The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-09
FRANK PAGE AND HIS CHARGES

One of those investigations which III the
end discloses the means by which corrupt
men obtain and retain political power, is now
going on in San Francisco. The investiga-
ton is the outgrowth of certain charges
maze by Mr.. Frank Page against Mr.. II. l..
Dodge, Superintendent of the branch mint at
tina. city. Many " old time " Californians
know Frank Page. He used to run a jerky
from Place1ville to Shingle Springs, and a:
the same time kept a livery stable in that de-
lightful little mountain village. Frank was
one Of the " boys and used to run with Tom
Frazier, Jones and Sam Observation-Disclosures
known as " Sam tie butcher" Frank was
|" weighty" on election days and had the rep
utation Of c~orraling and leading to the polls
more stable boys and bumlners and of drink
ng more had whiskey and s%pouting worse
English on those occasions than any other
man in that classic burg. Well, in due course
of time Frank made his g inf1ooence - felt to
that extent that it was recognized by that
purely moral institution, the Central Pacific
Railroad Company. That company wanted a
man of Franks measure, so it picked him up
and elected him to represent it in Congress.
This he did faithfully for several years. But
the old time jerkey driver is ambitious.
He wants to be governor OF the great State OF
California. To improve his chances for that
position he has, it is claimed, filled every fed
eral department in that State, including Gus
toms and internal r%evenue, as well as tie
mint. Very many Of his appointeer, 1t is
charged, are incompetent and occupy their
positions simply because they are friends of
Mr.. Page. But it appears that Mr.. Dodge,
the superintendent Of the mint, wants capa-
BILE, honest men for assistants and not strikers
for Frank Page, and With the view to obtain
them lie has discharged many of Mr.. Pages
pets and appointed competent men in their
places. To thisa action Of Mr.. Dodge, Page
objects aud, as il is stated, for the purpose of
BUSTING Mr. Dodge has preferred charges
against him. These are substantially that.
Mr.. Dodge removed Mr.. Pages appointees
from the mint against the ~iatter's will, and
that he favored certain friends in the deposit
and working of bullion, to the disa1 vantage
of the government"
In his letter to the Secretary of the Treas
ury, relating to these charges, Page is report
ed as using the following language: SIT will
be charged by Mr.. Dodge's friends that my
motive in submitting these charges was that
Mr.. Dodge dismissed from the mint several
of my friends. To this | will say that while
| feel hurt that he should, fIom any cause,
rpa n r iularinory GAO fit ia visit his ypp,tJ,
upon the heads OF unoffending employees in
the mint for any act of mine for which they
were not responsible and could not control. |
freely admit that l commenced the investiga-
ton of his management of the mint original.
ly for these reasons, etc.
The investigation is taking place before IA
special commission, consisting of Alexander
Ramsey, who was Secretary of War under
Hayes, and who is chairman Of the commits
sion; Ex-Governor Thomas L. Young, of
Ohio, and eX-Congressman Houghton,
Of California. This Is the first time,
republic when an officer is investigated" up-
on an open declaration that charges were pre-
terred against him because he removed from
office certain friends OF the charger. And
when such charges are made by a man who
has the reputation of being owned body and
soul by a corporations, the whole matter ap-
pears mole ludicrOus than serious. 1t is a
fair instance in which the spoils system is
laid bare and in which corrupt men seek to
gain certain ends by the most despicab!e
means.