The morning call., 1890-11-13
A POLITICAL PUZZLE.
Will Buckley Still Control the
Fire Department?
The Middle Resulting From the Election OF
Fire Commissioner Jackson to the
Board of Supervisors.

1leTe HIS UCtu utNNluPNu WV i'sSS
few DAYS in this city, as result of the late
election, a question of the most peculiar in
terest and one which is likely to have
promi ent bearing upon the local political
situation in the future. 1t is of the utmost
inheritance to each of the two great parties
in the struggle for supremacy, and the
wiseacres of both organizations are assidu-
ously scratching their heads and puzzling
their brains over it without having been
able rs vet to arrive at any satisfactory con-
clusion As 10 the way in which to dispose
of it.
The issue at stake is the control Of the
Fire Department, that most potent instru-
ment in the hands Of the machine pOliti-
clan, and upon The result will depend in a
great measure the next munich al contest.
As is well known the Democracy has for
sixteen years controlled this huge machine,
and that they have used it at all times for
their own advancement is not denied.
Through it they have controlled primaries
and aided in carrying elections, and OF late
years it has been under the almost complete
domination of one man, and that. eX-BoSs
Buckley. BY him it has been used for all it
is worth, and much of his power in politics
has been directly traceable to the men whom
department. This. of course, is a notorious
fact. and scarcely needs to be iterated
further than 10 impress the Importance of
This factor in politics aud to show that with
il once torn from his grasp after the late de-
feat at the polls Buckley's power would be
reduced to a minimum.
AN OBSTACLE DISCOVERED.
When the result Of The vote was announced
i Aieq1 rod iaf
the Buckley contingent had been routed,
horse, foot and dragons, 1t was at once
asserted that the Republicans would have 1t
in their power 10 secure control 0I the de-
paTtment and complete the wreck that had
begun at the polls. A Republican Fire
Commissioner was to succeed Sam Newman,
and Buckley's creatures, who had fattenel
at the publiccrib, were to be turned out 10
struggle with a cold and cruel world, while
as d reward for faithful service Republicans
we're to luXuriate in their places. This
much had been deci!ed upon, and already
were the stalwart rctainers reveling IN the
anticipation of good things 10 come, when
the uneXpected, which IS SAID to always
happen, happened. and cold wind Of I'M
reading disappointment sighed through the
Eden Of their hopes. In other words, they
discovered that they had struck snaS at
the very outset, and this is how it came
about:
JACKsoN's POSITION.
It will be remembered that D. B. Jack
son, who was chosen as Supervisor from the
Second Ward, is now a member OF the fire
Commission and a Republican. That he
cannot act in both capacities there Is nc
doubt, and that he must relinquish one posi-
tion OF the other is equally patent. That
he will not surrunder the seat 10 which he
has been elected in the Board of Supervis-
Urs his friends say may be set down as an
established fact Nothing, therefore, re-
for him n do huf stan down and
out from the Fire Commission, but just
there is where the shoe pincheS; Tor back
Of it stands the possibility of continued
Democratic contlol, and this is what is de-
sired TO be avoided. how 10 prevent 1t 10
one las yet discovered.
If Mr. jackson resigns from the commits
sion, and it is reported that he has already
prepared to do so, the Democratic Board of
Supervisors Will claim the right to name his
successor, and lie, OF course, viii be fol-
would enable Buckley TO retain his grasp
on the department and would defeat the Re
publican plans.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
1t has been suggested that Mr.. jackson
need not resign, but can eYade the matter
by retaining his seat in the commission
until such times as he qualities as a member
of the Beard of Supervisors, when, by his
action in so doing, the other office woud
become vacant and could be filled by the
incoming board.
To prevent this, however, it is intimated
that the Democrats, in view OF the fact that
the vacancy must occur, may anticipate it
by selecting some one to succeed him, and
thus head the Republicans off, To this the
Republicans answer that the opposite party
have not the right to anticipate, as Mr..
jackson might, in the natural course OF
events, die or resign his seat as Supervisor
before qualifying.
Whatever may be the legal aspect of the
case, the fact remains that both parties are
worrying over it. and Sam Rainey is under
stood to have made the boast that the Dem
Ocrats will retain possession of the depart
ment fer two years at least. This, it is said,
is due 10 the fact that he claims that Jack
son will be succeeded by a Buckley man,
and that would give the boss a chance to
make himself felt at the primaries two years
from now.
The matter is being discussed among the
politicians, but as yet no one seems to kno W
how it is likely to end. Mr.. Jackson, who
could probably throw some light on the sub
ject, is confined to his bed with sickness,
while his friends are unable to speak for
him.