The San Francisco call., 1910-01-26

cation
Joseph Leggett, police commissioners.
Joseph r. Cutten, board of health.
SUPPLEMENTARY CHORUS -"WeII
think il over"
Thomas r. Bannerman, president
board of education.
Henry Payot. board Of education.
A. d. Cutler, police commissioner
DR.. T. ". Huntington, board of health.
Others 10 be heard from.
Il was visiting day yesterday in a
certain suite Of offices on the fifth floor
of the Mills building, where the city's
executive chief wields official sway--The
mayor was at home" to the members
Of three municipal commissions. Thither,
at his request, the leftover members of
those boards tripped blithely to par
take Of a somewhat questionable hos
pitality.
There was no friction; no anger; only
extreme politeness All that Mayor
Mccarthy asked of his guests was that
they make themselves perfectly at
home. and. incidentally, would they
mind dropping their designations in the
card tray as they passed out2
MAYORS RECEPTION PLEASANT
ne liAd AUl cdlA AtE Alca1 oEi~AAe "a - .
. pleasant day. Various commissioners
rena rked that the visit was extremely
enjoyable. But the card tray was
empty when all was over
Whatever question there may have
been as TO the mayors intentions
toward the commissioners Of the po-
lice, school and health boards now
holding position under appointment
from the former administration was set
f7-lr-
harshly. but it was done very plainly
The mayor simply explained that resig-
nations would be cheerfully received
and that if this method of departure
from Office was not satisfactory another
way might be found
Equally considerate of the mayors
feelings were at least three Of the COM
uaissioners who called upon him. They
told him very decidedly that they had
no intention Of resigning under any cir
cumstances. but they did it in nice
way. Some Of the others said they
would think it over and the rest
merely smiled-and said nothing.
FRIENDLY CHATS IN PRIVATE
The requests for a conference were
sent out from the mayors office Mon
day night to the members of the police
commission. board of education and
board Of health holding Office under
y
The time set for the visits was yes
terday afternoon and most of those
summoned were on hand. although a
few failed TO appear. One at a time
they were closeted in the mayors pri-
vate Office and all the chats were most
friendly.
To those who appeared the mayor ex-
planned that their designations would
be acceptable because he felt that only
through the filing of every board with
his own appOintees could he feel that
he had free rein to administer the
city's affairs according TO his own best
judgment
VISITORS QUOTE CITY CHARTER
A few Of the visitors conceded that
the point was well taken; some others
called attention TO the fact that this
course would be a direct evasion Of the
city charter. which the mayor helped
TO frame, in that the charter was
drawn TO explicitly provide against
the possibility of one mayor being
able TO name the complete personnel of
any commission. For that reason, it
was remarked, the charter provided
that the terms of all the members of
any one board should not expire dur
ing the same year.
Mrs Mary W. Kincaid of the board
of education, who was one of the
her visit last evening, but made no de-
NAL of her former very positive as
sertion that she would not resign under
any considerations nor of her hint that
she already had engaged legal counsel
to contest any attempt to remove her.
MY talk with. the mayor was of the
most friendly kind, said President
Thomas r. Bannerman Of the board of
education He made no threat nor
did he make any demand, but he ex-
plained that in order that harmony
should prevail he felt that his hands
should be free to MI all the positions
on the various commissions.
WILL RESIGN FOR HARMONY
II told the mayor that while 1 would
refuse to resign on demand or in the
event that my resignation was asked
on the ground of Incompetence or by
the bringing Of charges against me, !
would consider a request based upon
such an explanation. 1 made no definite
pledge. but practically gave the mayor
10 understand that if he would write
me q letter requesting my resignation
in the interest Of harmony and stating
that il was not asked by reason Of any
criticism Of my actions as an official
I would accede 10 his wishes"
Mayor Mccarthy explained in the
same way the position taken by Ban
herman and intimated, though he did
not say 50 i'm as many words. that he
would make the written request as
desired by Bannerman. This would
break the combined opposition Of the
three members Of the board. which il
has been generally understood would
result from any attempt to GUST them
from their respective positions.
PAYOT FAILS TO RESPOND
Commissioner Henry Payot, the re-
naming Taylor appointee on the board
OF education, did not call upon the
mayor yesterday but stated that this
was because he was busy with other
matters and that he would call at the
executive headquarters this morning
Payot refused to so on record one way
or another as TO the position he would
take. saying that he could make no de-
cision until after conferring with the
mayor.
That the attitude Of the police COM
fnissioners has not changed and that
the determination is to, hold on and
fight il out TO the finish were evident
from the staterhent made by Commits
sioner Leggett following his call upon
the mayor.
LEGGETT REFUSES TO RESIGN
"Our conference was very pleasant
and / WAS treated with the utmost