The record-union., 1891-03-06
THE CASE OF AsSEMBLYMAN BRU-
NER,

NER.
A San Francisco journal has preferred
this county in the present Legislature
charges of the most serious character.
They are, in brief, that Assemblyman
Elwood Bruner of Sacramento, in reward
for his exertions in behalf of the police
increase bill, was promised, and bar
gained for the right to name, six of the
new appointees upon the police force of
San Francisco; that the bill having become
alaw, Mr.. Bruner has engaged in the venal
traffic of selling these appointments, at
the figure of $400 each; that in par
ticular instance he recommended name
for appointment supposed to represent a
living person, but which name was ficti-
tious, and was created for the sole pur-
pose of trapping the Assemblyman; that
he wrote recommendation and request
to the San Francisco Police Commission
ers for this mythical applicant, asking for
his appointment, and that thereupon the
masking go-between paid to Mr.. Bruners
agent in his presence $40O for such recon-
was equivalent to an appointment, since
it was represented that the Police Com
mission of San Francisco would recog-
nize and confirm it.
The presumption of innocence must
prevail in favor of the Assemblyman
thus charged, until he is given opportu-
nifty to reply to his accusers before a tri
bunal of competent jurisdiction and to
establish his guiltlessness. This much
the commonest dictates of the sentiment
offair play demand, and this suspension of
judgment will be accorded. But it can
not and should not be long maintained
awaiting the investigation that must be
had.
For the people of the State have the right
to an immediate and searching inquisi-
ton into this matter. There must not be
attempted any smothering process. Moth
ing worse could happen to Mr.. Bruner,
or more humiliate his constituency than
an adjournment of the Legislature with
out such an investigation being ordered
and completed
The situation is simply this, that the
charge-accompanied by evidences which
are p,'insa Jacie of the most damaging
character, but which, if untrue, can be
controverted-having been made, and
Assemblyman Bruner having entered his
denial as reported elsewhere in our col
umns, and having charged that his rela-
ton to the affair was that of one trapping
others for the purpose of exposing their
trickery, an issue is joined at the bar
Of public opinion that must be tried at
once. Any delay that results in post
ponements until the Legislature has adj
Journed will be construed by public judg-
ment into confession of inability to reply
to the charges before legislative tribunal
and fear to face the accuser.
Unless such an investigation is ordered
at once, and such a one as will search the
whole business to the innermost bowels
OF the affair, Mr.. Bruner must resign,
or the people of Sacramento, whose rep
resentative he is, will demand his re-
signation, and in no unmistakable terms.
There can be no possible misconception
OF the expressed sentiment of the people
on that head. Assemblyman Bruner
stands charged with venality that, if not
as is claimed crime before the law, is
In the estimation of the moral sense of
the people heinous. They expect their
representative to follow up his denial,
unofficially made, by rising in his place
without any delay and demanding an in
vestigation at once by the Assembly, of
which he is a member, into the charge of
corruption laid at his door through the
public agency of the press.
Corruption stalks in this day so bra
zenly and unconcealed in public places;
the traffic in patronage is so unblushing
and defiant; the ehinl1 of the coin of the
money changers is so unmistakably audi
BILE in the halls of legislation, the forum
of justice and the sacred precincts of the
polling place, that men are beginning to
lose faith in the possibilities of self-gov-
ernment. Wealth demanding high place
upon no other footing than its abil-
ity to buy; corruption permeating politi-
cal mediums from caucus to convention,
and defeating the free will expression of
the people; venality tainting official
transactions and burrowing in the very
heart of self-government; the rule of
bosses and the usurpation of rings, the
almost universal conviction that the
shortest road to position lies through the
purse-all these things are operating in
two directions, embittering the public
heart and soaring the public conscience.
Related to the first there is hope in the
revolt that results from conditions such
rs indicated; there is in the second a
peril without hope.
When distrnst Of those in whom we