The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-06
A PET OF RAINEY.
How Patrick Barry Holds
Three Positions.
CLEAR VIOLATION OF LAW.
How a Boss Retains His Pull Though
Politically Dead to the
World.

II Patrick Barry, the foreman of engine
Is. Is economical in his mode of living he
may hope to retire to private life when
old age begins to creep on, conscious of
the fact that the wolf will fight shy of his
door. The fact seems to be that Mr..
Barry ia q man Of unusual thrift, cons sid
ering his chances. and manages to draw
down good round sum from the city
treasury each month. So far as can be
learned he has three positions, none Of
which are lucrative enough to enrich its
holder, but which when combined aRgre-
gate a comfortable income with something
to spare TOR deposit in the bank when the
warrants are cashed at tho end OF the
IN onth.
The case of Mr.. Barry is simply another
garing instance of the potency OF tho pull in
the politics of San Francisco, and shows
what is possible for defunct boss to do
when he makes up his mind to serve the
interests of faithful henchman. In this
instance Sam Rainey Is the retired boss
an6 Barry Is the friend. The latter was
for years REGARDED as a handy man In
primary politics. Among the flremen be
was looked upon as n hard, active worker.
and when Buckley and Rainey had a
difficult task Barry was generally selected
because he would take more desperate
chances than the average ward worker.
All this in time endeared him to the heart
of Raney, who knew a thing or two
about the manipulation of primaries. ard
as q reward to his faithful follower he
secured for him an appointment to take
care of and light the street lamps along
California street in the Western Addition.
1t Is true that the salary Of $40 a month
was not princely, but the WORK was light.
the hours were short and chance was
given for Barry to seek other employment
to fill in the time Rainey was appealed to
again and out of the goodness of his heart
ne secured for HE protige place as extra
man in the Fire DEPARTMENT. and this gave
him an addition Of $35 month to his SAL
airy as lighter of gas lamps. Later
Raney secured for him the place as fore
man of engine Is on California street, and
thisin turn brought further Increase of
$40 month to an income which was
already comfortable and ample tor the
work required.
1t seems. however. that with increased
means ut his disposal. the engine foreman
began to reach out for wider field of &C
tivity. and here his friend Rainey again
proved the value of his friendship. by
working Barry into a position in one Of
the parks at the rate of 50 81 day. The
comparatively modest salary was in this
way nearly doubled. ard the fireman and
street lamplighter found himself thrust at
once into sudden affluence. 1t is true that
he found little spare time at his disposal,
but he accepted the Inevitable cheeIfully
for the sake of the yellow shekels that
drifted into his capacious pocket, and at
the same time he managed to quiet any
QualmS of conscience which h. might feel
for violating the law which prohibits one
man from holding two places of emolument
under the municipal government.
For some reason best known to those
who have the giving of the places, Mr..
Barry is allowed to continue on, and no
one has seen fit to attempt even to disturb
him.