The morning call., 1894-05-26

Flow Is it that l am told day after day
there is no news here when the board is
discharging men by the dozen?" asked a
waterfront scribe yesterday Of Chief
Wharinger BOobaT.
There wasn't a dozen discharged" an
swered Mr.. Boobar. And besides the
board is discharging men all the time. 1t
isn't necessary to keep any record of these
matters"
And that is just the difficulty. The
board discharges men, and the public is
left to find out what is going on as best it
may.
To CALL reporter Chief Wharinger
BOobar admitted that Gus Gignac. the
harbor policeman, had been discharged.
"How about William Hudson. engineer
Of the pile-driver? He was discharged,
was he notP"
Eyes, that's right"
"And Captain W:Ight?"
"a man named Wright has been ap-
pointed a carpenter"
And Thomas Whalen?"
Yes, that's right?"
And Herman WoIhnger
THAT is right"
And George Smith ?"
'Smith has not been discharged"
Mr.. BoObar said The CALL was wrong
in stating that there had been a meeting of
the board on Thursday.
President Bassett fifteen minutes later
told a reporter that the board had met on
Thursday, and there undoubtedly was
such a meeting.
Mr.. BOObar also admitted that the dis
charge Of the men just before a primary
had caused much comment along the front,
but that could not be denied, for 1t caused
a sensation.
President Bassett said fatty that the
changes had been made for political rea-
sons. There is politics in all these mat
tiers. When l came into the board l made
some changes. Mr.. Cole did, too, and so
did Mr.. Chadbourne."
but there have been no new members
appointed to the board recently"
"Only Mr.. Chadbourne. He may be
considered a new member"
Mr.. Chadbourne has been a member of
tho board for nearly four months.
Mr.. asset said the removal of en-
ployes had no political significance,
though he said it just after having said
that there was politics in the matter. He
stated that it had not been done to pro-
pitiate Dan NJ. Burns by putting in men
who would work for him at the primaries.
Mr.. Burns and l are good friends. so
far as l know" said Mr.. Bsssett.
This is probably true now. Messrs.
Burns and Bassett are no longer enemies,
though about three months ago they had
falling out in the Palace Hotel, when
Mr.. Burns made some uncomplimentary
remarks about the president of the Board
OF Harbor Commissioners.
Gus Gignac, who has lost his place as
harbor policeman, was on the front yes
terday and said that it was true that he
had been displaced. In proof of the fact
he showed the notification of discharge he
had received Oh Thursday from the secre-
tary of the board.
When asked If more changes are to be
made, the Harbor Commissioners say that
changes are being made all the time.
The board has 40 men in Its employ
ment and properly selected the force may
be expected to do efficient work at the
primaries.
ID. M. Burns said yesterday that he knew
nothing about the change made by the
Harbor Commissioners 81 don't know
whether they were made for my benefit or
not. but do know that nobody need ex-
pect to Influence me by giving me few
places OF that sort. / am not in that bust
ness. Mr.. Bassett and l are on good
terms"
During the past week there have been
many rumors abroad concerning the atti-
tude OF Christopher A. Buckley in the
present campaign. The most sensational
one was that Buckley had gone in with
the Burns faction and that he ana Sam
Ralney would throw their influence with
them In the approaching battle. Buckley
occupies an anomalous position. He used
TO be Democrat. but if current reports be
true he is now a free lance. He seems an
impossible Democratic "boss," with un-
executed indictments hanging over him
which enemies might at any time use as
cudeels, and for this reason Ii is not prob
able that he will take an open part in the
poiltical contest now on. But he has be-
yond question a strong personal following
composed Of men who would 90 anywhere
ne led. 1t is not bis cue 10 lead prom
lnentiy. hut he can throw 10 any one with
whom he might affiliate a great deal of
strength, and this Is acknowledged by
political leaders. 1t is this power which
ne Is said TO have been engaged TO exert
Tor the Southern Pacific Railroad Com