The San Francisco call., 1913-07-31
RESIGNATION Of
CHIEF WHITE IN
HANDS OF MAYOR
Head of Department Says He
Gave City Executive I'm
dated Paper at Time
of Reappointnent
JOE SULLIVAN SAYS
HE SELECTED HIM
Chinese Relate They Sub
scribed to Bassity's $4,000
Fund for Appointment

Chief of Police %. A. White testify
ing IN his own behalf before the police
commission yesterday afternoon. made
the statement that at the time he was
reappofnted by Mayor Rolph, he write
out and handed to the mayor his own
undated resignation.
He denied, however. that he wrote
his resignation in the home of Jerome
Bassity. the former owner of the mu-
nlcipa1 crib. who is popularity accredited
with having been the man who origi-
nally obtained Whites appointment
from Mayor P. H. Mccarthy.
1ne commission has heretofore stated
mat II would be impossible to remove
Chief White summarily on account of
the provision in the charter that re-
quires that before any member of the
police department can be dismissed
charges must be preferred against him
and he must be afforded the opportunity
of defending himself But, if it be true.
as Chief White says. that the mayor
holds his undated resignation all that
Is necessary in case the mayor should
desire TO get rid of him is for Rolph to
date the resignation and accept IL.
whereupon the chief of police would
have to step out and make room for his
successor
'.IITTLE JOE- TESTIFIES
Il am the man responsible for the
appointment of D. A. White as chief Of
police" testified Little Joe" Sullivan
before the police commission yesterday
during the hearing.
Jerome Bassity, who was also exam
ined. carefully avoided saving any
thing about his own activities in the
matter
Sullivan stated that he suggested to
former Mayor P H Mccarthy the
name of White as chief of police. for
the reason that he and White were old
schoolmates and friends. He denied
that he dictated any other appoint
ments, saying these had been left to
the chief, as provided by the charter.
CHINESE TELL STORY
Sullivan's story did not in any way.
agree with the testimony of Jew Toy
and Gu Hoy. They told of the SO. 900
fund which. it has been claimed. was
raised by Bassity. Jew 10y Sing and
another Chinese to be paid for the
, appointment of White as chief of po-
lice Jew Toy was the stronger ewit-
ness. He said he was approached by
Jew Loy Sing, now dead. and asked to
contribute to fund OF $4,000 that
Jew 10y Sing told him was being
raised by Bassity and others to insure
Whites appointment Ou Hoy testified
TO the same thing, but less circumstan-
tally
The commission concluded it's inves-
tigstion into the question of whether
or not White is responsible for the
present decentralization of the police
force
But it may be two weeks, according
to President Roche before any report
is made. 1t looks. according to guard
ed statements made by Roche. that the
majority will eXonerate White. Mr..
Roche admitted that certain recon-
mendations will be made. though he
refused TO state what they will DE.
One of the witnesses called was for
mer chief. John Seymour, who said
that when he turned the department
over TO White it was in good condition.
He claimed all the appointments he
made were on the square and were
made because the men selected were
presumed 10 be honest. No outside in
fluence, he said, had Influenced any of
his selections. Before he took office
he had an understanding with Mayor
Mccarthy that he was TO be a real
chief Of police.
LETTERS FROM MCCARTHY
In support of this statement he pro-
duced letter written to him by Nc
Carthy. giving him authority to act
with full powers as chief of police. He
also showed another letter from Nc
Carthy. written May %, 1911, at the
time he was suspended. acknowledging
that the police department was all
right.
Seymour claimed that he was re
lieved from command because he had
strictly enforced the gambling laws in
Chinatown and because he had also
enforced the l o'clock music law at the
beach resorts. He said that because
he did those things he was unsatis
factory to the police commission and
was fred.
Bassity didn't know anything worth
knowing. President Roche was asked
whether or not he had inquired of
either White or Bassity as to the truth
of Whites assertion of some months
house two designations after he had
been named chief of police. The ques-
tion was twice put to Roche. but each
fine he evaded answering.
Other witnesses were Fl. J. Wright
and Sergeant J. J. Farrell, neither Of
whom threw much light on the situa-
tion.
IT is conceded, though Roche refuses
to say so definitely. that the majority
report will be in favor of White. How
ever, 1t is fully expected that there
Will be a minority report. signed by
Commissioner Max kuhl, who has al
ready demonstrated that he does not
think White is the man for the position.
Kuhi also states that IL. in his
opinion, White has been guilty of neg
lect of duty or other offenses. charges
will be filed against him and he will
tee