for and pro-
teet the property Of The city in his charge
| Has failed to keep the proper and neoes-
! sary discipline in the department.
Has failed and neglected to pay proper
and due respect TO the dignity of his
superior odcers.
Is incompetent to act as FIRE chief
In the management OF his force at the
] Union Transfer company fire he handled
| the hremen IN such a manner that the
buildings were a total loss, when they
/ could have been saved with proper manage
ment Of the forces at his command.
Fails to keep the station buildings and
property clean and in proper condition.
| Does not work In harmony with his su-
per1ors or with the men Under HIS control
| Permits the station buildings to be used
for improper purposes.
Has used disrespectful vile and obscene
languages towards his superior officers.
Hearing Set for wednesday.
In conformity with the rules and regula-
tons adopted by the Fire and Police com
mission. iCty Marshal Richmond yesterday
served upon Fire Chief Jones notice Of the
charges fled against him by o. p. Mckee
son and that the hearing would be held
before the commission "Wednesday morning.
Pending being furnished with suitable
quarters by the city council. the Fire and
! Police comm ssion Is holding it's meetings
in the private once OF Clerk w. F. sapp
/ 1t IL possible that the hearing before the
commission may be delayed. as 1t was
| stated last night that counsel for Chief
Jones would take into. court the question
| Of the legality OF Mayor Macrae's appoint
ments, seeing that the commission is COM
posed Of two democrats and one republican.
while the law provides that Il should con-
| sist, II practicable OF one democrat and
/ two republicans Il is commended that IL
was entirely practicable" for Mayor Mac
rae to have found two responsible citizens.
republican in politics who would have been
willing to serve on the commission.