The morning call., 1891-12-24

thrift do not appear 10 have been organized I'M
der the same strict military discipline. We re-
greet 10 observe that The statements made in this
report as 10 The amount OF plumber received by
their brethren in The Upper House may be 10
them most painful revelation. They must de-
pore that lack OF experience WI ch placed them
at tile mercy Of a few veteran sogues in their
body, who reaped all the advantages that supe-
nor Intellect admits For there were no middle
men, no agents, no b. okers, to tempt the Assem-
bly, neophytes. Brides were paid direct TO the
heapen-appoinie ed captains, and thew settled Win
the baser SOFT Without the Intervention OF out
Side buSybOdies. Therefore we cannot state Inc
sums paid tile Assembly bandits with any degree
OF accuracy. We may only say that the CAPTAINS
received more and lIIr prlYatrs less III the AS
sembly than tie average $1,000 paid 10 the men,
beTs OF the Senator'S l combine.
Be 1t fully understood that In all this shameful
tranc OF men in official station there was no
politics These men were neither Republicans,
Democrats nor Americans. They were simply
thieves, and Doodle knows no pariisanshlp.
Their turpitude was frank and open. Every per-
son who Il peared at Sacramento supposed TO be
connected win some pe huihe Olil was asSalleu aI
once by these men and heir agents and brokers.
There WAS small preten>e OF secrecy. The price
paid for votes was known to lobbyist and hanger
on and discussed at hight in bari OomS and hotel
corridors. A few OF The Senators discovered
that hey were swindled, IN that others were PAID
moe Than themselves In certain INSTANCES, con
trary to the COMPACT and the Finance Commit
tees aSseyeraiions. Hence arose al times uii-
seem JaIIiDgs and untimely di discussions until
the very shreds OF their Infamous bargain were
spread Haunting over the glorious Capitol, OBJ.
securing the American flag In utter shame and
degradation.
And this Grand Jury solemnly AYERS Its belief
that If the supreme Court had not declared II an
"lllegal precedent" il would have INFLATED such
measures would have resulted in the perma-
nenl abatement OF this evil which seemed to
threaten the very existence OF Christian eivliiza-
tluu.
is needless. Let every American who has been
taught to believe that republican form OF gov
eminent IS the tiuest the most honest and hu-
man solve the riddle for himself. For what
light have we TO say that these men are yier
Than ourselves? We elected them We chose
them 10 make and alter the laws. We selected
them to exercise the attribute of government IN
legislative capacity.
IT'S tue. as may be said. that The last Legisla-
ture was worse Than any OF Its predecessors.
But what then? May moi The next be yet more
d. graded? What have men done, or what do
they purpose 10 dc, That these wrongs may be
riehted? This body can only diagnose the
disease.
The creation of the present Grand Jury was
earnest effort TO Test tbe omnpotence OF corrup-
lion. The laws have turned out TO be inadequate
10 sustain that rffOr, but the contest must be
continued. Unless II is, then organized society
must perish.
SUPERVISORS.
The Board OF Supervisors OF the city and
county are endowed with ex ensYe aud auto
cratic powers. They have authority TO regulate
annually TIL price Of gas and water. To pass
ordinances Limiting or extending the lines oil
city railways, either cable, horse electric;
aud Tits fighl they possess to such degree that
even II the State Legislature enacts law pro-
yding IN effect that electric street companies
cisco, The State act Is lii less unless The Board OF
Supervisors gives TO the company or companies
The privilege TO lay their plant. To grant fran
chiSes foT railways on each ana every one OF the
city streets and even OH those already occupied
for that purpose. To accept or reject streets ac-
coldng 10 ordinances In existence which may
be altered or repealed al their pleasure. To APP
point suudry city officials who with their subor-
dinales approximate 800 persons, all oil whom
are paid from The city treasury.
The Board OF Supervisors of late years at
least, has included, IN part, men emnenty un-
fitted fer the duties which they assumed; the
late Board OF SUPERVISORS, thu majority OF whom
were popularity denomiuaIed The Solid Nine"
Is too well known 10 The citizens OF thus metro
polls 10 need characterization at cur hands.
Political bosses protesting have control OF Inis
board would demand blackinlIl from COZ pora-
lions. the peuaty OF refusal being threat of adj
verse law or Ordnanc after demur OF protest
tile demand would be acceded To as the only
means OF securing immunity: The majority Of
the present board Is understood to be no better
but We have not been permitted 10 Investigate
fully its alleged deInqur ucies.
