The morning call., 1892-11-07
MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION
The Golden Gate Park and street-Rail-
road Privileges.

AT this point IL will be as well to glance
briefly at local affairs AS already stated,
the Peoples party dropped out of sight
politically In 1867. Those who replaced
them on the Board of Supervisors did not
waste much time in showing that they were
actuated by entirely different motives. A
resolution was passed granting TO each
Supervisor 500 per month for his services.
This opened an avenue for the bosses to
reward their henchmen and tools. and ever
since ii has been worked for all it is worth.
Just here 1t should be mentioned that il
has been the inyariable rule of the bosses
TO permit a small minority Of honorable
men 10 get on the board for appearances
sake, but the majority has always been
composed of plant tools 10 do the dirty
work of their masters.
While GOrham and his lieutenants were
looking after the legislators at Sacramento
Bill higgins was soon developed into
local boss to keep the boys in line in San
Francisco. Decent Republicans resented
the domination of these bosses. but they
were powerless against the rowdy element
and many of them who had taken an active
part In the affairs OF the party gave up the
unequal struggle and retired from the field
Such was the condition of affairs in 1868,
when matter that had been for years
prominently before the citizens, viz, a pub
lie park, came 10 focus. There had been
considerable controversy as TO the existence
of the pueblo, but ali doubt was set at rest
when, in March, 1866 by an act passed in
Congress. the title became perfect in the
Do SCISSORS.
After various committees had reported on
the disposition ot the "outside lands" as
reservations for public uses and puTDo ses
on May IS 1863 committee composed of
Supervisors C. Fl. Stanyan. 4. J. Schrader,
r. Beverly Cole, Monroe Ashbury and
Charles Clayton, submitted two reports on
the location for park. The majority re-
port signed by the three first named favored
the present site, while the minority report
OF the other two favored 1.-The valley COM
menciBg Immediately west of the Charter
Line of 1851, between Grove and Haight
streets and extending in n westerly diTee-
ton about one mile to First avenue. This
valley cont ms about II acres Of low level
land with good soil and an abundance OF
water near the surface 1t remains for
this board to say whether this beautiful
valley shall be reserved for public pleas
ure ground or given over to spectators in
outside lands"
The board adopted the majority report.
plainly indicating that they were in favor
Of giving over this beautiful valley " re-
ferred to by Supervisors Ashbury and
Clayton to spectators in outside lands.
Finally the ordinance reserying the out
side lands" for public uses was passed by
the board on July 20, and was approved by
Mayor McCoppin on July a.
fueuces were brought TO bear upon the
Board Of Supervisors in regard to the loca-
tion and subdivision OF the park, and that
the majority OF the board was under the
spell Of spectators, both private and cor
pOrate, as represented by the boss element.
The session of the Legislature of 1867 Ga
was marked by the large number OF acts
passed granting rights OF way to various
parties TO construct railroads In the city and
county of San Francisco, which were all
foI int ho lott n
The first railroad franchise had been
granted in 1865 to the Front street, Mission
and Ocean Rlilroad Company; the second
in 1867 to the Omnibus Railway Company.
The same company obtained another fran
| chise 10 1868, and the same year franchise
| was granted TO A. Seiigman and others. In
| 1869 five franchises were granted. viz: TIC
| Lloyd Tevis and others, Omnibus Railway
Company, Z. l.. Sullivan and others, City
Railroad Company, and another to LLOYD
| Tevs and others. Two other franchises
were granted in 1870. Franchises were also
granted to gas companies in 1867, 1869. 1870
| and 1871.
These facts are simply referred to as an
indication Of the dates when gross corrup-
tIon 10 municipal politics began to expand
under the genial influence Of the almighty
dollar, and the bosses exulted In posse sins
the power to bleed wealthy individuals oil
corporations seeking privileges from the city
government.
Just here II might be advisable to stat,
how the Central Pacific Railroad quarte
had been farIng financially. In 1869, be
sides owning the road, they had received al
loan S24, 600 of Government bonds
forming second mortgage on the road
$500, 600 of San Francisco bonds as an un
conditional gift; S5J0,000 of county bonds
and So, 100, COO paid or to be paid by the Stat
Of California In the way Of interest In return
for services to be rendered by the company
All this, in addition TO the land subsidy o
/
were not satisfied. Their constant cry wa
for more, more"
Their greed and rapacty received checl
during 1868, 1863 and 1870 from the admins
tration Of Governor Haight, whose polio
was adverse 10 land, railroad, water am
gas monopolies. Legislators who were no
satisfied with the pay received from IN
people. but who looked for an additional in
come from the lobby, met with the rebuff o
frequent yetoes.
An act was passed by the Legislature an
approved March %, 1870. concerning stree
railroads II provided that "the owners q
every such railroad shall pay to the author
ities Of the city, or town or county, as
license upon each car, such sum as sal
authorities shall fix not exceeding $50 pc
annum in the city OF San Francisco, no
more than S25 in other cities and towns.
Also that 'the said city and town authors
ties are hereby authorized, subject TO Tn
provisions of the act, TO make such furthe
rules aud regulations as may be necessar
for full and complete enjoyment OF an
franchise and for the enforcement oil tn
conditions"
II is pertinent 10 ask II these condition,
have been fulfilled, and II not, why not?
The Republican party in 1871 recovere
the ground it had lost In 1867 through y
support to railroad construction and tn
granting OF subsidies, and succeeded u
eleeting for Governor Newton Booth, ant