The morning call., 1893-09-01
THE FIRE BOARD.
Fight for Two Coming
Vacancies.
The Part Which Sam Rainey and
Interested Corporations Are TAX
ing i'm the Struggle.

The coming election of two men to sue
ceed Fisher Ames and Maurice Schmitt,
the retiring members of the Board of Fire
Commissioners. is the chief topic of local
political discussion in the city. The result
is pretty sure to be an indication of how
far bnssism Is to govern the action of the
Board of Supervisors, and will also show
Just how much of figure the Fire Depart
ment will cut in future municipal political
fights.
Both of the retiring members are Demo-
crats. and with Democratic Board of Su-
pervisors there can be no question as to
the political preferences of the new az
pcintees. This being the case. it only re-
mains to fix upon the III en 10 fill the vacant
places.
1t is we'll known that Maurice Schmitt
is a candidate for reelection, and it is said
that he commands the support of Chief
Sullivan, and, with him, of the Fire De-
partment. 1t has been suggested, how
ever. that Mr. Schmitt is not close enough
to the Spring Valley Water Company. the
gas company and the electric-light COM
panies to succeed. 1t seems to be pretty
well understood that these corporations
Will cut considerable figure in the choice
of Fire Commissioners. and if all reports
are 10 be believed, they have decidedly the
best of the situation. 1t is well known
that great part of the revenue of these
corporations is drawn from the Fire De-
partment, and should two men who were
antagonistic to their interests be selected
TO hll the vacant places 1t would mean u
loss of thousands of dollars. 1t is there
fore asserted that a great pressure
will be brought to bear ON the Board of
Supervisors to the end that the corpora
ton candidates may be selected. Those on
the inside assert that Schmitt is to be
brought forward TO engage public atten-
tion, and that at the last moment he will
be pushed aside and the slate men will be
rushed into Office Among those mentioned
as probable candidates from this view of
the situation are Rudolph Herold, the in
surance man, and j. ii. O'BrieD. The con-
tractor.
Fisher Ames, the other retiring Commits
sioner. has no desire for reelection, and
his name will cut no figure in the struggle,
Sam Raney is already at work on his
fences in the Fire Department, and he will
assuredly attempt TO retain or regain his
old-time hold on the department. That he
is against the candidacy of Sclmitt is taken
as evidence that he Is ful therlng the plans
of the Spring Valley people. and some
even 60 so far as to assert that this willy
politician will be the one to name the
favored candidates who are supposed to be
pledged in the matter of water and light
questions.
Another element that may go long
way toward spolling the chances of Mr.
Schmitts reelection is the matter of the
purchasing of Fire Department supplies
While the commissioners have not the di-
rect power 10 purchase supplies, their rec
ommendation to the Fire Committee of the
Board Of Supervisors amounts in effect to
the same thing, and if they had any desire
TO show favoritsm 1t would be quite within
the possibilities of their position. This
being the case, those opposed to Schmitt
are calling attention TO the fact that his
brother-in-law, Harvey Hart. while at the
head OF the firm known as the Hart Sad
dlery Company, furnished tie departm en-
with $751; worth of harness in a single
year, and that the department also pur.
chases all of its chemical engiDrs and a
great portion of lis other supplies from Mr.
Hart. These little matters are TO be used
as political weapons against Mr.. Schmitt.
The Supervisors will make the appoint
ments 10 fill the vacancies In the Board o,
FIRE Commissioners immed lately after va
cation, and it will be interesting 10 watch
In TIE meantime, the progress of the pres
ent fight,