The San Francisco call., 1896-02-04
ALMOST ENDED IN A ROW
A Stormy Meeting of the Board
Of Election Commits
SionerS.
Exception Taken to Startling State.
ments That Were Made by
Mayor Sutro.

The first meeting of the old Board of
Election Commissioners since the Supreme
CourS decided that the board appointed by
Mayor Sutro was not entitled to the Office
of commissioners came near breaking up
in row, because of the friction between
Mayor Sutro and Auditor Broderick.
Mayor Sutro's feelings regarding the COM
mission are we'll known, and he makes no
pretense of concealing them.
The meeting had hardly been called to
order yesterday morning when his Honor
remarked that the decision of the supreme
Court declaring the old board. which con-
sists of the Mayor, Auditor, Tax Collector,
City and County Attorney and City Survey
or, the legal boaId, was public calamity
and that had the Supreme Court sustained
his appointees honest elections would have
been possible.
Auditor Broderick took exception to the
statement, believing it to be reflection on
the mem bers present.
'What do you mean by that?" he de-
mauded. "Do you say that 1 am not as
honest man as any member OF that
board?"
ooh, 1 don't mean that" the Mayor
fastened to say, "but elections have been
badly not to say dishonesty conducted,
and / hoped that under the rule of a
strictly non-partisan board many abuses
would be remedied.
City and County Attorney Creswell took
umbrage at this statement, saying:
''Do you mean that this board is incom-
petent? 1 will not contradict that state
ment as far as you are concerned but I do
not want any such statements made re-
garding myself"
The business of the meeting went on
for brief period, until the Mayor added
fresh fuel TO the fire by saying:
Huntington owns this City, but you will
see that he will not elect his own officials
at the coming election as he did at the
last.'
WHO was elected by huntingdon ?" de-
manded Broderick and Creswell in
breath.
II was elected and so were you," said
Broderick, 'do you mean to say that he
had any hand in my election? Perhaps he
did in yours"
The Mayor glared at this, but Broderick
continued:
You are very rich man, Mr.. Mayor,
but you can't run this board or me-"
Mr.. Sutro said something about the
bosses debating the elections if Hunting
ton did not, and Mr.. Broderick flared UP
again.
''I don't know that Buckley is any more
of boss than you are trying to be, he
said.
IHe discussion between the mayor,
Auditor and Attorney became so
heated that the latter two, with
Surveyor Tilton, got up and started
to leave the meeting, but were prevailed
upon to stay until the payment of the
debts accumulated by the illegal board
had been disposed of.
The board was divided on this question,
Auditor Broderick and Attorney Creswell
believing that the salaries of those ap-
pointed by the ousted Commissioners
could not be legally paid. The majority
prevailed. however. and unless Auditor
Broderick refuses to sign the warrants the
clerks will get their money.
Before the meeting adjourned Mayor
Sutro announced that he did not think he
would be able to attend any more of the
gatherings of the commission, but would
send a substitute.
''He will not be recognized promptly
answered MIR. Broderick. 'If you could
send a substitute so could Mr.. Creswell,
Mr.. Block, Mr.. Tilton and myself and we
would soon have board of deputies
The Mayor said nothing more and the
meeting adjourned.