The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-13
APPOINTING POWER.
An Extended and Excited De-
bate in the Assembly.
The Struggle for the Control Of the San
Francisco Fire Department.
Amendments Defeated and the Bill Finally
PaSSed-The Fight TO Be Renewed
In the Senate.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

SACRAMENTO. Feb. 12-Colonel Daniel
NJ. Burns was eclipsed this afternoon. His
administration Fire Department Bill was
knocked into oblivion by the votes of Demo-
crGts, Republicans of the Kelly and Grim
Minis cult, and members Of both parties who
thought that San Francisco might very
properly be left to attend to its own affairs,
The Democrats and followers of Kelly and
CrimminS are celebrating the Colonel's tenn
porary observation with an exuberance of
delight that suggests the ACCESSIBILITY of in
Producing in both Houses measure provid-
ing for the extension of all the insane
asylums in the Stale. The battle for the
control of the Fire Department was fought
in the presence of lobby crowded until the
strikers and ward politicians that it con-
tanned gasped for breath and blasphemed in
tones that were low but fearfully in earn
est, and under galleries that swarmed with
men and women. This afternoon copies of
one of The Chronicles negotiable editorials
were scattered broadcast through the House,
with a view to influencing the rural men,
beers to come out on the Crimmins side.
clique who applauded fuTiously and enthus-
astically whenever the superintendent ora
tors made point in their employers favor.
While the country Legislators were reading
in the negotiabl editorial above referred TO
that CTmmins had nothing to do with the
fight, Crimmins himself stood at the door of
the House listening with eager attention 10
all that was said inside.
BERT'S AMENDMENTS.
Bert who is small but gritty, opened the
battle by asking permission to withdraw
the administration bill He wanted to
amend it SO that the four Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Governor should be subject
TO confirmation by the Board Of Supervisors
of San Francisco, and further that he
might amend the bill so that the Commits
siOners' bill should be audited by the City
Auditor and paid by the City Treasurer.
The Sycamore of Shasta objected. He did
not want Bert given the privilege of amend
ing or substituting bill that was the prop
eIty of the House.
Bert appealed to the House for permission
to withdraw the administration bill for the
purpose OF amendment, and was sustained
by vote that shovel that Burns was still
supreme.
Ayes-Ames (R.l, Armes D.G j. D. Barnett
Ql Baughman r., Beecher r.. Bert (il
- H-l,A },
CiaIk lR), Cram (R.), Culver RI Dennis RI
Dunn %, Burner tR.) Estey (R) Freeman (R.l,
carver d., Gordon (R.), Hawley (R.l, Harloe
Rh Helsey lR., Hqcking (R.), Hunew r.,
Kellogg AL Lacey Or j Lewis (k) Lynch (R.),
hiafion lR.l Murphy (R.), Rice do, Robertson
Dl A. e. Smith (i.) J. J. Smith RI Stabler
tDh Sturteyant (R.A Young (R.l Speaker Coombs
W)-39.
keluEllcans. 50; Democrats, 6; American /.
Noes-AleXander(D J. Barnard (R.6 Barnett RI,
b une5 r., Biusle RI, Coffey CtJ Cunuin CHAM
o. DAILY li@, Dibble lR), Doty d., Dowd CR.),
Hayes ak R sSey y R JAZZ aekso Gu. 6 Johnson ma
Jones R.). Lowe (it). Lux ri Martin (DG
Mathews ID, Matlock (R.), Mord cal 3D.. Muir
nan d., Phillips r., Reulro CD, Shanahan D),
SteEz Qtl, Tennis lR.l, Tully (R.), Windrow
Republicans %, Democrats IL. Absent or not
voIme-bledsoe, Eakle, Fowler, Mccall, Went.
worth, Weston, WOlfsknL
ShaEahan having failed in his attempt to
stiHe Bert, sent to he desk an amendment
10 the Dill which had been carefully prepared
IN tEe interests of the Democrats. 1t pro-
viGed that tue Mayor and Supervisors should
appoint the Commissioners who should be
imp ItialiY drawn from the two great par
ties. 1t was not read by the clerk and at the
end Of the debate was withdrawn by the au-
thor.
ARGUMENT RESUMED.
The orators broke loose at half-past 2
O'clock and We're not c0rraled again until
half-pa-t ac'ock. Dibble was the first to .
take tie floor. He read section after sec
ton Of the State Constitution to show that
the Administration BIZ was unconstitu-
uonal. lie placed great stress on the sec
uon which provides against special legisla-
ton. arguing that bill which applies only
10 San Francisco is nothing but special iegis-
latiOn. He closed his speech with Iurid
picture Of the danger that was in store for
the city if the rights to manage its own al
fairs WERE taken from it.
Murphy, in reply, tainted Dibble with
inconsistency, a taunt which the polite ex-
Judge las uf;en heard before, and reminded
the House that only yesterday Dibble az
gued az iin I giving the Supervisors of San
Francisco lhe right to say whether electric
railways should be constructed in the city
or NIT He tried 10 prove then that solid
nine" could not be trusted to do the peoples
business, and appealed with all his power
to the Legislature to step in and do their
business for them. That speech probably
gave Mayor SandeTson the impression that
Che LEGISLATURE distrusted the people of the
city. Ii his hearers would turn back the
pages of the history of the State they would
find a great blot upon them-the blot of
Christopher Buckley. Year after year he
has corrupted the city, and the Fire De-
partment was one of his machines. He
commanded them, furnished with axes to
hgli.hse, to go into voting places and use
would have that machine remain in Buck
ley'S hands.
CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS.
Brnner spoke calmly and dispassionately.
No Administration at the outset had done
more TO be worthy of the well-wishes of the
people. be admired the Governor, and be-
leyed he had 10 interest in the fight for ne
would not be candidate for reelection.
He opposed the pending bill on conStitu-
tional grounds, grounds of policy and
grounds OF principle. If this Legislature
should say that the Governor shall appoint
for a city of 1900 people, it can do the
same in all cities. Then the Legislature
might become autocratic and the Governor
tyrant.
Clark informed the Republicans that they
were allowing themselves to be made the
catSpsw of the Democrats.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT.
Bledsoe, who has supported the Admins
tIatlon hitherto, opposed Bert's amendment
as unconstitutional, and offered instead an
amendment to the original bill providing
that the Commissioners shall be elected by
the people and that the Mayor and Super
visOrs Shall appoint the first board who
shall hold office until the next election.
DR.. Martin OF Placer was loudly applauded
when he declared that Dan Burns and
Buckley were working together.
Matlock said the fight was a choice of
deYils-Deyil Buckley, who now controls the
Fire Department, on one side, and Devil
Burns, who wants to control 1t. He would
vote for the Daily bill.
Robertson electrified the House by saying
that the fight was between Buckley and
Rainey on one side and Buckley, Raney
and CTlinmins on the other, and Tor proof Of
his assertion he pointed toward the lobby,
while the Assembly cheered. "Dan Burns"
said Robertson, may be all he Is said to be
by his enemies. l viii vote for the measure
which he is said to favor, because l believe
that Governor Markham will not appoint
impure men,"
A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING
Bert made the last speech. He started
on with declaration that the Kelly Grim
minis bill was unconstitutional and gave the
Attorney General as his authority.
He told me" shouted Dibble ''that it
was constitutional"
reiterated Bert.
well, say" Dibble angrily reiterated.
''that he told me that it was constitutional,
and he told me that he told you 500
Bert began to read kilograms from promi-