Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-19

President Of the Council John Franek
Connie o Brien and Joshua Cohn. three
ssloonksepers will be tried this morning
at O'Clock before the Board Of Fire and
Police commissioners on the charge Of
keeping their saloons open for business
H. days and at times forbidden by the
.aw.
on account Of the prominence Of Franek
and the fact that IL 10 commonly under
stood that the trial Of the three is really
test Of the present police and fire com
rnissioners, a vast amount Of interest at
tsches.
Early Thursday forenoon. Mayor Trainor,
chairman Of the board. sent a letter Of
instruction 20 Chief OF Police John Briggs.
instructing him TO close the saloons OF the
three men under charges. Chief Briggs
Immediately executed the order. In the
mayors letter there was an additional ad-
monition 70 the chief 10 investigate ru-
. Boss concerning the reported open houses
kept BY many salOonksepers OF the city.
Chief Briggs. after having closed the three
saloons In question was called 20 account
by some OF the police commissioners, who
questioned his authority 70 close the places.
The chief In few sentences indicated his
intention 20 obey the orders Of the execu-
tive head OF the board This statement,
while Il auieted for the time any doubt
as 20 the stand taken by the chief did not
interfere with the determination Of Com
missionsrs Ryan and P1vonka to reopen
the saloons.
The three saloons were said to be open
again with an hour after the chief and
the mayor had ordered them closed.
Committee Meeting Held.
Late In the afternoon a committee meet
ing OF the board was held in the private
- al wfa ~ ~
ing appeared 10 be an attempt on the part
Of Ryan and Pivonka TO have the mayor
issue an order 20 the chief TO open the
saloons. Mayor Trainor bluntly refused
10 agree 20 the suggestion OF his eonferes
and Commissioner Ryan, while expressing
a desire TO have the saloons reopened I'M
I'll the trial admitted thai the mayor had
the power 70 keep them closed and said
that II the mayor insisted upon heir stay
ing closed he CRyAn) would cay Amen"
70. the order.
To this Pivonka would By no means
agree and asked that the chief be sum
moned 20 the meeting. Upon the arrival
OF the chief Ptvonka asked why he had
closed the saloons Briggs replied that he
had merely obeyed the orders Of the board
and that he would continue TO do so.
Pivonka asked him whether he considered
the mayor 40 the Board of Fire and
police. Briggs said he considered the
gmayor TO be the chief executive OF the
II board and that he could do nothing but
obey him when he issued orders. Then
u Pivonka asked the mayor II he thought he
Il had done his duty in ordering the places
closed without referring the matter 20 the
fun board. The mayor said yes.
PivOnka Suggests Resignation.
Having satisfied himself as TO the minds
Of the mayor and chief. Pivonka suggested
himself and Ryan resign II the mayor and
Chief Briggs were going to conduct the
affairs of the department in such a man
ner. Ryan said he would not resign and
that he would face anyone who said he was
not straight in the conduct Of police affairs,
He said he had heard as had all the board,
of the Wholesale disregard OF the law By
saloon keepers in the city He knew moth
ing OF the facts any more than the reports
He took It for granted that where there
IS so much smoke. there must be some fire, "
but he blamed the reported lawlsssness ponu
the lack Of sufficient police TO cover the
beats Of the city. He further stated that
he had had some reports about people who
! were going TO put him behind the bars, -
\but he said he was clean" and had nc
fear Of their Vaccinations.
why did they select these three men "
uuerisd the commissioner Because" he
said one was a friend Of Pivonka, and
Connie O'Brien Is his friend. Cohn." hs
said was selected because he represents
the Papal-GeIder Brewing company OF
Warsaw. Ill Ryan claimed that the tight
was made by some local interest who, n.
believed was against him because he had
assisted in the induction OF Popai-Geile
brewing interests into the city,
Complaints Soon 20 BE Filed.
A sation OF the commissioners Il was ad
mitted that fourteen or fifteen complaints
were about TO be filed against the s&looI
men of the town. II is not thought, how,
ever that there viii be more than sever
or eight complaints filed for the present
Just before the meeting adjourned, Mayo
Trainor left his office for . few moments
PivonkG Immediately turned his attention
70 the chief and asked II he absolutely 70
fused 10 obey the orders Of the board
q Briggs responded that he had obeyed tn
orders Of the board and closed the tire
\ saloons. He told the commissioners tina
he would not reopen them. Then Pivonk
told him that its was the boards order
that the saloons be kept open until IN
trial today. Briggs at this junoturs OF IN
prooeedings took q new tack and said
Nvsald open the places n the board 20 OF
dered. In the meantime he went in scare
OF the mayor. who was expected TO call
regular meeting and put the two othe
members on record as having counter
manded his original order.
Ryan Leans Toward Mayer,
Ryan again leaned towards the ruling
OF the mayor and Pivonka said no NOR
when he learned that the chief required q
order in writing.
The case has created much comment o
the streets and sensational development
are looked for ~ any moment II Wa
said by those whe have the prosecution 1
hand that Commissioners Ryan and p
yonka. In view OF the evidence that ha
been gathered. may yet decide 20 FssigT
This was IN the mind OF COMMISSIONS
Ryan when he said early in the afternoo
that the investigation was not dirsets
against the saloonmsn much as again:
himself and PivonkA. whom he said they
wanted TO set Oft the board.
Breaks Several Riba.
Henry VSndeputter OF SsM X street va
injured about the body yesterday atternOo
by q fall IN the Omaha packing hous,
where he Is said to be employed. VAnos