The San Francisco call., 1895-07-31

force of San Francisco. But first of all
we have got to get some young blood
among the captaihs-some active men and
efficient officers"
"Who will succeed Douglass, Stone and
Short as captains?'
"Well, when l left we had about settled
on Whitman and Gillen, and had also con-
cluded that Robinson would do first rate.
Their predecessors are too old to be of
much service. 1 tell you we need new
blood. Of course they will be pensioned
and sufficient recognition of their past
services will be forthcoming"
What will you do in the matter of Ser
geant Bethel, the officer who circulated the
petition for Douglass2"
"What will | do with him?" inquired
Mr.. Gunst, looking sidewise. Il will have
him yanked up before the commission and
dealt with in the proper manner. The
nerve of such thing. Why, say, in New
York his star would last about five min.
utes after he was caught monkey1ng with
something that didn't concern HIM. Oh,
you wait. I'll give Sergeant Bethel tip
on what he is supposed to do as police
man. It doesn't make bit of difference
who it is, won't permit such actions to be
carried on for minute. 1t will be stopped,
you can assure yourself of that"
ls IL,
Whitman for Chief at one time2"
at is not. Now, put this down just as
say it: l regard Chief Crowley as one of
the most efficient and honorable men who
ever lived in this City. l would never
think of having anybody else for Chief,
and no matter where l go, in all parts of
the United States, the first thing | hear
from police circles is How is Chief Crow
leyP He is looked upon with respect and
he deserves 1t. / will never, so long as
am Commissioner, agree to change the
Chief of the San Francisco police. Have
you got that down? All right. You can
say that with little young blood among
the captains and little civil service re-
form among the policemen, he will
States at his back. l guess that covers the
Crowley point.
''Oh. another thing would like to have
you touch upon is this, - and Mr.. Gunst
pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of
his pocket that contained the information
that he was striving to be political boss.
"Now that is the worst 1 ever heard" re-
sumed the Commissioners. Il am cigar
dealer and not politician. You couldn't
get me to be political boss in this town
for $4,000 cash in advance every year.
Another thing, I'm not fitted for it. |
never was q politician and don't ever ex-
pect to be. Here in the Police Commission
l do not consider politics, but try to do the
best possible good for the protection of
San Francisco. That's the way it should
be. l want it distinctly understood that l
am no politician though, above all things"
''Who will succeed Whitman, Gillen and
Robinson as sergeants?'t
"Now that l DON'T know. We talked
very little over that before l departed for
the East and nothing was arranged. l
suppose they will be taken from among
the corporals who are, believe, the next
in rank. You see there are good many
details to be entered into before we center
upon any one man. The records have got
to be examined and the best man will get
his place. l believe in civil service reform
and particularly in police circles where the
very best men we have are necessary.
"You know | have not seen the other
Commissioners since my return, but | guess
what I've said is about correct. II any
changes had been made in the programme
/ would have known something about it
and nothing new has occurred. One thing
you can bet on, and that is what | said
about Bethel. He has got to 90 Just what
is expected of him and no more. We are
going to have reform and he might as well
pp wind 0f that fact now INV fiy,a