The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-08
THE END OF FRAUDS APPRoA CHING.

The uneasiness felt throughout the land
by laborers, farmers and merchants is owing
in great measure tc very few causes. In
the first place few men have made vast
fortunes out of the public through frauds.
IHE CALL does not claim that all of the
large fortunes-thoSe consisting of five. ten
and twenty millions of dollars-have been
obtained through fraudulent transactions,
but unQuestionably nine-tenths OF them have
been made in this way. The most outrage
GUS frauds are those which have been
brought about by bribery; by purchasing
members OF legislative bodies, as palpable as
were those which were followed by Tweed
and his associates in New York. A class of
interests have grown up of late about our
cities which offer extraordinary induce
mentS. THE CALL brings before the people
prominent example, for instance, iu rail-
road corporations. Some men engaged in
this class of business found out that they
could obtain special privileges from legisla-
tive bodies by cOrrupting members. Grants of
money from cities, States, and even the
United States, were obtained readily for the
mere asking at first, but there came a time
when members Of the legislatures were paid
money for their votes. Then came corrup-
ton OF conventions, when the instruments
OF corporations were nominated and
elected. This policy was adopted toward
both political parties, and has been followed
until it has come to pass that pure men can
scarcely be nominated by either party
What is the result? Persons obtain office
In many of the States by corrupt means
Men are nominated and elected by the direct
use of money. Such men. when in office,
are as bod as have been some of the men,
bers of the Legislature in California and our
Board of Supervis ors. They go into Office
for the express purpose of enriching
certain persons. Can we punish such
men? In California we have seen
instances where it appeared that we
could not. OF course, the men who
purchase the votes of the officials are not
punished. They laugh even at the idea Of
being punished for bribery. What is the
effect upon Supervisors and members of the
Legislature? Simply that they also cannot
be punished, only In rare instances. Super
Visors and legislators see how rapidly large
fortunes are accumulated by the managers
OF corporations, and they come to the con-
clusion that 1t is no worse to sell their votes
to any other interest: hence they take
money from whoever will pay them. Does
any one doubt the correctness Of the picture
chase and sale of Supervisors and members
of the Legislature We think not What
is to be the end Of the enormous frauds
which are being committed in various States
OF the Union? The CALL believes the end
Is approaching, because the people are be-
coming FESTIVE at paying such enormous
taxes. Merchants, capitalists, and, indeed,
business men of every description, are being
taxed almost past endurance. Were it not
for the frauds committed in California in
the way suggested, our taxes need not be
one faf what they now are. Homesteads
and farms would not be depressed in value
In this way; hence rents of dwellings would
not have to be so high as to Cypress those
who live in respectable tenements. THE
CALL expresses the opinion that Caiforni-
ans realize that there must be a change,
that we must put an end to the purchase
and sale OF members Of the Legislature, Su-
pervisors and county officers, for it notices
that the people now generally encourage
those newspapers which are laboring for
such purpose.