Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-16
OFFICIALS At
WAR; CRIME
THR|VES
Conflict Between Mayor and Bond
Trustees of Jacksonville for
Control Of Police Grows,

JACKSONVILLE. Sept. 15.-Owing
to the continual wrangling between
Mayor Swearingen and the Board of
Bond Trustees. over the control of
the police, and the Frequent Tits be
tween the Mayor and Chief of Police
Roach, the police force has become
demoralized and thieves are taking
advantage of the situation to COM
init depradations.
For some weeks past many reports
of robberies have been received at the
police station. but in almost every in
stance the thieves have escaped un-
caught
Strong pressure is now being
brought to bear upon members of City
Council by enemies Of the Mayor to
induce them to rescind ordinance L.
l04, under which the Mayor is making
his battle for the control Of the police
department. This would leave him
UoWerless
War on Police Chief.
While no member of the City Coun-
ell or the Board of Bond Trustees will
give out anything for publication. ad-
herents of the bond trustees declare
that Swearingen weakened himself
yesterday when he carried his war
upon Chief of Police Frederick G..
Roach to Captain Harry Han
In his efforts to ignore Roach, who
continues at his post, despite his sus-
pension by the Mayor, the Mayor has
been issuing his orders to Hall, and it
has been generally conceded that if
Hall would accept. the Mayor would
appoint him chief. Hall is now out Of
the running as far as Swearingen is
concerned, however, because he join
ed with Roach in declining to be die
tated to by Swearingen relative to the
treatment by the police officials Of
Policemen Clyde Dawson and r. W.
Willis, whom Swearingen has rein
stated. This quarrel has left the
Mayor in the position where there is
no reasonable officer on the force
upon whom he can rely TO carry out
his orders.
Hall. who is a thirty second degree
Mason and popular with all classes of
people in Jacksonville, regardless Of
political affiliations. had, until a few
days ago, managed to keep out of any
open rupture with Mayor Swearingen,
but now. it is said. his name is writ
ten in capital letters on the Mayors
blacklist.
To Define Powers.
Persons who have no particular in
terest in the police controversy and
are Indifferent as TO whether the
Mayor or teh trustees control. so long
as public safety is conserved, are de
handing that something be done at
once to define the powers of the
Mayor and prevent further conflicts
Of authority
Swearingen still appears to have a
prcponderance Of popular support in
his fight. as there is a growing SEN
timent against the continuation in
power OF the board The constant
wrangling at the police station, how
ever. between the chief and the Mayor
has become wearisome and the feel
ing is general that the quarrel is in
juriug the city.
In view Of the fact that the ques-
ton Of authority to control the po-
lice force was not settled when the
Mayor recently brought an injunc-
ton suit in the Circuit Court to have
board members restrained from inter
ferng with his prerogatves, no re
lief is looked for from the courts until
the Supreme Court of Florida decides
on the merits Of Swearngen's appeal
from the decision Of Judge Gibbs. Of
the lower court, that he had no juris-
diction in the matter.
COlINTRv q IR ENR GADcHEN