The San Francisco call., 1899-06-19
FOUR CHIEFS
TOO MUCH FOR
one DEPARTMEN
Secret of Trouble in
the Police Force.
AT THE HAGUE" IN OAKLAND
10 DESIRE TO CONVERT THE
PoUNDMAN.
MIR. Mack Discovers Too Late That
Holding a Public Office Is Not the
Most Pleasant of Human
Experiences.
AT THE HAGUE" IN OAKLAND
10 DESIRE TO CONVERT THE
POUNDMAN.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,

Oakland Office San Francisco Call
90S Broadway. June IS.
Great things are expected Of the Police
'aDartment after July l. the date on
which the new Chief takes command.
I neither these expectations will be full
He'd or not depends only in n secondary
degree upon Chief Hodgkins. No one
I1ubts his ability TO run the department
in a conscientious, able manner. There
IS no doubt of the ability of Captain Will
SON or Of Captain Peterson. These three
men can give good service if they are let
alone. Chief Hodgkins knows what is ex-
pected of him, but he can only crafty
the expectation Of the public if he be per-
mitted to be Chief in reality as well as in
name.
There cannot he four Chiefs Of the Po-
lice Department. as there have been in
the past five years. Whenever a patrol
man knows that he can obtain d private
audience with one or other OF the three
Police Commissioners. the Chief VIII have
but little authority. Tt is no secret that
nearly every man on the force fiatters
himself that he has had some kind of a
puu with one Of the Commissioners. To
such AN extent has this been carried in
the past Jhat many men have been able
70 pick their own beats. Where this prac-
tice prevails there can be no discipline
and this is the secret Of the demorali-
zati0n Of the department that il is
claimed exists at this time Going further.
IL is notorious that even some Of the mem
hars of the commission have been pracu-
callv forced by outside politicians TO do
things against their better Judgment. II
this system is 10 continue there may as
well be $l75 a month saved by leaving the
position Of Chief vacant. Having ap-
pointed their man. 1t is the Commission-
cts duty now 10 take a back seat and
look on. TefraIuing from indicating any
preference for any individual member of
the department and To leave the work
Of earning his salary 70 the Chief. Inc
commissioners should not only do this,
h.t should distinctly impress the fact
upon every member Of the department.
The situation at the City Hall is very
much like that at The Hague-everybo body
talking peace, Yet making war At the
same time there is no prospect of an al
lance. The three men who in reality con-
sti-ute the city government by reason OF
their individual capacities and their coll
Iective power as Board Of Works are
not now i'm position to be inordinately
aggressive. II is as we'll that they are as
they are. for every question that comes
up stands the best chance Of being settled
on its merits and not according TO the
Rhim Of any combination. The Mayor
has his man at the head Of the Police
Department. The City Attorney has his
choice in the Street Department. The
..tE Engineers man is in control of the
Fire Department. Any attempt on the
part of any Two of the three Commission
ans to displace the choice OF the third
man would immediately result IN a
change all around. As this is not desired
apparent peace IS polite
The meeting of the Board Of Works is
d long way from a love feast. The MEM
I--- being gentlemen do not furnish any
sensational matter, but the difference Is
.. kind. not in degree. 1t resembles a
sack Of three bayonets-all pointing up
.,.rd. II one or all should explode only a
cloud would be i'm danger. Occasionally
-.a surface is rufied and there is an
eruption just sufficiently virile 10 SHOW
-.- force within the suppressed volcano.
r..s condition is not confined to any par
-.....r incident. II appears TO be general
... s in evidence whether the subject
I.....s 10 be the erection Of a hagpoie,
g.. rtiOumeut of patronage or the is
-... II d permit to connect with a
W.T. the subject of patronage along
ga--. mes is discussed each of the Com
..-IS tndS himself in a very brittle
Mr.. Dow chided Mr.. Snow re-
with not being willing TO put out a
cratic fire chief. This caused Mr.
-p remember that for more than two
Republican Mr.. Dow would not
-. to remove Il Populist Chief Of Po-
NI~. Clement says nothing. but
tl.uts of the time when he. DEMOCRAT
voted to put in office a Republican Chief
So long as these conditions prevail
everything must of necessity be submit
ted To arbitration, although il can truth
fully he said that this method Is not at
I'M ualatahle. There is no field in the
hoard just now for q dictator.
There were TWO fires on Thursday night
and r would have been we'll had the Fire
Commissioners been present ana noticed
-ne work Of the firemen. They would
-ruba bly, have imbibed a new idea. There
vide gulf between doing politics and
-ertirg fires. II was interesting TO note
-.. manner in which some members OF
-.. department handled themselves 3no
-.a arparatUs. It was made evident that
. man may he rs bidlY partisan in politics
H yet show no fear Of little danger
-'t. discipline is Of the first Importance
..rlucting q fire department 1t is not
...~ an So imperative during the hours
.l discussing politics and the weather
engine house as during the time
.... property and lives are in danger
t. .-e ANY one who would condemn ar
rless fireman because he might
nom him in politics would be eH
greeted. .. criticize the integrity OF Dem
..r.r.. inner off Santiago because the
Taa -..- ordered by a Republican Presi
tn. ra view Of the fact that some
C.aHE.s are contemplated in the Oakland
i"re Deuartment these ideas are sug
E0-.l to the Commissioners.
II report be true the Poundman is the
most abusing and the most abused indl'
vilual ON earth. He depends for his sal
AIRY On fees. If he be ambitious and in
UustriouS he makes a good salary and as
many enemies as dollars If he be lazy
Che Council win be petitioned to remove
him. Every owner Of A dog, COW, horse
goat or cat is Of necessity his enemy, and
when the poor fellow does what he be
Hcves 10 be right he generally finds thai
he mas done what is decidedly wrong
This is not altogether his fault. Wher
Le impounds an animal he cannot be sup.
r0ecd TO know whether such animal be
longs 10 a friend Of a member of The city