The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-03
Promises Alden Anderson a Place on
the Police Force for a Vote
for Burns.
The Corruptionists, Fearful of Public Scandal and
Indignation, Modify Their
Original Plans.

Nose Gunst and Chief Of Police Lees
refuse to be frightened away from their
helpless prey in the Police Department.
The plot, which was Matched months ago,
to use the department and sacrifice its
interests and some of its best men to the
Senatorial ambition of Dan Burns, IS to
be carried to completion although on
lines slightly different from those first
made. As was to be expected, the ex-
pose of The Call created CONSERVATION in
police and political circles. Most of the
men that had been selected for the sacri-
flee learned for the first time. through the
columns of The Call, that they had been
chosen for dismissal.
During the day every influence was
brought to bear by the endangered men
TO save themselves from decapitation.
Friends of the scheming Commissioners
and the Chief of Police were importuned
TO use their good offices to prevent the
outrageous action proposed by the Pen
sion Commissioners. The pressure was
great enough to change the method OF
the proposed outrage, but 1t was not
powerful enough to modify the cruel plan
of Dan Burns His victims must fall be
Meath the official AK, but in order to
avoid, if possible, public cutlery, the
executions will be gradual instead of a
general sweep.
The gambling Commissioner and the
Chief of Police have gone too far in their
INSCRIPTIONS alliance with Burns to re-
tire. The hide-bound Senatorial aspirant
is proof against the lash of public optn-
ion and his confreres must obey him..
They will do so more adroitly, however,
than they first schemed. Possibly not
more than a third of the vacancies in the
Police Department demanded by Burns
VIII be created at the session of the Po-
. lice Pension Commissioners at its meet
ing this morning. Before the State. Leg
islature has adjourned, however, the other
vacancies will be made and If possible
twenty-five new places Will be created in
the department
This audacious scheme will give Burns,
therefore, nifty positions to be used as
brides at Sacramento. There will be a
double advantage in creating vacancies
gradually instead of by wholesale, at a
single stroke of the pen. Burns knows
State capital that it is not always wis
dom TO pay before the goods are de-
liVered. He will keep his chattels in line,
therefore, until the votes are counted.
That this is the policy determined upon
by Burns and accepted by his satellite,
Gunst, Is proved absolutely by a recent
son of Solano. Joseph Circle, a mer-
chant of Suisun, sought to obtain from
Gunst place on the police force for a
man named Fitzpatrick. The willy Com
Fitzpatrick a patrolman if Assemblyman
Anderson would agree to vote for Dan
Burns for United States Senator No
other concession was demanded. In order
that the coveted position might be OBJ
tanned Anderson must accept it as a
bride to vote for the knavish aspirant for
national honor. He Indignantly refused
This transaction indicates clearly that
Dan Burns has not yet abandoned the
practice that brought him thrice behind
the doors of a prison. AS a betrayer Of
he raj
himself TO a point where as briber and
corruptionist he may enter the national
capitol: There is no precedent in this
State for such a shamelessly notorious
. barter and sale of the honor of public
men There have been former asplrants
for Senatorial honors that were suspected
10 win their dignity. Dun Burns is the
first to bear openly the scar of guilt The
bait offered by other men was money.
That of Dan Burns is the livelihood Of
men who must submit their very exist
ence to brace of gamblers.
Chlef OF Police Lees stormed yesterday
as usual. lie admitted. however, that the
list OF police officers as published in The
Call was correct and had been in his pos
session for several days. The Chief was
not so frank in an explanation of his
recent relations with Commissioner Nose
Gunst. TWO months ago GunSt and Lees
We're at each others throat. Each was
blackguarding the other in up-to-date
profanity. Lees was loud in his. insist
ent assertion that Gunst sought to throw
the town wide open to gamblers. thieves
blacklegs and criminals. Gunst replied
that the old man was dreaming in the
fantasies of old age and should be retired
before he did damage to himself or others
Now Lees and Gunst are chums They
swap lies, exchange treats and plot the
sacrlhce OF men who have no friends
The change came little less than two
months ago when Dan Burns determined
that he should be United States Senator.
Burns was the peacemaker and when he
he induced Lees and Gunst TO settle their
diiferences and in harmony betray the Pc
lice Department to him. That is WHY
Gunst and Lees have been friends for
nearly two months
,;While Lees would not discuss yesterday
ms relations with Gunst he did reveal the
entire policy OF Dan Burns in manipulat-
ing the Police Department to his political
adYantage The venerable Chief de-
.Slared with much solemnity that
meeting Of the Police Pension Commits
sloners, upon the adoption Of a most
important 1n1 pc ant resolution. This is nothing
slqners snail not arbitrarily retire officers
when they reach the age limit unless
such olhcers are physically or mentally
incapable OF performing their duties.
Chief OF Police Lees declares that this
resolution Will be adopted by the Pension
commission. and its adoption will show
the commission serves no private interest
or corrupt one as in the case Of Dan
Burns. As Il matter of fact. the resolu-
ton Will snow nothing of the sort. The
discretionary power of dismissal and Of
retirement will still remain with the PEN
sion Commissioners. 1t is they tyho dc
termlne the mental or physical capacity
or the men to be decapitated JJnpro-
tected officers. without influence. viii still
remain the victims of those in power.
The suggestion of the resolution how
ever, has deep significance in another
direction. 1t means that Dan Burns and.
his sycophantic tools, Gunst and Lees
have decided not to brave the outcrv az
public indignation that would follow the
retirement of twenty-five men most of
whom are fully able to perform their
duties. The precious triumvirate Of
schemers has decided to work more in
sidiously and TO attack first the men who
have met misfortune and are overcome nv
illness. That this illness is the result or
public service is no concern of Dan RIrns
or his lieutenants
it is the sick men of the department
who will be dismissed therefore to-day
The meeting OF the Pension Commission
ers will begin at IL O'Clock this morning
unless the condition OF Commissioner To,
bin is worse than it was yesterday The
men slated for dismissal are the follow
ing: William McCottren. Charles Hem
nessey. Maurice Duane. Harrison Moran.
Frank w. Riley. w. D. Scott and r. J.
McGrayan. Three others. Patrolmen
Morehouse. Fred Smith and Charles
O'Maley. have already sent in their resig-
nations and will be retired. One or two
Others who resisted vigorously the plot
TO retire them may suffer the vengeance