The morning call., 1891-02-09
BATTLING FOR POWER
The Struggle for the Control of
the Fire Department.
Republican Politicians Arraying Their Forces
Crimmins Accused Of Treachery-To
Be Settled To-day.

Yesterday was field day with the poll
ticians. During the afternoon aud early
hours of the evening, until the departure of
the night train for Sacramento, the corridors
of the Palace Hotel We're literally alive with
prominent Republicans, chief among whom
were D. NJ. Burns. Irwin C. Stump, Paris
Kilburn, General John f. Sheehan, III. NJ.
Estee C. F. Bassett, Senators Carpenter
and Flint. and Registrar Brown. Richard
Chute, Andrew Louderback, Assembly,
man Wentworth and many more also
dropped in from time to time to consult in
whispers, and man with half an eye could
have told that something was up. Groups
gathered mysteriously in the corners and
earnest conferences took place ON all Sides
d. NJ. Burns, cool, deliberate and quiet as
usual, sat in an obscure corner and consult
ed by turns with those who came in at va
rious times.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The subject matter in hand was the reor-
ganizaton of the Fire Department., and
preparations were being made for the battle
which is to come up in the Assembly this af-
ternoon. The fight will be an interesting
one and will be closely watched.
Said one OF those present: "Crimnins
and Kelly are sure to be knocked out. and
hands down we are determined TO take no
chances whatever, for re believe that upon
this bill depends the future success or defeat
of the Republican party In this city. We
have absolute assurance that there Is a COM
biuation between Crimmins and Kelly on
the one hand and Sam Rainey ON the other
to secure and retain control of the Fire De-
paItment, and in order to defeat it We will,
if possible, take it out OF local politics. The
programme otherwise as mapped out is for
Kelly and Raney to make up the slate be-
tween them and then submit IL to CrlmIElnS,
who Will carry it out. In that way they
would use it to perpetuate their power.
Now what we propose TO do is this:
When the bill is called up for consideration
we will endeavOr to amend 1t so as TO make
the Mayor of the city ex-otficl0 Chairman of
the board and give to the Governor the
power TO appoint four Commissioners 10 act
with the Mayor. By doing so we believe
that The department will be less liable to be
used as a machine by local BOSSES
WAR ON CRIAiMINS.
beyond all this, however, 1t now de-
velops that Burns and his friends are after
Crlmmins' scalp as well as that OF Martin
Kelly. The latter they have pursued re-
lentlessly, and it has been understood that
he would be given no rest until lie had been
driven out of politics. He has managed. in
spite OF the war that has been made on him,
to bob up serenely, aud las most persistent
has been warned repeatedly that unless he
turned Kelly adriit lie would be relegated
10 private life, aud 1t is claimed that within
the last ten days he agreed to cut loose from
Kelly and take his chances with the ad-
miuistratiOn. In q conference with the
State Central Committee he promised to
stand in for the bill giving to the Governor
the power to name the Fire Commissioners,
with the understanding that he was to be
given fair recognition. Kelly, however.
Ii 81
immediately afterward Kelly discovered
that a conspiracy was afO0t 10 shelve him
politically, and he fastened at once TO Grim
minis, and succeeded by dint of persuasion
in inducing him 10 break the pledges he had
made. lie saw, as he thought, chance to
steal march on the State Central Commit
tee, and he and Crimmins set to work at
once to make a sudden move upon the op-
position.
A QUIET MOVE.
THEY quietly aIrayed their forces, and it
was decided on Thursday last to catch the
administration crowd mapping and rush the
Daly bill through. Burns and his friends
in the meantime slept unconscious of the
neat little game, and it was only at l o'clock
on the day on which the Dill was 10 come up
that they caught the first inkling OF the trap
that had been set for them.
mo time was left Tor the calling of absent
members, ana the fight was made with a
rush. In the preliminary sklrmish Kelly
and Crimmins went down with bare ma
jority OF one against them. This was Oh
motion to recommit to the Committee on
Municipal Corporations.
"Crimmins was at once accused of treach-
cry, and was Informed that the war thus
inaugurated would be tough: to the bitter
end. lie realized that his political future
was at stake, and Immediately took off his
coat and went 10 work with will. He will
rally every vote that he can, and by every
trade and combination possible has bolstered
up his strength.
ION the other hand, theiState Central Com
mittee has not been idle, and to a man has
given its support to the administration sub
stitute prepared by the Executive Commit
tee"
AS result of yesterdays conference
Burns returned to Sacramento last night,
accompanied by good carload of polit-
clans, aud confident that he would win
hands down