The morning call., 1891-02-13
FIRE DEPARTMENT wRANGLE.


From the San Francisco Evening Bulletin. Fsoruarv
is. 1891
One of the mos. exciting contests that has
sprung I'D since the Legislature commenced
its sessions relates to the Fire Department
of this city. There is 4 general unanimitv
that the department should contain several
full-paid companies, and that there shonyd
be no lack of material. No difficulty of n
serious nature would be encountered in Of
fecting the proposed reorganization but for
the political schemi ng which lies back of IL
The 800, or thereabouts, loosely held extra
men, who get nice salaries for respond,n o
to alarms, have. according to general belief
for long time, been doing more IN py-
tinguish the liberties of the people han to
put out fires. Many OF them are trained
hands IN conventions. They are well up in
ward intrigues and know great deal of
local politics, because they have nothing in
particular to do but study them
The Democratic boss, whose Pretori,n
cohort the Fire Department has long been
having been expelled by an indignant peo,
pie, struggle has sprung up on the mari n Z
would-be Republican basses to secure CON
troll of the department with the view Of
using it, much as Buckley did. The ont
come has been the introduction Of two bills
In the Legislature, one of which coDfers
the appointment OF the Fire Commissioners
who are to manage the department.. on the
Supervisors and the May0r-three to the
former and one to the Treasurer and one tn
the Mayor-while the other bill vests the
appointment OF all five Commissioners in
the Governor. Not much time need b8
wasted in an effort to determine where the
true principle in this matter lies.
There is not much hope for spccpssful
local government without the most comDlete
local sovereignty. Wherever local power is
curtailed there is always Acknowledgement.
tina I'm a hail oxr
If authorized to do 50, would appoint five
excellent Commissioners. But the vaiue n
any proposed legislation cannot be ascpr-
tanned by calculation of what would han
pen, based on existing and known condi-
lions. We have TO look to the long line of
Markham. Ii there should be any Water
mans among them it is not necessary to
speculate as to the manner in which the
Fire Commission would be manipulated,
The argument in favor of local control, if
its terms could be satisfactorily settled.
would seem 10 be irresistible.
But the bill which makes provision for the
appointment of Commissioners by the local
government has had the misfortune TO find
queer advocates. Crimmins and Kelly, who
ask 10 be recognized AS local boSses-aud the
sign out In this municipality now is ''no
bosses need apply"-are reported to be work
ing earnestly for the passage of the hill ar
Sacramento. Sam Rainey, who has been
Buckley'S lieutenant. is working earnestly
in the same line, and so Is John Dougherty.
1t is quite certain that these persons are not
deeply interested in promoting the public
good. Nor are they at Sacramento for their
health. Their action has tended to throw
suspicion on the measure. Many think that
there is in some way connected with tile bill
s.heme 10 enable Buckley to retain his
grasp on the department. One section of the
bill known as the DAILY bill, secures, be-
You'd question, the places Of the Buckley
lambs who now NAV be found on the de-
partment. for under it no fireman SHALL be
| removed for political reasons" or without
trial.
On the other hand, the bill, which con-
ferS the power of appointment on the Gov
ernOr, finds lis most earnest advocate in
the Examiner. That journal has not here
tofore been accounted reliable Republican
publication. II talks quite glibiy about the
necessity OF taking the Fire Department out
of politics. In connection Herewith 1t. in
dulges in some feeble invectiyes against
Buckley and Rainey, whose abject slave it
has been in the past. The bill thus favored
gives San Francisco n new alias. The time
worn designation OF city of 100000 inhab-
ltants or over has given place To a city Of
over $1,000 inhabitants. 1t is noteworthy
that Los Angeles and Oakland may soon
turn this point, and the Governor of that
date would have control OF the Fire Depart
ment, not only of San Francisco but also
of these rising and Furnishing cities.
The bill also, as originally drafted,
wrenched the Consolidation Act out of ali
shape, and should it become a law would
render tax limits very difficult if not impos-
sible. IL VIII be seen, therefore. that 1t is
no easy matter tn tread ones way through
this intricate maze. 1t is quite evident that
the only way to reach a sound conclusion is
TO bre away from both Safety will be
found in amending the bill so as to give
the appointment of the first five Commits
n low
their successors arrangements might be
made to have two Commissioners elected by
the people, two by the Supervisors and one
by the Mayor, or two by the people and
three by the Mayor, if it should be held that
the legislative power should not be GAINED
upon TO eXercise executive functions