The San Francisco call., 1895-11-04
FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH,
A Salary That 1t Is Hoped
Will Induce DOOdy to
Resign.
DAVIE AFTER THE SChOoLS.
Many Issues Are Involved IN the
Coming Police Force nVes-
LEGATIONS.
IOAK1AvD OFFICE SAY FRANCISCO CALI,l


political jobbery being executed is some
thing unknown in Oakland. The Nom
Partisan members Of the Council have de-
cIded the last remnant OF the old political
machine which they are pledged to an
nihilate-Niles Doody-must go. 1t makes
no difference that Doody has been con-
nected with the Fire Department for over
twenty years past and is at present first
assistant engineer, he is legacy OF the
Board of Works that Mayor Pardee de-
stroved and he must go. 1t is stated on
good authority that he would have gone
long before this had not Doody's friends
extracted an ante-election pledge from City
Attorney Peirsol that he would not remove
the old fireman.
Last Thursday Mayor Davie attached his
signature TO the ordinance abolishing the
position held by Doody, but Doody is still
at work. He threatens to prove that the
Council cannot remove him as he is sub
iect 10 the Fire Commissioners and that if
ousted he will upset the Board of Works.
This last threat of Doody's has much sig
nihcance.
Nothing would please the old partisans
better than TO see the Board of Works de-
cared illegal. Not that the board has not
done its duty, if the proceedings of Oak
with such word but because it repre-
sents the power that has the control of all
that is worth having in the way of patron
age in this city-and it has used that
power. The only place where it has failed
SO far has been on Miles Doody.
II Doody attempts to upset the Board of
Works he NAV be successful, and so a very
clever little plot has been Matched. The
Council may not have the power to declare
an office vacant that was created of q past
Board of Works, but it has the power to
regulate the salaries OF city officials.
Should DOodv persist in going to fires as
though no action had been taken the
Council is preparing to bring in an ordI-
nance placing the salary at s. a month,
instead OF Sl25, ar at present. This scheme
Is the star political move Of the week, and
will probably be presented to the first
assistant engineer within the next few
DAYS.
1t is certainly time that something was
done to straighten the tangle that now
exists regarding the respective powers OF
Oakland's governing bodies Louis Schaf-
fer, the last Chief Of Police, who was sue
ceeded by Lloyd three months ago, regu-
Iarly files his monthly demand for SIZE
salary, and declares that be is sure of OBJ
tanning 1t when he brings suit, which he
intends to DO when the period for which he
claims he was appointed has expired. AS
things are at present there is constant
friction among the Board of Education, B.,
rye Council. the Board of Works and the
Mayor, and 10 one knows how far their
an hOritv extends or how much they are
independent OF each other. If ever a CITY
needed an intelligent charter 1t is Oakland
at this time.
An investigation is to be held by the
Police Commissioners into the conduct OF
certain officers and much is promised from
tho anpucarS and fba acorSad g
doubt that much that needs explanation
has existed in Oakland police department
during the past five years. Many of these
circumstances will doubtless be laid bare
next Tuesday. Atfidavits have been pre-
pared from all manner of witnes ses, and il
is openly stated that several prominent
men are involved. Their names have been
mentioned with great freedom and given
to the Grand Jury. 1t has been reported
that the county censors have decided to
take no steps in the matter and that the
effort to compass the indictment of Louis
zeal enemies has failed. If this be so many
heads viii rest easier, as there was a
woman in the scandal.
What Will come OF the other investiga-
tion before the Police Commissioners can
not possibly be told. Political motives are
volved in Oakland the whole city is en-
meshed at some point and all have to pull
together for mutual protection. If Schaffer
has won his fight before the Grand Jury,
Officer Banks may lose his at the City
Hall. 1t is just as likely, however, that
the commissioners may hold a secret ses-
sion, declare that the charges are not sus-
tanned and take no action.
1t was stated to-day, sub rosa, that the
suspension of the two members of the
Josh" staff will react on the sensitive
professors at Berkeley. A movement is on
foot to publish the paper in Oakland, and
TO so disguise the responsibility that the
faculty will be made to dance, but will
not be able to detect the source from
whence cometh the music. The contract
TO supply the uniforms from one house
was not in the name of Lieutenant Winn,
but was executed by the faculty and bore
the signature of President Kellogg. While
this may release Lieutenant Winn from
the charge that he was personally in
terested in the uniforms, il does not pla ce
him in the light of being a more amiable
tutor than ne is credited with being. AS
a matter of fact, Mr.. Winn is a strict dis
ciplinarian.
Ex-Congressman English was asked this
week how it was that Oakland had not re-
ceived more from the hands of Congress
than it has done the last twenty years
He said that there was some mysterious
power at Washington operating against
Oakland. "Just when we seemed to be at
the point of obtaining handsome appro-
priatlon for a postoffice building the hid
den power would work and we would find
ourselves powerless," said Mr.. English,
Congressman Hilborn is determined to
lay the hoodoo that uses its influence
against this city at the Nations capital
and left here Friday with tba; intention.
That Mr.. English's position is well taken
is borne out by Mr.. Hilborn's parting
words: There are 124 cities in the United
States with population of 25,000 and up
ward. Oakland stands sixtieth in the list.
Almost every city in the United States
with population no greater than that of
Oakland has a public building, and more
than half the cities on the list with popu-
lation less than Oakland, down to and in
Guiding cities of 25,U00 inhabitants, have
public buildings. S. w. B.
Sermon nm ssTbe RicvcJe,