The San Francisco call., 1899-07-17

the rear rooms of cigar stores and
saloons.
II has Just developed that at one of
these little gatherings in Dr. Pardee' S
library Mr. Miller was guaranteed two
years more in office should he be defeated
for City Engineer. It has also come TO
light that at a more recent social gath
ering around Councilman Taylors dining
room table some more friendly pOlucS
was discussed. Mr.. Snow, in the first
blush Of his mayoralty, exchanged some
sensible ideas with the fellow members
Of his administration in his parlor at the
q similar friendly banquet, and 1t is
stated that the example is TO run all along
me line, although II is not expected tnat JL
Mr. Schaffer will invite Mr.. Taylor or Mr.
Miller TO his banquet for reasons that
need not be repeated.
This method of meeting having been
established. 1t would be only right. to
hold one more, where all the little differ
euCes of opinion that now exist and which
are being magnified by interested parties
could be adjusted on an intelligent basis
without loss Of dignity. Surely every
body is now convinced Of the folly or
members Of one municipal family rush
Ing into print to air their grievances
against each other. or airing them before
lahbies and running the risk Of being
criticized for playing to the gallery.
Il will not be amiss TO glance briefly at
each individual member of the admins
tration as he stands to-day in the pubic
eye after nearly four months on eXhibi-
t.0n. Mayor Snow has shown just that in
dependence of action and thought that
he allowed himself to be dictated to
agatnst his better Judgment. Because of
this method Of conducting his office he
has often been criticized, and naturally
has made some political enemies. This
IS The best proof that he is not a tool In
be hands of any individual or clique
Little men with axes to grind have never
lost an opportunity of trying to convince
the thousands who elected Mr.. Snow that
they made a mistake, bat they have not
succeeded and the only indictment yet
brought against the Mayor is that his
memory fails to recall an alleged promise
made ir the presence Of DR.. Pardee and
other gentlemen prior 10 the last election.
Instead OF all the assertions and de-
malls that have appeared in print the last
Two weeks regarding Mr.. Miller and the
many attempts 70 force the Mayor to
act against his Will, Il would have been
gar more polite and immensely more dip
-amauc 10 have adjusted the misunder-
S'andiEg.-for such 1t now confessedly Is
a. little gathering whore the interested
critic was not in attendance.
City Attorney Dow has followed close
lv the lines which he laid down and which
uere laid down for him during the cam
paign. No one has ever criticized Mr..
D0ws ability or energy as q City Attor-
uev. He has mixed in little tits with
the Mayor, anu it is to be regretted that
both gentlemen have occasionally inter
-ected remarks into their public meetings
which would have been better unsaid,
This however. does not destroy their use
funess or impair the public standing Of
the gentlemen. Instead Of having to be
pestered with petty patronage, Mr. Dow,
as City Attorney, should be removed from
such annoyances. and fns view Of the
time that has been CONSUMED in dispos-
ing Of the waterfront cases, / believe that
Mr. Dow and his assistant could in all
these years have handled the cases as
ably as the special attorney who drew
such princely sums from the City Treas
Iry, for work which, to the lay mind,
appears 10 be a g far as ever from an ul-
innate conclusion.
City Engineer Clement is unfortunate
in being a Democrat among Republicans.
although il is understood that originally
he was Republican. He certainly was
elected the first time as a young man
candidate" irrespective Of politics, but
being taken Up on the Democratic ticket
against an unpopular Republican, he was
landed in office. 1t cannot be forgotten.
however, that he was, only four months
ago stu little more popular than the
Republican candidate. Owing to the sys-
TEN under which he is paid ii cannot be
supposed that Republicans will 20 out of
their way to help increase his salary
when he declines TO follow the lines OF
the Republican programmes. It is un-
fortunate that he, like the CITY Attorney
Is 1Orce0 INTO p0ItlcS through the stu
pidity of a charter which everybody con-
,demns but which no one appears to have
the courage 10 undertake to reform
l--eident Rowe has handled the Council
for four months with much executive abil-
ity, but he steps from the rostrum too
frequently to take part in debates. when
he would perhaps be better off If he con-
tented himself with mer,ly recording his
vote His many little pleasant differences
with Mr.. Cuvellier have led some TO be-
leve that each is anxious that the other
should not become too prominent. OF
course this is only pleasantly, but pleas
antry cuts big figure in politics.
Mr.. Stetson has tried to carry out some
good ideas regarding public improvements
Of the committee Of which he is chair
man. He Is too much in favor of discuss
ing and rediscussing small measures.
which delay and interfere with the prog
ress Of more important ones. His friend
from the same section Of town. Mr.. Mott,
tries frequently to expedite matters, but