The morning call., 1891-02-13
OUT OF POLITICS.

There is a good deal of encouragement in
the general desire to take the Fire Depart
ment out Of politics TIE purpose for which
the Fine Department is maintained is to put
out fires. It has been converted into a pc
litical machine. The people, without dis
tinction of party, want it restored to its orig
inal control The School Department, the
Fire Department and the Police Department
are arms Of the city government which
should be kept out Of the mire of politics.
In the School Department the controlling
power Is elected by the people. The force
OF public sentiment cOmpels School Di-
rectors to act independently of political in
huences. Ii that department is not entirely
out Of politics, it is measurably free from
the vice Of holding the appointment Of
teachers subject to partisan service or party
allegiance. There are, in the main, two
propositions befoIe the Legislature respect
ing the government Of the Fire Department
One is that the Governor shall appoint Fire
Commissioners in this and all other cities Of
the State, the other yesting the power OF ap-
pointment in the Supervisors. We have a
Governor in whom the people have eonsid-
cradle confidence and Board of Super
- yisors which has so far merited like public
approval. Bat measures of this nature
should be considered from the standpoint of
what may be the result should the character
of the appointing power be changed for the
worst. What a mighty political machine
would law veSting the appointment of Fire
Commissioners in the Governor create. The
reorganization of the Police Department
would probably follow in the same direction.
Can the citizens of San Francisco contem-
plate without anxiety the exercise of such
power by one man or by one set of men
We think not. The possibilities of such
a plan have only to be glanced at 10 compel
lis rejection by men who really desire to
take the Fire Department out of politics.
The alternative proposition is to vest the
= power of appointment in the Board of Super
TisorS This is made Objectionable by the
fact that Supervisors have been in the past,
and may be in the future. the mere creatures
Of local boss. Neither of the measures
proposed takes the Fire Department out of
politics. One is possibly more Objectionable
than the other, but both are Objectionable
In our opinion the source Of the appointing
power should be so DIVIDED that partisan
Board of Commissioners would be, as
nearly as may be, impossible. This power
may be located partly in the Board of
Supervisors and partly in the people, with
the Mayor as President of the Board as
holding one appointment. A board of
which two were elected by the people, two
appointed by the Supervisors and one by
the Mayor, would perhaps come as near to
tie non-partisan idea as any plan that can
be devised. Or it might be so arranged
that the people should elect majority of
the board, or the appointment of one or two
Commissioners may be entrusted to the
Board Of Underwriters. The city is by 10
means reduced to choice between the two
bills now before the Legislature. Neither
of the proposed bills takes the department
out of politics. The difference between
them is that one hands The department over
to local politicians, the other to the State
administration. The latter plan is bold
conception. 1t includes the entire State in
its grasp. 1t has been pushed with vigor
that corresponds with its scope, but will
hardly bear close inspection Measures of
this Importance that are hurried along as if
Their advocates were conscious that delay
would be fatal should be held for the most
thoughtful consideration.