The morning call., 1891-03-04
AUDITOR SMILEY.
He Is Elected to Succeed the Late
David Stern.
Wirepulling for the Several Candidates-A
Caucus Held-The Unanimous Choice
of the Supervisors.

The death of Auditor Stern was the signal
for a scramble among the politicians yester
day, and certain portions Of the new City
Hall have not seen so much life and interest
since the late change Of administration.
The chief point Of interest was the Super
visors' apartments, because with the board
lay the power of appointing MIR. Stern's
successor. At first there was disposition
not to be over hasty about making an ap-
pointment, but as to-day is the usual time for
signing all the warrants of the city govern
ment, and it was found, upon looking mp the
law that every function of the Auditors
Office ceases with his death and until his
successor is appointed, the appointment
seemed necessary.
No matter which way one turned he met
the anxious inquiry, who's the lucky
man ?" Rumor had it that cxWarden John
McComb was in the race, also ex-Super-
visor ). S. Morton and ex-Registrar Thomas
}. l.. Smiley, but no other names were
heard on the outside. OF the three named
there was the very general sentiment that
| Mr.. Smiley stood the best chance. Me-
| Combs name seemed to bob up out Of force
of habit, while the impulsiye expression of
| some personal friend was responsible for the
use of MOTTon's name.
| POLITICIANS ARRIVE.
! Early in the afternoon the waiting-rooms
Of the Clerks office began to fill with pot
| house politicians and small-fry bosses
| Foremost among them was Martin Kelly.
| little later John McCord, who has aspired to
wear his brother Jim's political brogans
| since the death of the latter. darkened the
| horizon of the room; then Nike Smith, 9TH
erwise known as "Whiskers," whose polltl-
| cal ambition ia inverSely prop0rtlonate 10
| his political influence. a score or more OF
| lesser satellites followed until the room pre-
| scented the scene of a ward meeting.
| Martin Kelly left the impression with the
unitiated of being the most harmless and
! disinterested person present The FIRE Com
! nittee was in session during the gathering
| of the hosts, and at all,such meetings 1t Is
the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to attend
| the door. The Sergeant Is not acquainted
with the dull, lam b-like countenance OF the
! would-be leader, and suppostng him to be
some rustic from Bernal Heights, who had
come to ask the committee for an extra
| hydrant in his "dceStrick," asked him If he
| wanted to see the committee.
The dealer in political junk replied that
he had filed no petition, but wanted to see
! the committee personally
The Sergeant so reported.
HE Is sNUBBED.
Chairman Coffee happened to get a glimpse
OF the caller through the crack in the door,
and with significant wink at the other
members of the committee, told the Ser
| geant to have him wait awhile.
The instant the committee adjourned,
Martin was on hand AID plotted all the
members into the ante-rooT, where a long
and earnest consultation took place.
1t was then learned that another name
| was in the race for the Authorship. Mr..
| Kelly was working for George Carnes, son
If the Supervisor from the Seventh Ward,
and doing his very utmost to coerce the Su-
| perVisOrS into appointing him.
A caucus of the board had been called for
| $3.50 O'clock, and in the interim Mr.. Kelly
| buttOn-hOled every Supervisor that ap-
| peared, and presently emerged from the
! dark room with self-satiStied look on his
! face.
Dr. Washington Aver was little late He
aid not make his appearance till after the
| caucus had assembled. Martin grabbed him
| and they disappeared. but it took so long to
convert him that the caucus adjourned be-
fore he had chance to participate at all in
| its deliberations.
A STORMY CAUCUS.
1t was a question whether he was con-
! verified or not by the persistent small boss
It is even limited that, finding him obdurate
| ard set in his determination to vote for
somebody else. his interviewer purposelv
detained him so that he might not influence
/ the caucus.
The caucus was stormy one. That
| Kelly had made some impression was very
soon apparent. Young Carnes' name was
| proposed. and his champions were out
| spoken and determined.
| Ebert however, proposed Smiley'S name,
| made strong appeal In ms behalt ana
! carried the hour. The caucus decided in
| favor of Mr.. Smiley.
Kelly waited with noticeable anxiety on
! the outside, and as soon as he learned the
turn affairs had taken his face turned a
! dark crimson purple with rage. He inter-
/ preted the action of the caucus as an init
nation that he is only burr on the Repub-
| lican cows tail after all
Very little was said. The Supervisors
| held whispered consultations among them
| selves and with frienGs; the ward-strikers
/ Looked blankly at their leader and all drifted
slowly out of the hall.
MUCH INTEREST MANIFESTED.
At the meeting of the board in the even
ing the gallery, lobby and all the available
seating capacity were crowded to the edge.
There has net been such large attendance
since the first night or two OF the present
administration, and all were waiting with
much anxiety the action OF the board IN
naming Auditor Stern's successor.
Curiously enough Martin Kelly was not
present OF at least not conspicuous. nor al d
his henchmen form any considerable part OF
| the large gathering.
When the necessary business Of the board
was disposed of and fitting respect had been
shown Auditor Stern, Supervisor Ebert
called attention to the peculiar emergency
that made it almost necessary for the board
to proceed at once to NIL the vacant oflce
He did not want 10 lay the board liable to
! the change of indecent haste in such pro-
ceeding. but lie felt confident that when the
public understood matters they would not
so regard it. With ;he death of the Auditor
ceases every function of his office. Had it
occurred at any other time of the month
| such apparently unseemly haste would not
be called for
SMILEY NOMINATED
Snow. Mr.. Chairman" lie continued. 81
wish to place in nomination a man with
whom we are all familiar, ana WHO we know
| is in all respects capable to discharge the
duties of that responsible office. de Is 9
man that stands as high in the respect OF
the public as any one in this city, man
who has earned and is fully entitled to the
honor the office will DestOw, and one am
satisfied the people would select with an
overwhelming expression if it could be left
to them now. l take great pleasure In nomi-
mating Thomas J. l.. Smiley"
Supervisor Jackson quickly seconded the
nomination.
Are there any further nomi1atons?"
asked the Mayor.
Move the nominations be declared
closed" said Eltert.
ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Mayor appointed Supervisors Bur
ling and Hunt as tellers, and the ballots
they collected showed tn ut Mr. Smiley had
been elected unanimously.
When the Mayor announced the result the
lobby and gallery fairly resounded with
cheers.
After the meeting adjourned Mr.. Smiley
held reception in the Goodfellows Grotto,
under the Marye Building.
Resolutions of Respect.
The Board of City Hal Commissioners bel(
brief meeting yesterday and passed resolu
tons of respect to the memory of Auditor
Stern, who was one of the board.
FREE LIBRARY.