The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-04
BAD FOR BUCKLEY.
Judge Skaters Decision a Blow
at the Boss Power.
Republicans Pleased and Democrats Sorely
Depressed - How Chief scannell Cast
Political Boomerang.

The decision of Judge Shafter in over
ruling the demurrer of Frank G. Edwards
and Daniel j. Mahoney is something of a
political bomDshell, and last night it was
the chief topic of conversation among the
politicians.
The Republicans were jubilant over it,
while the Democrats were evidently de-
pressed.
If carried out it will wrest the control Of
the Fire Department from the hands Of
Buckley and his henchmen, and there is
every reason to believe that the Supreme
Court will affirm the decision, and that L.
j. Parsons and j. p. Clark will be allowed
to take their seats. Seventeen years ago
The CALL editOrially gave utterance to the
opinion just rendered by Judge Shafter.
sCANNELL's BOOMERANG.
When majority of the Fire Commission
ers met in December, 1873, and ousted +. E.
r. Whitney as Chief Engineer and elected
David Scannell in his stead, the former de-
clned to vacate. as the regular board had
not met. On the following day the old
board met, but the newly ele cted members
Gordon E. SloSs, now of the Board OF
Equalization William Ford, afterward Tax
Collector, and c. b. Edwards, ex-Supervisor
declined to submit their credentials to the
board, which consisted of Z. n. T0rrey. b.
ii. Freeman, Charles r. Story, Sam Rainey
and C. b. Edwards. Hence Whitney de-
cIined to surrender the white hat to Scan-
nell, and the latter entered suit to GUST
Whitney from office.
The case was tried in the Fifteenth Dis
trict Court, Judge S. III. Dwineile, and ex-
tended over three months. In the mean
time Scannell went to SACRAMENTO, had
bill iobbIed through the Legislature and
signed by the Governor to the effect that in
a contest for Office the decision of the lower
court should stand until reversed by the
Supreme Court.
The court next day decided in favor of
Scaunell. Ii was undoubtedly the intention
of Whitney aud his followers to hold on for
two years, knowing the slowness of the Su-
preme Court, and as another election would
be held for two Commissioners they hoped
to get i'll and win, thus remaining in power.
But the move Of Scannell wrought their
downfall. His amendment is part of the
CO de to-day and the Commissioners declared
entitled to their seats will take them at
once.
OTHER CHANGES PREDICTED.
The Governor will now, it is claimed, ap-
point Police Commissioners, on the ground
that the power that appointed them has
ceased to exist, and they have held for over
four years.
"There is no evading the fact" said
Chairman Myers of the Republican County
Committee last night, that the decision is
great victory for the Republicans, and
will strengthen them materially In the COM
Ing campaign. In effect it deprves Buckley
of powerful factor of his strength. for the
department has been part of his machine.
He has been the real chief and has dictated
all appointments so as to strengthen his
grip on the political situation. He has
used it on every occasion to further not
only his own ends but that of the Demo-
cratic party, or his wing of it at least.
This, l think, will cripple him to no small
degree
The Democrats are extremely reticent in
regard to the matter, but from their abbre-
waited utterances it is evident that they are
not pleased.