Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-06
SAN FRANCISCO coaRtspoNDEScE.
Especial Correspondence to the Herald.

SAN Francisco, Dec I'd, 1878.
Another week has rolled round, and
/ again start ON yarn for the especial
benefit of the readers of the Los Ange-
les HERALD. Politics are all the rage
just now, but Politics are something
that do not profess to know much
about. However, / can give you two
or three items that will doubtless prove
Of interest. The great absorbing topic
is the resignation of Our Eugene"
known to the world as Senator Cas-
serly; this step of the pet ofthe Demo-
cract has.taken the people somewhat
by surprises There are very few bold
enough to state that they thoroughly
understand the reason for this resigna-
tion. One will tell you that his health
has suffered solmuch of late by his
close attention tohis senatorial duties
that the doctors advised his immediate
resignation. Another will say that
his private duties required his imme-
diate presence; therefore his public
duties must of necessity be dropped.
The eill-natured have also their reasons,
the chief of which is that he is afraid
to meet the charges preferred against
him by the Democratic County Com
mittee; wishing rather to cry out,
"Don't shoot; I'll come down." than
answer to the serious accusations re-
Gently brought up. Be allthese taken
for as much as they are worth; certain
it is that his resignation has fallen
like bombshell upon his admirers.
His successor for the short tenn re-
manning to him, has not yet been de-
cided upon. Ex-Governor Haight has
been very favorably spoken of, but he
has positively declined the honor.
Who the happy man will be, Qwien
s0be. ooe
December First.
Yesterday was the great day ON
which the newly elected city and
county officials took formal possession;
and great has been the change in the
majority of the officers; not as regards
the chiefs, but as regards the subordi-
mates. The new mayor Otis is well
known, and is not altogether an un-
bred man. There is little fear in the
community at large touching his
course; he is for the people, first, last,
and all the time. Great things are ex-
pected from the new Sheriff, McKib-
ben. / can only hope he will not dis
appoint the expectants; he has al
ways been looked upon as safe man
in commercial circles; SO was his pre-
decessor, 'hOnest Jack Adams" as he
was called, when running for Office.
| But who will call him honest Jack
| nosv, after the record he leaves behind
him. The only other serious change
| is the Chief of Police-Pat Crowley
retires into the realms of private life,
and if his successor, Cockerill, proves
| to be half as good o man, he will be
good indeed, and the citizens will not
grOwl. s
Fire Department.
1t is not that love Scannell less,
but San Francisco more-Shakespeare
slightly altered. I do not know how
the Fire Department in Los Angeles
is managed, but ! do hope, for the
safety of the property of your citizens,
it is not run on political principles.
Unfortunately for the Frisco people,
we have one Chief amongst us too
many; one Republican, the other a
Democrat both are good men, and
both have many admirers. Our Fire
Department is bossed by five Fire
Commissioners, when the balance of
power is Republican. Whitney is
Chief, and the Whitney boys have
positions given them in the Depart
ment. When the balance of power is
Democratic, Scannell is Chief, and the
Scannellites obtain the positions.
Miserable to relate, what with resig-
nations, etc., among the heads OF the
concern, the balance of power has
been wobbling very much of late.
First we had one Chief, then we had
another. Balance has wObbled again,
and we are to have Scannell as Chief
now, vice Whitney and all the subOr-
dinates will be changed. This system
is simply disgusting, and which is the
better man, will not pretend to say;
| but these continual alterations tend to
disgust the public, dishearten the
men, and place the fire protecting
power of the city at great disadvan-
tage. At the Bancroft fire the other
night, the way in which Whitney
subdued the flames, was the theme of
admiration of all who saw it. He has
by sheer hard work brought his boys
almost to the acme Of perfection; and
| it does seem great mistake to dis
place him now, purely for political
motives, disorganize the whole, and
| give us the benefit of new men, many
unfit for their positions; such positions
only obtained because of the balance
of power in the Board, and not from
any merit on their part.
Sacramento.
| The new Senate and Assembly mus
tered in full force yesterday. All was
square, and above Board in the for
mer, but in the latter, sharp practice
marked it's opening, and the house
was adjourned iii the face Of storm
of "noes.' This sharp work appears
to have provoked much feeling, the
why and wherefore has yet to be told.
The meagre reports only state the
actual facts, but I suppose the absence
of two or three members, whose votes
were urgently needed, was the cause
of this action on the part of the minor
ity. But enough Of politics, let me
launch out on social matters. First
and foremost, l must touch on the