The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-22
ITS WORK ENDED.
What the Grand Jury Has
to Report.
THE DIVE EVIL DISCUSSED.
Indictments Were Found on Many
Counts and Abuses i'm Public
Offices Fully Investigated.
THE DIVE EVIL DISCUSSED.

Early In the session our attention was
called to the deDlorable evil commonly
known as the dives. Credit Is due to a
portion of the press of San Francisco for
its efforts to arouse public sentiment,
which resulted In closing for n time some
of the worst of these crime-hatcheries.
We find I'm tho office OF the County
Clerk "A most peculiar state of affairs.
The Almshouse was found to be In
good condition and fits management ex-
| celIent in every respect.
The New City Hall Comm!ssioners
have, in our Judgment, deliberately and
persistently violated the provisions Of
tho laws under which they act.
An Investigation of the workings of
the Police Courts does not impress
with the highest respect for the meth DDS
and practices OF some OF them.
We find, after tnvestig ton, that the
Fire Department cannot be expected to
be efficient under the present system.
While the growth CT San Francisco's
Free Public Library is slower than that
OF Eastern cities, it Is making steady
progress.
We find the House of Correction to be
conducted with economy and in sys-
tematic and orderly manner.
We find the police force of this city to
be generally efficient and vigiiant.
The public streets far from being
In n satisfactory condition.
At the Public Pound we found an In
stitutIon which is an honor to the city
and q credit to it's management.
After several months of labor the Grand
Jury has prepared an exhaustive report on
the many evils 1t set cut TO investigate and
correct, and also on the result of its exami-
nation into tho various departments of city
government.
The jury was impaneled on May 6, and
with the exception of three weeks in July
and two in November has met regularly,
holding in all sixty-tive sessions.
A list of twenty-one indictments for vari-
Gus offenses represents but small portion
OF the actual labor expended. as a large part
OF the time was taken up in looking after
cases that would not, after investigation,
justify an indictment.
Much more work might have been accom-
plished if parties knowing of ex sting wrongs
would furnish the jury with witnesses who
would corroborate the charges. Yet much
good has been accomplished.
Its prompt action in requesting the Regis
trar OF Voters 70 take no action in complet-
ing contract for the printing OF precinct
registers until it should have investigated
the circumstances is an instance. The result
was that the city was saved large sum Of
money.
Considerable time was given to hearing
charges In land swindles, and seven lndict-
mentS were found against persons cunspir-
| ing to defraud in selling public lands. Fol-
| lowing Is a synopsis of the report:
| In the matter OF lotteries ana gambling the
| jury soon found that its only power over these
| Ot1enSes, which the law makes msdemeanors,
] was through inducing great activity in The POI
lice Department. Ii found the Chief and his Off
GERS in apparent sympathy with IFS desire TO
close up these demOraliZing drains but la M
| pered by many difficulties IN carrying out the
! purpose Frequent arrests were made and thou-
sands OF tickets cOniscated, but the lotteries 20
| on. Charges lodged with us against the Pre-.
| MUM Note Company were referred 10 the Chief
Of Police and arrests were promptly made, but
| the evidence Ia the Police Court did no. satisfy
| The Judge OF The quit OF the party OF the
| offense charged
/ Early in the session our attention was called
| 10 tie deploEsble evil commonly known as the
| olives" In certain parts of tie city there are
! many places in which vile, indecent stage ex-
| hibitions are given nightly and where women
| are employed 10 entiee visitors 10 drink The
| youth Of our city are being corrupted by these
! resorts. They have dragged TO ruin thousands
| of young men and women, aud the wreIched
4 Work is going on now il has in previous years
with llttle or no cheek or hindranee from The
! authorities. We had no dOnbt of these facts,
| but we verified our general knowledge by actual
| Inspection. The only question was, What eau
| be done 10 suppress tie evil?"
Credit Is due a portion of the press OF San
| Francisco for It's efforts 10 arouse public senti.
ment 10 the magnitude OF the dive evil, resulting
In the closing tor a time OF OF the worst OF
| these so-cailed theaters. Ii the majority Of the
present Board OF Supervisors had manifested the
same degree OF independence these crime hatch
cries would he permanently closed without de-
lay. By tie laws Of the State offenses OF this
sort are misdemeanors and not felonies, ana the
Grand jury has no Jurisdiction, Tile only prov
ince seems TO be 10 see that existing laws are
forced. 1t seems absurd that 4 community
should acknowledge itself powerl-ss To correct
an evil that is admitted by all II laws are In.
adequate II has the power 10 make new laws.
The jury can do no more than to urge with the
| creates emphasis possible that the law-making
power, State and municipal, should speedily and
| decisiYely act IN removing this foul blot upon
the ciIy's name and fame.
| We recommend that the license on tile sale OF
| liquor should be increased from S2I per quarter
to SOL. This 10 too moderate an increase 10 be
called high license, but is suggest as an ex.
pertinent in that direction. 1t Is the opinion of
the jury that a much higher license would be ad-
vantageous 10 every way. 1he Chief OF Police
favors high license all effective help to his de-
partmeDt IN the suppression OF crime. He be-
lieves II would result In closing up many oil
| the worst places In The city. It's results else.
| where justify this belief We recommend the
needed legislation to separate The sale of gro
cerles and the retailing of liquor 10 addition to
the moderate Increase OF license above men
| toned
We nnd the police force of this city TO be gen.
orally efficient ana Yigtlant. 1t consists OF 45O
men, a NUMBER IL is claimed smaller I'm proper.
tion than IN any ether seaport city IN The United
| States. Ii is well differed, and is fortunate In
| having al its bead man who has earned tile re-
speet and confidence he enjoys There are
| needed police stations at several points I'm The
| outlying districts, especially one near Golden
| Gate Park and one near Harbor View. The
| wagon-pat' Oh aud signal system has added much
to tie efficiency o; the department ana should be
| still further expanded. There is also need for a
| harbOT police boat.
At the Public Pound which is under the man.
| agement OF The San Francisco Society for The
| Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Animals, we found an
| Institution which Is an honor to the city aud a