The San Francisco call., 1897-12-17
WILL OPPOSE
THE CHARTER
The Fire Commissioners
Say It Is a Dangerous
Document.
If Adopted 1t Will Again Force
the Department Into
Politics.
The Board Is Anxious to Keep the
Service on Non-Political
Lines.

The proposed new charter framed by
the Citizens Committee of One Hundred
is deemed by the Fire Comm issioners tc
be a dangerous document. The Commits
sioners, at meeting held yesterday after.
! noon, freely expressed their views of that
| portion of the proposed charter relatin e
/ to the government of the fre-fghting force
of the municipality. They were of the
opinion that the charter proposed, and
which will probably be ind orsed in the
event of the election of the fifteen free
holders nominated by the Citizens Com
mittee, is intended 10 again throw the
Fire Department into politics.
The discussion of the provisions made
IN the charter for the regulation of the
Fire Department OF the city was brought
about by Chief Sullivan. After the trans
action of the usual routine business. Chief
Sullivan said that he felt it his duty to
call the attention of the Commissioners 10
the charter as framed by the Citizens
Committee.
1T is dangerous document, so far as
the Fire Department Is concerned" said
he, land l believe the commission should
take some action. II this charter is
adopted, it will be impossible TO MAINTAIN
discipline in the department. Every
thing has been thrown into the hands of
the Board of Supervisors, and you all
know from experience CO what that means"
Il have read the cnapter referred 10 by
the Chief" said President Bohen, land he
has but mildly expr- ssed the dangers Of
the situation. The charter framed bv the
Citizens Convention Is dangerous and
misch evous in so far as 1t relates to the
Fire Department. We have fought for
years 10 get the department out OF poll
tics and have succeeded. Now that the
service is such as IL should be it is pro-
posed by the committee to again make it
inefficient by throwing II into politics. A
subcommittee OF the convention called on
US to make suggestions as to how the de-
partment should be conducted. We gave
them our ideas-in fact, drafted the neces-
sary provisions-and what have they
done?
But all the suggestions made they
have only adopted one, and that is the
appointment of the commissioners by the
Mayor. We worked hard and earnestly
TO get the department out of politics.
We succeeded. All our work will be un-
done if the charter as formed by the
Citizens Committee goes into effect. 1t is
proposed to throw the entire government
of the department into the hands of the
Supervisors. You all appreciate what
the result will be. The members OF the
department will haze 10 take an active
hand in politics. They will naturally be
On the lookout to serve and help the men
whom they will have to look to for their
places. The VIII ole proposition is that if
charter such as has been framed ever
goes into effect, the department will either
have 10 do business with the political
bosses or the Supervisors.
81 for one don't want to see the depart
ment N the political whirlpool again. 1t
took years to place the department on its
! present footing. The mem bers now know
that their tenure OF Office depend on their
faithful service-not on political pull If
! the management of the department is to
| be given to the Board of Supervisors and
! the Supervisors are to say just who shall
serve in the department, the men will be
! forced into politics ], for one, am op-
| posed TO the proposed charter and should
| do my utmost to see that il never becomes
| the law of the municipality"
! Commissioners Edwards and Marshall
| also announced their opposition to tie
| charter as framed by the Citizens Com
| mittee. They said that it contained some
few good provisions, but the proposition
| to place the men in the Fire Department
! under the control of the Superviso rs and
| in consequence, force them into politics,
was something that would never meet
| with their approval.
James Grady, fireman of engine %, who
has been in the service for over thirty
| years. was placed on the retired list with
half pay. T. K. Murphy was appointed a
member of truck g