The San Francisco call., 1897-09-22
Conferred With Attorneys, but
at Sea as to the Levy
He Will Accept.
BRITT BIGGY INCIDENT YET TALKED OF
Rainey and Lanigan Fearful That
the New Board Shall Basket the
Heads of the Heelers.

Britts passage at arms with Biggy on
Monday in the chambers of the Board of
Supervisors is still the talk OF the town,
but as men IN this country seldom resort
to the code in settling their disputes the
public cannot judge whether or not the
incident has yet ended.
Be this as it may the public is rejoicing
over the fact that the ex-Supervisors"
were elected from the rooms OF the board
by the police, and that the new board
fixed an equitable tax levy.
The old board, made up of the late but
not lamented eight, was scheduled to
meet yesterday morning in the Fulton
House.
Acting Mayor Britt ex-Supervisors
Sheehan, Morton, Delaney and Rivers
were present at the appointed time. They
waited and waited for Haskins. Devany
and Smith to appear Mayor" Britt
finally concluded that they must have ex-
perienced a bad night, ana, not being able
10 count a quorum, called a meeting of
the board" for IL o'clock this morning.
Britt and the others had no hing TO say
about their plans. Their eiectnent from
the chambers of the Supervisors humili-
end their fight by throwing up the sponge
if Sam Rainey and Ned Laniean had not
persuaded them to battle 10 the end.
Rainey and Lanni an, the present bosses
OF the Democratic party, are particularly
interested in the battle being waged by
the new and old boards. From the stand
point OF politics the situation is unique.
Rainey and Lanigan have in the neigh
borhood of lis men working about the
Citv hall as clerks of the police courts
warrant clerks prosecuting attorneys, jan
itors, police patrol drivers and gardeners
They were appointed to the places by the
ousIed board, which was controlled by
these politicians. Now the bosses and
their heelers are fearful lest the new board
throw them upon the cold, cold world to
make all honest living.
The new board intimated at one of its
meetings that it would not protect any
man in po ition who owed his appoint
ment to alleg snce 10 a political boss.
There is no question that the new board
will oust the Rainey- Lanigan men, but
the question arises as to who shall appoi nj
their succe
There is doubt in the minds OF many
| politicians as to whether or not Mayor
Phelan will be able TO dictate appoint
ments 10 the board. While the majority
OF the mem bers OF the board are DEM
ocrats, some of them declare that they will
appoint men of their own choice to fill any
vacancies they might create. The matter
of appointments will cause the first big
wrangle in the new board.
The attorneys and supporters of the old
board declare that the new board will be
knocked higher than a kite by the Su-
preme Court 1t is the intention OF the
old board to bring mandamus proceedings
in the Supreme Court against the Auditor
in case he determines TO accept the ia Z
levy made by the new board By these
proceedings the old board hopes to ascer-
tain from the Supreme Court whether or
not its appeal from the judgment of Juds
Wallace acts as a stay of execution
The 'tx-Sups." are living III the hope
that the Supreme Court will decide that
their appeal acts a, stay, for then every
act of the new board would ultimately be
declared illegal. II such decision as they
hope for should be handed down compli-
cations that will throw the city's finances
into a tangle would be sure 10 follow.
Auditor Broderick is still pondering
over the tax levy. He wanted advice on
the matter, so yesterday he held a confer
ence with City and County Attorney Cres-
well, Attorney Bsggett, who represents
the new board, and Garret McEnerney,
who represents the ola board.
Attorneys McEnerney and Baggett cited
authorities to show why the levy of the