The San Francisco call., 1908-09-09

A $4,000 motor boat and a s4.5OO au-
tomobiIe make a combination for pri-
vate entertainment purposes that is
hard TO beat-especially when the
whole thing is free of charge. Police
Commissioner Keil, who has constituted
himself the admiral of the police de-
partnent's navy, consisting of the po-
lice boat Patrol, has the enjoyment of
both IuxurieS. His record does not end
with % pleasure trips in 81 days on
board the Patrol, but also includes in
Vulnerable excursions in the automo-
bile which is ostenslbly for police de-
partment use and which the city pays
for.
II is an elaborate establishment that
KeiI has found at his disposal The
Patrol originally cost the city S11,S99
TO build, with 500 for the services of
inspectors and $3.50 for plans and speci-
fcations. Then there was an initial
outlay of $500 for floats, mooring and
gangway, and from July II to July 27
there was expended S274.39 for ap-
purtenances and supplies. This was
exclusive Of operating expenses, for an
additional bill for cylinder oil, gaso-
line and distillate used between July
l and July % amounted to $55.22. Three
engineers are employed at a monthly
salary of S125 each, totaling $4,000 a
year. for which there is a special ap-
preparation.
AS a result of this conservative out
lay the Patrol has accomplished %
pleasure trips to Belvedere for Police
Commissioner Keil, and when he did
not care for its services it has been
available for police duty.
ENGINEER FRIEND OF KEEL
That Commissioner Ken has been
favored beyond other members of the
commission in the use of the Patrol
is not strange in view of the fact that
Engineer Larkin, one of the three men
employed TO run the launch, was until
recently employed in Keirs office with
the California adding machine company
in the Flood building. Larkin is new
at the engineer business, however, for
although he was appointed to his pres
ent position on May 1, ii was not until
a week later that he received his
license as an engineer. Keil himself
is becoming an adept, for on several
of the pleasure trips he has been per-
mitted 10 run the engine of the launch.
HAS AUTO HABIT
Keirs automobile habit is similar
to his launch habit The big machine
purchased for police use takes him TO
luncheon several times a week and is
always at his disposal without question
when he telephones Chief Biggy for it.
It took him to luncheon Monday and in
the afternoon whirled him, with Big
gy's son and a couple of detectives, TO
the prize fight.
Chief Biggy would not discuss the
use made by Commissioner Keil of the
police boat 1t was a joke, he said,
and he didn't know whether or not it
was so that Keil was using it for his
personal convenience or pleasure. Even
if positive proof were laid before him,
Biggy said that he would make no in
vestigation, and would not even ques-
tion Captain Conboy of the harbor po
lice station as to the manner in which
the boat is being used.
Admitting that it is true that the
boat has been taken outside of your
Jurisdiction over TO Marin county %
times in 81 days, do you consider that
a proper use TO be made of such
boat2" he was asked
He refused to answer.
BOAT IN GOOD HANDS
The boat is in good hands," he
said. 1T is under my direction through
Captain Conboy, whom 1 will not ques-
tion. Whatever may be the police
commissioners pleasure concerning
the boat is all right"
Captain Conboy had little to say last
night regarding Commissioner Keils
monopoly on the Patrol for his pleas
ure trips. He admitted that the launch
was under his control as part of the
harbor police detail and stated that it
was used in all kinds of police duty
and that he knew of several trips that
had been made to BelVedere and Sau-
salito.
When there is a late commission
meeting or something of that sort, of
course the commissioners have to get
home somehow" he said when one
of the commissioners cares to use the
launch, of course it is at his disposal
and I would not interfere, nor would
ask for any kind of an investigation
AS far as Commissioner KeiI is con-
cerned, however, / have paid no atten-
tion to the matter and have no COM
ment to make as to any alleged misuse
of the boat"