THIS II simply au organized system of brigaDd-
age, and Yet these companies submit Without u
inurnur. and only with the greatest difficulty
could We induce tUem To dlyuge anything; Tor
they aliege that The board would have punished
them and all If they "squeaed." Bui the
catalogue is 50 long and nauseous that the MUD
reyol's and The pen refuses TO detail ii all.
In other cities OF The United States Dounlies
more OF less lucrative ale paid 10 the munich
pahies. Here reverse The order, and what
should 60 10 the city Golfers enriches the office
bodrr
The Mayor is helpless. He can do nothing
lie IS only Chief clerk. lie has the appoint.
ment of his personal staff aud no more. Like
Prometheus bound 10 The rocks of Caucasus lie
sees these vuitures eating The yitas of lie city
aud lie can only cry out against lie revolving
deed.
The Mayors OF San Francisco have been gen.
orally reputable meU, with some exception.
But could they. have they, stayed This dirty
slime oI corruption? 1t requires a rare order OF
courage 10 deuouuce those with whom one Is in
daily official aud sociat contact. VIVA them Is
Tie remedy? Ii Is new Charter, grant ny abOye
III, enlarged MuXDr-
tor lie exercise OF which lie would be
directly responsible. He ought To be Tea y.
as he Is nOmlual!y the head OF Tie city govern
ment. tie should have the appointment OF all
subordinate municipal officers. where selection
is now vested IN the Board uf Supervisors. For
the Mayors otlce is executive, wnlle the Board
OF Supervisors is legislative, aud to the execu-
tive, II ON the President and Governor down. Is
granted Tile powei and the right 10 appoint,
while The Legislature Ia certain cases Confirms
Ii is The theory ana system OF our republic and
should apply as well 10 cities rs to States and the
Federal authority az Washington. Ii Is DetIer 10
trust one mau than tweIve, ana we eau always
gel good mau for that position. some of Tie
appointments Indicated above are now vested in
lie Governor, but the power should be Trans
feEred to he Mayor, for they are city aud not
State Offices, aud there is no reason why Tie
State Executive should have any more authority
In the selection OF san francisco officials than Ia
those OF Los Angeles or Oakland.
BOSS REVENUES.
We may also add that If tie Grand Jury had
continued IT'S labors, additional indictments
would have been found against some of those
persons already Indicted.
A dictator OF u corporation located Ia this city
testlhed mat his company PAID Mr.. Buckley Tor
about hive years up 10 the END Of last year a
stipend averaging say $500 per month, and
that IN addition Ills concern had to pay va.
riouS sums on the eve Of lecuons in one in
stance as much as $1,000 to the same person Ii
Is understood that other corporations were un-
Ger tribute In ike manner, SO that Buckeyes
revenue from that source alone may have argre-
gated 100000 annually.
III also appears that from a large number
DTOD2Dly reaching he I'm nd ads ,f
employees oil this municipality, political bosses
collected certain Percentage of their monthly
salaries. which, addrd TO whatever revenue Buck.
ley derived rom legislative vice, VIII afford the
thoughtful reader some idea OF tie enormous pc
now dethroned political boss.
EDUCATION.
The teachers, with lew exceptions are efi-
Client instructors OF our youth, aUd the citizens
OF OF san fiancisco have lust cause 10 be proud OF
THIS department OF our city government
But while we desire TO speak geneTaIly I'm
praise oil The efhcirncy OF The department., we
feel that IL Is our duty TO point Out lew gIaring
def cts in the administration OF The BoaId ~
Education which have grown up in the coutse of
years aud winch VIII destroy III time the useful.
ness Oh our schools. Tie rule giving each mem
Der OF tue Board of Education abb olute right 10
appoint IN turn teachers to fill vacancies is
practice which his, Is liable TO lead to grave
abuses IL gives 10 each member The
right 10 appoint whomever he plea<es.
providing The candidate has a legal rtihcate
| 10 teach. The result Is that many of lie
members OF the Board are loaded down with
| pledges before their election to appoint their
political friends, irrespective OF their hInsss for
| the position IL destroys any legitimate COM
| petition among the most worthy candidates, for
| II deprlves the Board OF Education OF its right
ana daty 10 investigate The comparative merits
| OF every applicant for any position
lhis system mas also engrndereds a greed for
patronage, aud which has filled our schools with
| large number of useless teachers and which
| mas s~elled the disbursements OF the School De-
| parment far beyond the comparative expense of
any oiber pubic schools In the country
While the average daily