The morning call., 1891-02-06
A HURRIED CAUCUS.
The Fight for Control of the
Fire Department.
Mayor Sanderson and the Supervisors Hold a
Conference-A Decision in Favor of the
Local Bill-A Committee.

hurry OF excitement that well-nigh ur-
set both the Mayors Office and the Super
VISITS departments swept over portion of
the lily Hall yesterday. and if rum0r mis-
taxes not the result of its mission will be
promptly felt in the legislative halls of Sac
lalliento before the setting of another sun.
II was noticed about midway in the after
noon that there were an unusual number of
supervisors floating around the hall, and as
there was no apparent occasion for their
presence the wherefore was most naturally
asked. 1t took but few words to explain
tHat the Mayor had called a special meeting
OIL the board in his Office for o'clock.
AT the hour mentioned the Supervisors
All assembled in the reception-room adioin-
ing the Mayors private office, where that
orhclal was found in close and earnest con-
YerSatlon with the well-known attorney
Evan 5. Pillsbury.
THEY HOLD CAUCUS.
AS the Supervisors filed i'll the Mayor
opened the door of his private office and
ushered them in. announcing to the repre-
sentatives of the press who had joined the
gathering that the meeting would be phi
Vate and If there was anything the public
mad any business to know they would be so
1t turned out to be not an official meeting
OF the Board of Supervisors, but a sort of
caucus called by the Mayor to discuss what
may prove very interesting feature OF the
city government before the present admin
lstratiOn is much older. To commence at
the beginning it will be necessary to 60 back
little way.
AS all interested In legislative matters are
doubtless aware, there have been introduced
IN the present Legislature two bills three,
ID lact but only two that are particularly
noteworthy aiming to regulate the Fire De-
paitment of San Francisco. One seeks to
place the appointment of the five Commits
sloners in the hands of the Governor. The
other provides that three of them shall be
appointed by the Board of Supervisors, one
by Tie Treasurer and one by the Mayor.
THE TRUE INwARDNEss.
So far as the general reader is aware, or
can discover by the title, they are both good
DIS and introduced in the interest OF honest
government. But to the politician who
reads between the lines very different state
Oh affairs Is revealed, and little closer
scrunlty diScloses in all his ugly nakedness
the dark-hued descendant OF Ham in the
woodpile.
1t has long since become an open secret,
disclosed more cOnspicuously in the Regis
trars fight in San Francisco than in any
other place, that the would-be Republican
bosses are anything but harmonious. The
macy is now waging between Colonel Dan
Burns and his followers and the more local
faction generated by Phil Crimmins and
Martin Kelly.
Tracing The bill first mentioned to its
origin, 1t appears that it was framed by and
under the advice and instruction of Colonel
Burns. 1t would give the appointment of
the FIRE Commissioners to the Governor.
NO great capacity for reasoning is necessary
TO trace the inevitable sequence. The Fire
n tayi1l ha Nv, a,,A
not DC OF Crlmmins-kelly parentage either
THE LITTLE BOSSES.
On the other hand, tracing the second bill
mentioned to its origin disclOses that it was
framed by E. S. Pillsbury under the advice
and instruction of MessrS. Crimmins and
Kelly, with the approval of the present ad-
minlstraton in this city. If it becomes a
law, the Fire Commissioners will not be ap-
pointed by the Governor. As in the other
case, however, the department will expert
ence new birth, but it will not be of
Colonel Burns parentage.
This brings the combination of cirum-
stances to a focus. Yesterday word was re-
ceived by Mr.. PillsbIry and the Mayor di-
rect from Sacramento that the local bill was
in danger, and that the forces must rally.
Mr. Pills bury went to the Mayors office,
and in less time than it takes to tell it, mes
sengers had been dis patched in every direc-
ton TO summon thither the CITY solCns.
ALL ON DECK.
They sponded-cvery one. Not know
ing just what tinle had been appointed for
the conference they assembled early, but as
the time had been fixed late two OF Them
Ebert and Evans, found they could not
remain and withdrew
The discussion waXed exceeding hot.
Great pillows of Indignation rolled and
tossed over the excited legislators The
attorney who framed the bill painted in
pictures of flames the fatality that would
follow the defeat of his bill. 1t would
throw the whole Fire Department into the
hands of Burns. who would use it as his late
unscrupul lus predecessor, Christopher
Buckley, had done to manipulate and con-
troll both municipal and State elections. He
had already gained the Registrars office.
With the additional aid cf the Fire Depart
could stay his might. The city would awake
to the shocking discovery that it had thrown
off a SERPENT only to become the helpless
victim Of an octopus. 1t must not be-
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
The earDestness and enthusiasm of the
attorney was shared every whit by the
Mayor and the Supervisors, and after con-
Stunning an hour planning a campaign the
meeting dispersed, and the city fathers de-
parted in pairs and groups.
The Mayor called out as they were leav-
ing the room that he had appointed Super
yisOrS Burling, jackson and Wilkinson,
which was explained by the parties to the
questioning reporters to mean that they had
been constituted committee to &c to Sacra-
mento at once and do all in their power
toward securing the passage of Senate Bill
1874. They will probably leave this morn
ing
GTTI AnnDG