The San Francisco call., 1897-05-14
ON THE ANXIOUS SEAT.
No Break of the Deadlock in the Board
of Works.

No Break of the Deadlock in the Boar d
of Works.
OAKLAND, CAL, May 13-Chere is still
great doubt as TO when changes may be
made in the head of the Fire and Street
departments.
City Engineer Clement stated to-day his
reasons why he wished to turn out Fire
Chief Fair and Street Superintendent
N iller yesterday. although | am not a
Democrat" said Cement, Il was elected
on the Democratic ticket and | believe
the party is entitled to some recognition
from me. l wish to put Nick Ball in as
Chief of the Fire Department.. He is q
Democrat and competent to fill the posi-.
ton. 1t is well known whether Chief
Fair is competent or not. | wished to put
Democrat at the head OF one departm ent
and the other Commissioners had virtu-
ally given me the Fire Department. This
was hot said in so many words. but it
was understood. OF course, neither Maver
Thomas nor Mr.. Dow can be expected to
vote for Democrat, but | shall insist
upon getting one in "
The position is now getting more COM
plicated than ever, and programmes are
being made and broken between each
meeting of the board. There are three
departments and three Commissioners.
and it has generally been the rule for each
commissioner to handle one department
At this time there does not seem to be
any desire to remove the Chief of Police
on the part of any one and yet neither of
the Commissioners Is anxious to be the
one to lose his privilege on behalf OF the
Chief of Police
The strongest political friends OF Mayor
Thomas have evidently determined tnat
Fred Cam pbell shall be the next Chief OF
the Fire Department, and until this de-
NT,.n l..
dissatisfaction and unpleasantness in the
Bosrd of Works.
Clement viii certainly not be permitted
to turn the Fire Department over to the
Democrats. and he in turn is evidently
determined that Mayor Thomas shall not
get his way, and with the third Commits
sioner, Dow, contented with things as
they are and unwilling TO vote with
either, the present demoralized condition
Of the Fire Department will continue.
Every few days the lack c. discipline in
the men under Chief Fair is made more
more and more apparent, and suspen-
sions are becoming very common. The
Chief has been criticized so severely for
his apparent lack of mpetency at recent
fires that the men have evidently made
up their minds that there is to be a
change, and are showing the Indifference
that can be reasonably expected under
such circumstances.
Beaver Wants His Pay.
OAKLAND, CAL, May 13.-A very vo-
luminous com plant has been filed with
the County Clerk by George W. B aver,
the sole surviving trustee OF the will of
Isaac Lohman. The suit is brought
against the heirs to secure payment of the
costs and expenses incurred by Beaver in
handling the trust. The heirs are now all
of age and their estate has been held in
trust ever since by the executors for the
children until they are either married or
become of age.
the report recites in detail how the es-
tate of about $4,000 mas been disposed of
and asks that s. Prentiss Smith shall be
appointed trustee in the place OF plaintiff.
Lambert's Bondsmen to Settle.
OAKLAND, CAL, May 13.-The City
Attorney has received assurances from
the attorneys for o. c. Kirk and Henry
Evers, bondsmen for ex-Police Court
Clerk Lam bert, that they will settle up
the detalcation with the city without
delay. Ii Lambert, who is row serving
time in San Quentin. will assign the two