The San Francisco call., 1909-03-11
MERCHANTS FIGHT
POLICE BOARD BILL
Vigorous Action Started Against
Measure TO Restrict Com
MISSIONS Power
Review of Rulings Would Only
Aid Saloon Keepers and
Broken" PatrOImen

Vigorous action was started yester-
day by the Downtown association
against the so called police board
bill" now before the legislature. the
effect of which would be to tie the
hands of the San Francisco police COM
mission as to all its functions. The
merchants who compose the Downtown
association are arleady at work asking
the aid OF all the city's commercial
organizations in the effort to kiln the
Objectionable measure.
The police board bill' was intro
duced in the senate by Finn and in the
assembly by Macauley, both of San
Francisco. 1t amends the code of civil
procedure so as to permit the issuance
of writs of review by all courts, except
police and justices courts, where it
appears that any inferior tribunal.
board or officer, with real or asserted
jurisdiction to hear. try or determine
anything has exceeded its jurisdiction
or has ruled enormously. It's terms
are such as to take away from the
police commission any semblance of
authority TO regulate liquor licenses,
or TO try policemen accused of de-
linquency, giving any superior or ap-
peal court power to review not only
the matter of jurisdiction but the man
ner Of the hearing and the sufflciency
of the evidence.
PROBABLY FRAMED IN SALOON
This measure, introduced in the sem
ate by Finn and in the assembly by
his boy. Walter Macauley of the twen-
ty-eighth district, is OF particular in
terest only TO San Francisco. hence the
expedition with Which il has emerged
from committee. Assemblyman Henry
Beatty signed minority report recon-
mending that it do not pass.
If the members of the judiciary COM
mittees had better understood the con-
ditions which the passage of the bill
would create in San Francisco, it is
doubtful whether it would have had
such plain sailing. II it had been sus-
pected that the measure was probably
framed in the Office of McDonough
Brothers saloon, it might have been
embarra ssing for Tom Finn, who
makes his political and business head
quarters in The booze emporium"
across the street from the hall OF JUS
tice.
The bill is broad enough to take in
not only the cases of saloon keepers or
dive keepers whose licenses have been
revoked and policemen who have been
broken but also, in the opinions of
board of supervisors.
Finn's particular interest, of course
lies in helping saloon keepers and po-
licemen who have clashed with the law
McDonough's saloon is a sort of clear
ing house for that sort of business. and
Finn, from political and other motives
takes lively interest in it.
MERCHANTS DENOUNCE BILL
The downtown merchants are de-
termined TO stop the bills progress
toward the statute books and believe
their efforts viii succeed if the legisla-
ture has any regard for the commonest
decencies of municipal government or
viii pay any attention to the wishes
Of the business community that will
be grievously injured by any such tam
pering with the law as Finn and
Macauley desire.
At yesterdays luncheon Of the Down
town association many merchants de-
nounced the bill as a measure designed
for the protection and promotion of
vice 4nd crime. and it was determined
TO call upon all the other commercial
organizations for assistance in killing
the iniquitous measure.
President Andrew G. Mccarthy
quickly outlined a plan for fghting the
Finn-Macauley bill, and the canvass of
the commercial bodies was begun at
once with the following resolution as
the associations view Of the obnoxious
legislation:
Resolved. that this association protest against
the proposed legislation said to be reported fa-
Forabiy by the judiciary committee OF the as
sempy Tor writ Of review by the superior
court OF the decision Of a board Of police com
nissioners who have declined 10 grant a LIQUOR
license Or passed Judgment on an officer and
That the association is unalteraby opposed 10 sny
legislation interfering with the police cou.nis
sloners powers in shis regard or changing fbe
present laws now in force ON this suhiect