The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-25

the profits, no franchise.
Take an illustration: A wealthy and
prominent gentleman interested In the Con-
solidated Bituminous Rock and Pacific
Pavement Company wanted to do business
here in this city, and was willing to lay the
pavement down for from 81 to % cents
foot. Buckley found this out and sought the
gentleman interested. You may own the
own the Board of Supervisors, and unless
you pay me so much you cannot lay it
down." The Board of Supervisors, you
know, direct the character of pavement to
be used and could, if they chose, by Buck
ley's orders, prevent any street from being
paved with this. Then Buckley got an in
terest in the Santa Cruz Bituminous Pave
ment Company, and made an agreement to
lay down this pavement. The agreement
was not to lay 1t down for less than % or 80
cents foot. 1t really costs to lay it about
IA or 10 cents. The exact figures | do not
know. But do know that Buckley gets a
large dividend from this, aud it all comes
from his atrcciOuS piracy and by using his
influence with the solid majority in the
Board OF Supervisors. This pavement
should be laid down for % or "a cents foot,
and still there would be good profit to con-
tractors.
The gentleman that I have referred TO
went out of the business, am told, thor
oughly disguised with Buckley's demands.
This is only one instance of his matchmaking
methods.
EXPORTING PROMISES.
Thirdly-Buckley makes money by extort-
ing promises Of patronage and perduisltes
from certain municipal officers. Take as an
Illustration case which happened not so
very long ago, about four years | believe,
when the Democratic Convention met in the
California Tbeater. Two men were candi-
dates for a certain office. One man offered
70 per cent of patronage and perquisites to
Buckley tor the nomination, and written
contract was made between boss and victim.
But this poor unfortunate never got it, his
rival did, and therefore must have offered
more to his master. The exact figures and
the details,of the transaction may soon be
made public.
Fourthly-Buckley gets from many COM
panieS who ask franchises vast sums of
money. And scarcely company of any
description can secure right for new en-
terpriSe in this city that the pirate chieftain
does not demand toll for his influence in OBJ
tanning it. Take an Illustration: The Elec-
trio Light Company, which has franchise
to lay wires in the streets, gives Buckley Il
large sum of money to prevent any other
company from securing franchise. In all
this he is protected by the solid Nine" 1t
is told to me by very responsible gentle
man that Buckley got $4,000, or about that,
for this privilege at first, and still draws
money from their till. 4 fine leader of
patty this But remember, he is supported
blame as much as he.
PooL-RooM DIVIDENDS.
Fifthly-BeSides all these sources he draws
from the pool-rooms, from the 'two-bit"
cOmbiDation-the place where young boy
iSh clerks can spend their money and shat
ter their moIalS-he is said to receive at
least II per cent of the earnings. He also
receives larger share from the four large
pool-rOoms. 1t is thought to be against law
and decorum 10 have these rooms open to en-
tee very young men (the old men can take
care OF themselVes); but whenever one OF
the proprietOrs is arrested he is brought be-
fore Police Judge who might by some
chance be Buckley's friend, and he dis
misses the case on the ground that the So
called crime is not against the Constitution.
The Board of Supervisors will not, for GER
tain reasons. pass law closing them. OAR
ing the sessions of the Legislature they are
closed, so that no Investigation can possibly
harm them. For the first time during my
residence here about six or seven months
ago L visited them and invested TO see what
chance there was for success. L concluded
they were better let alone.
THE DIVES CONTRIBUTE.
Sixthy-If there is n source of corruption
and vilest debauchery, it is the dives of this
city, those ! laces where braZen, unseXed
creatures Haunt their coarse nakedness and
peSt!lent vulgarIty, and where the rankest
poisons are sold for drink. Buckley, l am
told, forced many of these places TO raise
money for him tonse his influence to pre-
vent their being closed at II o'clock mid
night!
Where do you suppose this money went?
To the churches? or to certain tools of the
boss TO keep them from action in the mat
ter? And this man finds champion in
the little newspaper which gives SO many
pretty ncknames to the leaders in this
righteous movement for reform. Is press
which is used TO bolster up such man en-
titled to support or respect?
CORPORATION AID.
z 'yenthly-Buekley has been borne on the
pay-rolls Of the great railroad company
here for various large sums, and at one time
| am reliably informed received $4,000 for
labors in its behalf, particularly essaying
his fine Italian hand in State Legislatures.
Why did the citizens who control that great
corporation need tho services OF such
man? l am as much opposed to lobbying
and seducing votes from unprincipled,
brainess men as to pOcket-pieking or muir
dering in a dark alley under clOuded sky.
The wafer company have also generously
helped to enrich him for his labOrS of love.
When bosses and Supervisors can be bought
up like cattle by these great powers, is il
not about lime for the bell of political pros
titutiOn 10 have struck high noon, and for
you TO see TO it that its day declines?
Thus briefly, fcliow-citlzenS, | have given
you some idea of this mans sources of
wealth and power ana corruption. Have |
painted the picture with 100 startling and
glitterng cOlors / have given you only
portion OF the true, nude truth.
BRIBERY AT THE POLLS.
Now what has he done at elections? How
has he destroyed the sacTednesS OF the bal
lot-b0x? Take an Illustration; it is only
one of many instances of his debauching
propensities: When the last election was
held in this city he not only had his crea-
lures bulldose and terrty respectable and
quiet citizens at the ward clubs and at poll
iDg-placeS, but he himself, clad i'll kind OF
q pea-jacket (as to the upper part of his
anatomy, with pockets in the sides, STA
toned himself OH Leidesdorff street and de-
liberately paid a lot of soulless semblances
Of men 81 apiece for their votes. They
were led up to him, as lie stood against the
wall of building, and he shook their
grimy, greasy hands and dropped the bride
money into its unholy receptacle.
Tho Little Pete" case, in which he fig
ured as the hero, was fresh in the public
mind, and, hearing this new iniqulty,,
thrill OF Indignation went throughout the
city's great pulsing heart, and maSs-meet-
ing Of vengeful Republicans was called at
the Wigwam. Speeches were made, some
counseling violence at once, if he were
caught. A movement was made in the
throng TO seek and lynch him. But more
pacific counsel prevailed. and he was taken
by some friends and secTeted in his house
here, and then hurried off to his ranch at
Livermore to escape, perhaps, righteous
death. When safely there one of his bench
men, whose eyes are more like crouchiIg
snakes than human beings, held up his
trembling hands and said to an active mem
Der of this organization: 1--WE must get
away. we must get away somewhere; we
have done enough to make them hang us, and
we must fee"
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
And these are the men who control the
Democratic party in San francisco Some
of them now are on Tie State Central Com
mittee and decent men there do not denOunce
them. Have you ever thought OF the vast
control he and Rainey have over the Fire
Department? Iii that department there is
as brave and heroic a band of men as ever
fought in serried ranks for flag or country,
or dared death 20 save human lives or happy
homes from fire or food. And yet many of
these men are, under penalty of dismissal,
made 10 do the bidding of the political
losses, and on occasions are moved from
club 10 club to take hand in the plots and
schemes of the night. Any rebellion against
these Infamous orders is punished either by
dismissal or transfer from home and family
to some far-off district, where fresh expense
is entailed for founding a new home, and, if