The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-08
DOW WOULD FIRE BALL
FRED MURDOCH PROPOSED FOR
FIRE CHIEF.
Evidence That There Is Not Any
Prospect of Lovemaking Among
the Members of the
Board of Works,
Oakland Once San Francisco Call.


POS Broadway. June I.
The Mayor and the City Attorney each
scored partial victory at the City Hall
to-day. During the taking of votes on
many propositions much suppressed i'll
feeling was shown among the three mem
bers- Perhaps the most significant Incl
dent Of the meeting was the declination
OF the Mayor TO vote for the reelection
Of Superintendent Of Streets Miller.
As was expected. the Mayors choice,
Detective Hodgkins was made Chief of
Police; Sergeant Peterson was promoted
to captain, while Captain Morrison was
reduced 10 the ranks. No other changes
We're made, although Sergeant Seaman
will, when Chief Fletcher retires on July
1, be reduced from sergeant TO patrolman.
City Attorney Dow sprung a resolution
predicted a week ago naming Fred Muir
dock for chief of the Fire Department.
The Mayor and City Engineer Clement
voted the resolution down
Many other changes were proposed in
minor positions, but were all sent to the
committee OF the whole. Mr.. Dow want
ed TO appoint J. w Turner a special Off
Ger. in place of James Brannan; also to
promote Charles Clark to be a sergeant:
also to promote another Charles Clark to
succeed PatrOlman Charles Clark; also
declaring vacant the job Of Foreman John
Rohan Of the Fire Department.
All these things went TO the committee
after some suggestive shots had been
fired at each other by all three commit
teemen. II was very surprising to the
lobby that the Mayor and Mr.. Clement
sided on so many propositions, leaving
Mr.. Dow in the cold.
A few days ago the Mayor stated that
the Fire Department not having been in
Vesugated thoroughly would not be dis
turbed until ne could act intelligently.
Mr.. Dow attempted to force matters this
morning, but he was checked.
All through the campaign it was known
that II Mr.. Miller were elected he and
Mr.. Dow would control the Board OF
Works. No secret was made Of this fact
To-day Mr.. Dow introduced resolution
seeking to appoint Mr.. Miller for another
term. and the Mayor adroitly voted TO
with Mr.. Clement, remarking that as Mr.
Miller would hold office until his success
sor was appointed there was no need of
such resolution.
The proposition TO remove the fire chief
produced a few remarks from both the
Mayor and Mr.. Dow The Mayor said he
was ready TO vote on t{Ie resolution with
out having Il sent 10 the committee Of
the whole Dow reminded Snow that at
some previous meeting he had said that
II anybody wanted the subject referred
there would be no objection. The Mayor
said he had forgotten it. but would let
II h- delayed out Of Difference to Mr.
Two men filed applications to be ex-
aU.ued for admission to the Police De-
rartment The Mayor stated that there
would be no addition TO the force next
-aar unless somebody contributed money
-4E. DOW remarked tNdt THIS statement
must be very comforting to those men
90 the eligible list who had undergone q
physical examination and had qualified as
candidates. The Mayor retorted by say
ing that it is useless to raise false hopes
and Mr. Clement closed the conversation
by asking, is all the politics done?" Mr.
Dow answered him by saying, Call it
what YOU like"
As matters now stand, each of the
three members has his choice at the
head Of one OF the departments Mr.
Clement has Chief Ball. Mr.. Dow has Su-
perintendent Miller and the Mayor will
have after July l Chief Hodgkins. The
result Of the fight of the past month
shows that Mr.. Snow has the whip hand
and that Mr.. Dow, even with all his in
huential political backing, cannot force
measures.
Mayor Snow has scored a point with
the Police Department by siding with Of
hcer Pardee, who was recently fined $500
for beating Con Fitzgerald whom he had
under arrest. The case is to be appealed,
and when Judge Ogden was told of the
Mayors decision he said that he was
forced to accept the testimony of wit
nesses who appeared to him TO be telling
the truth.