The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-21
new POLICE CAPTAINS,
Only Sergeants Whitman and
Gillen Have Been Named
So Far.
DOUGLASS STILL HOLDS ON.
designations to Go Into Effect on
the First = Commissioners
Cunst's Return.

The time within which the Police Com
missieners requested Captains Douglass,
Stone and Short, Sergeant Cohen and Po-
licemen Asher, Gallagher and Harold to
send in their designations expired yester-
day.
An effort was made to ascertain whether
all had complied with the request of the
Commissioners, but no official information
on the point could be procured. That will
not be made known till the next meeting
of the board.
1t is generally believed that all, with the
exception of Captain Douglass, have sent
in their designations. The fact has already
been mentioned that Captain Douglass has
been making determined fight to retain
his position, and petition signed by down
town merchants in his behalf was laid
before the board at its meeting on July 10.
The captain has not, it is understood,
filed his resignation, as requested, and that
will force the Commissioners to either
"break" him or retain him. Ii the former
course is adopted the reasons can only be
old age or incompetency. The captain
contends that he is not too old to perform
his duties satisfactorily. and he is just as
competent, If not more so, than when he
was younger man.
II the missioners should decide to
"break" him, the question has been dis
cussed as to whether that would debsr him
from enjoying the benefits OF the pension
fund. That point was settled, however, in
the case of Sergeant Cole, who was decapi-
tated at the time of the upheaval in March
of last year, caused by the alleged corrup-
ton in the department He demanded to
be placed on the pension list, and was sue
cessful.
Beyond placing himself in the peculiar
position OF holding an office, which he has
been asked to give up. assuming he should
be retained, the captain has apparently
nothing to lose by the stand he has taken.
Chief Crowley was asked yesterday if he
had any information to impart as to when
the board would meet to take action on the
designations and as to the officers who will
be the new captains.
81 cannot say" replied the Chief, "when
the Commissioners will meet. They may
call special meeting for Monday night,
OF they may wait till the regular meeting
on Wednesday night. What action they
will take do not know.
"You must understand that these officers
have simply been requested to send in
their resignations-not commanded. am,
of course, a Commissioner, but the appoint
ment of captains, as | have said before.
| rests with the other Commissioners, and |
Only the successors of Captains Douglass
and Short have thus far been selected, and
| they will be without doubt, Sergeants Witt
man and Gillen. The Com missioners have
under consideration Sergeants Robinson,
| John Martin, Bennett Esola and Price, for
| the third vacancy, and there will be a
| fourth captain to name when the seventy
| five extra patrolmen are put on. Whitman
| has been pushed forward by Commissioner
Gunst, and as far as can be learned this
was the only fight he had, although he did
put in a kind word for Sergeant Gillen,
with his brother Commissioners.
The new captains, it was learned last
| night, will, in all likelihood, be appointed
week from Wednesday night, which
will be the last day of the month. By that
| time all the appointments will be ready
whether Gunst returns to the City or not,
| and will then be named. The Commits
| sioners have no idea when Mr.. Gunst will
return, but his absence will not interfere
with the business of the department.
Commissioner Tebin when seen last
night would not mention the men agreed
upon, and, in fact, said that the matter
| had not been settled.
1--WE have talked over the promotions"
said the Judge, but there has really been
| nothing definitely determined. We leave
great deal in the selections to the judg-
ment of Chief Crowley, or rather, we are
guided to great extent by 1t. l do not
think there. will be any appointments
made before the night Of the 31st, for,
as l understand it. all the designations
take effect on the 1st. Only two of the
new captains have been considered, to tell
the truth, and we have had no time to
consider the sergeants or the lieutenants
at all.
"As far as ! can learn the resignation of
Captain Douglass has not yet been handed
I H. Al L =. - l..
fused to resign, but what he can expect to
make of it, do not see. / am very sorry
for Captain Douglass, but the Commits
sioners have already acted in his ease and
| do not think that they will reconsider it.
If he will not resign, why there is only
one course open to US, and that is to elm
mate his name from the roll"
Commissioner Gunst will not be present
at the meeting at which the new captains
and sergeants will be named. He is not
expected home until August s.