The San Francisco call., 1898-12-01
Chief Lees and Captain Whitman Discussing 'rhe
 Good of the Department

lieutenant feared his budding hopes might be blasted if he ventured too ire guently within the arctic h e circle. so f9l | at headquarters AS for making social visit golden star would not have tempt | ed him.
 Other captains and lieutenants have watched developments with anxious eyes | and they have endeavored to remain astraddle of the fence and not take sides | with the combatants. Captain John Sey- mour assiduously attends to his duties as | prison Keeper at the central station pa | tiently waiting for Ben Bohen to retire as captain heof of dstectiyes is ,S Seymour has all Lees, and now he Is credited with being against Whitman. As the days go by the happy family in the upper office is gradu- ally being brought into the arena and each Is compelled to show his colors; and many of the banners which are reluctant Iy unfurled only add to the ferceness of the battle. Lees knows that many of his subordinates are ready to mutiny as soon as Spartan leader comes forward to as- sail the old man in his citadel
 For several days past an air of deep mystery has hung like a pail over the de- partment chiefs. Their daily greetings were apparently cheerful and cordial. but those on the inside were we'll aware that regular ola southwest storm was about 10 break Discarded and unusual pulls were dug up from various sources and eacn awaited the onslaught of the other Night before last Chief Lees mounted his
 
 with vicious twist, and ordered Captain Whitman to appear before him forthwith. stantly.
 The battle was on. and for hours if ragged f1ercely. Two great big capital Is had met and neither would bend Whitman 5Eohud1y Ehsdy and md profanely objected to the SndeIs spd gsr plan to split the central division Esola. When his objection became too torTid the Chief ordered him to keep silent or ieaVe the room whereat came the re- tort m loud and angry tones:
 ,eIll not keep silent and I'll not leave this room till get good and ready, and you cant make me do either.'
 screech:
 You'll do as I say. I've broken better men than you. and if you don't resign when want you to I'll make you"
 Captain Seymour, who was an unwilling auditor ito this and more, got up to leave the private office, saying, I'm going out; I don't want to listen to this conversa, tion."
 Whitman, with ironical sarcasm, said: On! you'd listen to anything implying that where the Chief was there also would John be found.
 This meeting was but a skirmish com pared with the peace conference" which was called for yesterday afternoon. In response to Chief Lees request" Cap- tain Whitman and Lieutenant Esola ap- peared at the private office, and after friendly greetings were exchanged the good of the department" order of busi- ness was taken up. In about minute the windows and doors were rattling and the men in the outer office knew Lees and the captain were mixing things again.
 AS oral bomb after oral bomb exploded the desk sergeants became alarmed, and fearing the violence would lead to blood shed they took turns in interrupting the "conference." For a moment after the first intruder's entrance all was still. then as the door closed on his exit hoStilities were resumed with increased f1erceness Both warriors had had an opportunity to vantage of the moment to get renewed courage from a glance at two new pie lures of himself which face his desk The ming the fight anew by defantly shouting: II have been in this department forty five years" Then the captain would re- tort II don't care if you've been here a ing all. the afternoon. During the engage ment. Lieutenant Esolas only smiled in- wardly and sat complacently in his chair. He was certain the plum which was being shaken down would drop on his plate.
 People passing through the corridors were at a loss to understand the cause of the great racket until word went from one to another that Lees and Whitman were talking over police business" Then every one stopped to listen, and at one tfme haif hundred individuals were gathered in front of the door from which the roar came.
 The only topic of conversation about the City hall all day and among the members of the Police. Department was the. story in yesterdays Call that Lees had demanded Wittman's resignation. Policemen reporting on early in the morning had read the story and comment ed upon it. They declared that they had long expected just such row and that all the story had not been told. Rumors of scandal in the department are now fly- ing around and Captain Wittman's for- msr sr shorteomings are recalled by those Commissioners several years ago Lieutenant Fred Esola, who now ranks Captain Whitman, although he wears single bar has been In the department since November 4, 1892. April A. 1894, he was promoted sergeant, and in November. lS95,. was appointed lieutenant He had charge or the old City Hall for some time before the department moved to the pres ent headquarters. At the time of re- moval he was a lieutenant and was made station keeper at California street. which position. he has, retained. Lieutenant Price will remain in charge of the. China town squad, but some changes among the sergeants are expected.