The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-07
TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.
New Fire Commissioners Will 60
to Work at Once.
1t Is not Probable That Any Concerted Effort
Will Be Made to Keep Them Out for
the Present at Least.

Evidently the most interesting and i'm
portant local political event that has hap
pened of late is the recent decision of
Judge Shafter. in giving 7. j. Parsons and
Y. Z. Clark their seats in the Fire Commits
sion, to which they were appointed by
Governor Waterman.
1t has set the politicians by the ears, and
members of both the great parties have
discussed-and for that matter are still dis
cuss ing-it in all its phases.
That the gentlemen in question will take
their seats, and that at once, it is positively
asserted, and while they will be in the mi
nority they will have it in their power to
make it extremely lively for their OPP
ponents. There will remain on the COM
mission still, three Democrats who
can outvOte the new members, and
the former. it is safe to presume, will cling
tenaciouSly to their power, but may find
that the Two Republicans will keep them
guessing.
The fact of the matter is that the Fire
Department as at present managed is the
most potent factor in local politics and has
been used by Buckley to strengthen his
own power. All the appointments have
been made to that end, and it is notorious
that the department has been prostituted
into mere political machine. Now, the
Republicans claim. the matter Will be ell
tirely changed. They urge that that while
they will be unable to exercise a controlling
voice they will at least be in a position to
note every move by the Democrats and
spoil many cunningly devised scheme.
DEMOCRATS NOT UNEASY.
Tba tha
TO feel but little uneasiness, although they
confess to having experienced a slight
flutter of excitement when the decision
was first announced. They claim now that
the decision will not affect them at all. So
far as the Fire Commissioners are con-
cerned they urge that being in the majority
they will be able to hold the new members
down in such way that they will be ut
terly powerless to act.
There seems to be no doubt on either
side that the new men Will take their seats
at once; and it is not probable that any eff
fort will be made to prevent It, The law is
clear on the subject, and the Republicans
are thanking Chief Scannell for having
aided them in the fight, unintentionally,
by having secured its passage. AS it now
stands, the decision of the lower court will
hold until reversed by the Supreme Court,
and as ex-senator Dougherty expresses it,
1.-THE Democrats are temporarily in the
soup" Even were the majority of the lat
ter tribunal Democratic, it would be found
difficult to secure an adverse decision before
the end of the campaign. But the Demo-
Gratis have not, they say, even that small
hope, for the Supreme Court is Republican
in its political complexion. 1t is not be-
lieved that it would reverse Judge Shat
ter's decision, even if it were to come up on
the calendar, but would, it is thought, af-
firm it without delay.
is 1T A WATERMAN MOVE?
One peculiar aspect of the case is that the
whole thing looks, to a man up tree, like
a move on the part of Waterman to help
out his own decaying boom. Those who
are not entirely in accord with the Cover
nor on the question of his political aspira-
lions regard the whole thing as having been
gotten up in the latter's interest. To them
it is accepted as a proof of the statement
recently made that the Governor longs for
another term and is doing everything posi-
bic to help his own cause. With his own
men in the Fire Department, it is easy to
see that he would WELD great influence in
local politics. and might be III a position TO
control portion, at least, of the delegation
from San Francisco to the State COnyen-
ton.
Should he decide, as it is claimed he will,
to make a similar raid on the Police Com
mission, his strength will be materially in
creased.