The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-24
RAINEY IS ROUTED.
The Fire Department Bill
Slaughtered.
KAHN'S WINNING FIGHT.
The Machine Men Exposed and Their
Ubiquitous Measure Laid on the
Table Bills Passed.
FIGHT.
WINNING
speclal to THE MORNING CALL


pass. is as dead now as are the political hopes
OF either one of the prOmulgators OF II,
Assemblyman Kahn fought the battle
eraiost il this afternoon on the floor OF the
Assembly and won it easily.
Nahqnev and Rainey have both been
very nervous over it for some days past
anu the pair Of them pat IN all of their time
m to the moment that the matter came up
in eornering every member they could lay
hands On. when all sorts of arguments were
brought 10 bear on them. The line Of
argument used with the members OF the
San Francisco delegation was in the nature
Of threats. They were told that if they did
not stand in for the fire Eill and machine
politics their political lives would be ended.
by this sort of talk this pair of worthless
succeeded in capturing the majority OF the
delegation, although there were some few
of them who had sufficient manhood to
resist all opportunities and vote for what
they believed 10 be right.
When the bill came mp this afternoon
Barney Conway Of San Francisco offered
some trivial amendment to it. This was
the opportunity Kahn had been waiting for,
and he instantly arose and moved tina. the
amendment be laid on the table. This
precipiIated no that issue.
Kahn followed up his motion with some
very sharp comments on The system Of ma
chine politics which was in vogue IN San
Francisco and which this bill, if passed,
would perpetuate. lie declared that the
bin had been formulated in the interests Of
machine politics. At the last general cleo
ton In San Francisco the Fire Department
E 4 - a. st-. n T.o,~ .-
the best evidence of what he had stated.
No matter what had been said in favor of
the bin by those who were interested in its
passage the fact stil remained that the
introducer Of the bill had but one purpose
and that was TO hold in the Fire Depart
ment lot of worthless FOUNDERS loafers
and prize-fghters, who would make politics
for corrupt bosses. The author. Mahoney
had been 10 HIM and told him in substance
that if lie opposed the bill be would be
politically dead.
1T makes 70 difference to me-" said
Kahn, IF my opposition to this Infamous
bill does sound my political deathknel. l
would rather die knowing that l stood up
for what is right, honest and just than to
blacken my reputation by fayoriHg the in
famous measure now under consideration.
It is opposed by every newspaper and every
taxpayer 10 san Francisco"
Kahn asked the members Of the House if
they wanted any better evidence OF The in
EQUITY Of the bill than was given them in
tie class of men who were lobbying for it,
Il reiterate," ne continued, that would
prefer political death than TO ride into
power upon the crest Of a measure that
would perpetuate the power of INSCRIPTIONS
politicians"
Mr.. Kahn was warmly applauded, and 1t
WAS an easy matter to see that his remarks
had the effect Of braeing up some Of those
who had difficulty ia summoniGg mp suffi-
Client courage to vote against the machine
men.
Taylor Of Marin County who has been
training with the "boys" since he has been
here, followed Kahn with a speech, loud
as regarded voice, but weak in argument,
in which he characterized Kahn's insinua-
tons about machine politics as falsehoods.
Dodge spoke against the bill and his re-
marks closed the debate. The roll was
then called and those voting aye were IN
favor Of tabling the amendment. which car
RED the bin with it and killed it. Follow
ing was the vote;
Ayes-Adams, Afford, Barker. Barlow,
Bennett of Orange, Biedsoe, BuIa, Caster
line, Dodge. Drees. Duekworth, Emeric.
Finlayson. Gately. Godchaux Rendricksou,
Hurley HuisOn, Jacobs. johnson OF Hum
holdt, Johnson OF Santa Clara, Kahn,
Kerns. AeCauley. McElroy Marks. Mars
ton, Mathews of Tehama, Matthews Of San
Benito, MoIdecai. O'Keefe, Owen, Perkins.
Schroebel. Shsnahan, Simpson, Sims, Tag
CART, Talbot. Thomas OF Nevada, Thomas
Of Santa Clara, Tiadall, Vann, Wade,
Gauld-45.
Noes BlakeleE, Boice, Brownie, Burke.
Carlson, Chapman. Conway, Cusick. Duffy.
burst, Gallagher. Kennedy. Larue, Lut-
tringer, MCGOWAN. Mack. Miller. O'Neill,
Pueschel, Sargent Schlesinger, Taylor-22
Taylor changed mis- vote from no to aye
in order 10 move for reconsideration, but
it will not be possible to reconsider it. The
bill is dead.
After the roll had been called Schlesinger
rose to explain his vote. He said he d id not
want to be understood as favorng Ma
honey's bill simply because lie voted mo-"
lie did so because he believed there were
some good features 10 the measure and he
did not propose to stand in TO XIII it out
right
The only other fight In the house Of any
importance to-day was over Godchaux's
traffic association amendment When that
came Up for consideration Shanahan under
took to split the measure in two, thus sep
arating the freight and fares schedule from
the abolition Of the Railroad Commission
ers. Bledsoe raised the point of order that
such action could not be taken. The
Speaker declared Bledsoe's point of order
well taken. Shanahan then appealed from
the decision Of the chair. but he was beaten
by a vote of 81 TOO.
The noon recess broke in on the debate,
however. and it went over until tomorrow
as unfinished business. When it AGAIN
comes up Shanahsn will move that the
amendment be referred to a committee OF
one TO cut it In two. so that those who desire
TO vote TO abolish the Railroad Commission
can do so without voting to put Leeds
schedule into the constitution. Gould will
rule that that Is the proper course.
The Senate chamber, the gallery and the
l0bbies were crowded this afternoon at $50.
the hour which had been fixed for the final
disposition of the resolution ousting the
Railroad Commissioners. The audience
was sadly disappointed, however, for moth
ing was done. When the resolution was in
tire hands of the Judiciary Committee it was
amended and the word "incompetency" was
added to "derellction Of duty" SO when it
came up to-day President Reddick put the
question of the adoption Of the amendment,
and by viva voce vote. huTriedly taken,
sent the resolution off to the printer
The entire Senate and the big audience
were aghast at this sharp trick that had been
played upon them, but nothing could be
. done. Senator Seawell was the first to
speak after he had caught his breath. He
wanted the matter made a special order for
tomorrow morning at Job. but in doing
this he trod heavily upUn the toes Of Senator
Carpenter, whose reassessment bill is a
special order Tor tomorrow. Carpenter
said that the discussion of bis measure
would probably take all day tomorrow.
He was soothed by President Reddck, who