The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-24
RAW WORK OF THE EIGHT,
The Ruling Combine of the
Board of Supervisors De-
nOunced.
CITIZENS ARE VERY INDIGNANT
Civil Service Suggested for Local
Affairs-A Contest Prob
able.

The action of the "solid eight" of the
| Board of Supervisors in removing from
office seven faithful servants of the city
was the theme of general discussion at the
City Hall yesterday. On the streets and
about the hotel corridors the matter was
seriously considered by citizens who stand
for decent politics, and the application of
civil service rules to the municipal govern
ment was suggested.
Everywhere the unclean conspiracy of
the men in the majority was denounced.
Prominent citizens declared the proceed
ings to be an outrage on the people.
Those who have been dismissed from
Office look upon the conduct of the board
as an attempt to cast reflection upon their
characters and loyalty to the interests of
| the city they were employed to serve.
| They are all honorable men. There is
some talk of their uniting to contest the
action of the board. 1t is claimed by some
that those officers cannot be removed
without cause, while others accept the de-
cision in silence. All feel keenly the wrong
tn at has been done them.
The bitumen rock paving contract, in
which there was a Sob, and the Church
| street franchise of the Market-street Rail
road Company, in which there was bug"
are striking examples of the disloyalty of the
| ''solid eight to the interests of the city
and county.
cit is q long lane that has no turn said
Supervisor Taylor yesterday, "and the day
| of reckoning will come"
Captain Taylor, with Supervisors Di-
mond, Hobbs and Spreckels, has made
the fight of the people as against the COM
bine. He is very indignant at the action
of the majority and has no hope that the
ranks Will be broken, though Supervisor
! Scully, who has heretofore borne a good
reputation, did weaken when ballot was
taken and was excused from voting.
| Supervisor Hobbs, as chairman of the
| Building Committee, was grossly insulted
| in having Head Janitor Dugan, who is
really his clerk, removed, notwithstanding
his protests. He speaks highly of the
competency and faithfulness OF Dir, Du-
gan The Supervisor is so annoyed with
the actions of the members in the majority
that it irritates him to discuss them.
The "solid eight is manipulated by
| Supervisor King, whose record is matter
of history. He holds the lash over Scully,
! Benjamin, Hirsch, Hughes, bunker, Nor
genstern, and Wagner, and every time it
cracks they jump. Dan Burns, Sam
Rainey and Chris Buckley are the powers
| behind the throne. So the hope of the
people for an honest municipal govern
ment with such men in control may be
retired for the next two years.
NJ. NJ. Dugan, the head janiCor, has been
/ a resident of San Francisco since 1882 and
has always borne the highest reputation
! as a citizen and a man. be was Tor many
years in the shoe business and his integ-
| rity as a merchant has never been ques-
! toned.
''The action of the Board of Supervisors
in discharging me without cause, said Mr..
Dugan yesterday, twas, to say the least,
very small. Ii there had been any COM
plant against my management of the jan
itor's Office, as to the condition in which
the hall was kept, it would not matter SO
much, but people who know say the hall
has not for fifteen years been kept so clean
as it is now. This, of course. is a compli-
ment to me and / appreciate it as such. |
have simply attended to my work and
have seen to it that those under me did
likewise.
II had no political pull, though have
always voted with the Republican party of
this city and county. Mr.. Hobbs, who is
chairman of the Building Committee, Sc
cured the place for me because he has
known me personally for years and knew [
would perform the duties OF the Office
faithfully.
"But the combination did not want me.
They knew they could not use me. The
janitor purchases the supplies for the City
Hall and he audits all bills for the same.
Now, if he is so inclined or can be in
fiuenced there is nothing to prevent him
from putting his % K to bills that are exh-
orbitant or wilfully wrong"
George L. Murdoch, who succeeds Mr..
Dugan as head lan1tor OF the new City
Hall, is brother-in-law of Supervisor King.
Joseph Fitzpatrick, who takes a. J.
Sadler's place as janitor of the Treasurer's
and Auditors offices, is close political
and personal friend of Supervisor Nor
genstern, and owes his appointment TO
him. He lives on Brannan street, close to
Mr.. Benjamin's place of business.
J. NJ. Dolan, whose displacement makes
a berth for P. Stevens as driver of the po-
lice patrol-wagon, has performed his du-
ties to the satisfaction of the Police Depart
ment.
II have not looked up the law as to the
power OF the Board of Supervisors to re-
move municipal employees without cause. "
said John s. Enos, Prosecuting Attorney
in Judge Campbell's department of the Po-
lice Court, "but l shall accept the inevita-
bic with good grace. 1t is a most con-
temptible piece OF business for the men,
bers of city government to enter into
conspiracy to destroy the reputation and
standing of its employees IN the eyes OF the
''Since have been Prosecuting Attorney
in this court there has not been the slight
est reflection cast upon me and l cannot
understand the conduct of the so-called
solid eight of the Board of Supervisors,
unless it is political conspiracy. 1t is
nice thing to go on the minutes of the
board, splendid sample of the honesty
and wisdom of our municipal Legislators
to confront succeeding boards, isn't it?"
and shadow OF disgust stole over the
speakers face.
my record is clean and / can afford to
ignore this attempt to blacken and bellttle
me in the eyes of the people whom have
served. have not been the slave OF that
gang of Supervisors who are now running
things, if L have been the servant. OF the
people"
Mr.. Enos was for six years District At
torney of Fulton County, n. Y. He has
been State Senator in this State, and has
filled the Office he now holds very cred
itably.
Charles A. Forbes, who succeeds him,
was a partner with James w. Harding
before the latter went into the insurance
business. He is small lawyer with
small practice. He has figured in two
criminal cases, and as result one client is
doing time at San Quentin and the other
acoo with fno Forbes will not