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Show AJifairs To lit teal. The question of who will be chief of police during the coming administration appears to have been definitely decided at the informal caucus of the Republican members-elect to the Council held last Sunday. They were unable to agree on any other proposition, but they definitely and unanimously decided that Mr. Lynch should re tain his present position. This disposes of the as pirations of Viking Lawson, and will probably place a quietus upon the friends of Arthur Pratt including many prominent Democrats, who have been actively campaigning in behalf of the former chief. The question of holding another caucus is to be decided by a committee consisting of Black, Davis and Hewlett, and as there is a notable anl-mosity anl-mosity between these gentlemen, and the two are candidates for the presidency of the council, it is doubtful if a second caucus will be called. Hewlett and Davis are opposed to holding a caucus cau-cus which would decide the presidency of the Council, as both have received assurances of Democratic support. Black on the other hand will refuse to go into a caucus unless the question of the presidency of the Council is made subordinate subordi-nate to the allotment of patronage. Under the:e circumstances it appears as though the scram-ble scram-ble would occur on the floor of the Council. The matter of what division of patronage will be made between the Republicans and Democrats is still in a state chaotic and the mayor-elect is probably the most puzzled politician in the saintly city. The disposition of some of the members is to pre-empt all the appointive offices by voting for the retention of the present encumbents, thereby inviting a persistent and bitter warfare between the chief executive and the couacil during the entire en-tire ccming administration. The more conservative conserva-tive members favor an equitable distribution. But there are many difficulties in the way. Councilman Council-man Black and his friends, for instance, will not agree to any solution o ftho question which will remove re-move City Engineer Kelsey, and they will fight any proposition which does not involve his reten tion. As other Republicans are just as arJen in their opposition to Kelsey, it is clear that there will be a serious clash of bayonets when the mayor launches his schedule of appointees. Hon. John Lynch is on the bond of Mr. Morri3 and Chief Lynch of the police department. This should place him In a position to arbitrate any dlsagreqment which might arise between his honor and the chief. t W tV iri Ben E. Rich has been appointed state manager of the Kearns campaign, which places Mr. Lipp-man Lipp-man in the role of local lieutenant. Mr. Rich Is now working actively to secure Senator Kearns a place on the delegation which will assist in the selection of a nominee for president. Mr. Shifty Senator announces here that he 13 for Roosevelt, but Mr. Hanna and his friends in Washingtn are not worrying about that. & & & The News Is complaining bitterly regarding the disposition of certain Republicans to "tie up the hands" of the mayor. That sounds very good coming from that source. Has the News forgot-.ten forgot-.ten thus early that it is the godfather and Inspiration Inspir-ation of the Eight Immaculates in the present city council, who have obstructed practically every measure of Importance proposed by Mayor Thompson during the past two years? |