The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-24


Morgans banker to Morgan, from Morgan
to Bill Cham berlain, from Bill Chamber
lain to a dozen others, among them Bill
Freeman, until there grew to be senti-
ment that Boggs was the man to protect
the city's dollars from making their escape
from the hand of the heller. And so 1t
came about that Boggs and George Handle,
Republican, were elected Treasurer and
Mayor respectively to succeed Rice and
Wheeler. Handle was q mistake-a mis-
take that came about through so many
new voters crowding in from the East, all
Republicans, it having been intended to
elect Boggs and Rice, but that could be
remedied.
Tacoma was, as we may say, just now
poisoning into full womanhood from
sweet young maidenhood. There were no
bonds. few debts, no streets improved;
CITY government was inexpensive and
there was a little money in the treasury.
Here was an opportunity not to be over
looked.
\ new charter formulated by board of
freeholders showed great promise of an I'M
interrupted reign for the party succeeding
in the election. There was a Board of
Public Works, to whom extraordinary
powers were given, city engineer, city
attorney and assistant, a street superin-
tendent, building inspector, plumbing
inspector, sewer superintendent, chief
of police and, by a prearranged plan,
whereby a water company man, who had
been elected, but who never intended to
qualify and who refused to do so, there was
also city controller to be appointed by
the Mayor.
Now, George Handle was one of those
eminently respectable gentlemen of whom
party bosses are proud, to give a color of
genuineness to their ticket. 1t was never
intended he should be elected-indeed,
Morgan was a hot Rice man-Rice had
been renominated on the Democratic
ticket; but a new factor had come into
politics in the person of J. J. Malone of
Kansas City, q gambler and politician OF
the smoothest type lie was Democrat;
but party fealty was with him an unknown
quantity. If Rice succeeded Mart Dillon
would be Chief of Police and Morgan "boss
mhler," theref ore Malone took counsel
of Charley Sullivan and Sam Milligan,
whom he had known back in Kansas, and
worked a surprise party for Harry Nor
gan. Handle and the whole Republican
ticket were elected. Then followed Hough-
toms refusal to serve as Controller. Ma
lone and Morgan were thus by circum-
stances driven into a political partnership;
but Morgan conveniently and accommo-
datingly died of too much chop" even
while his friends were preparing to send
him to Dwight for treatment, leaving Bill
Chamberlain his successor and admins
traitor. How Morgan's vast estate was
wasted is a romantic tale, but that's an
other story.
Malone had strings enough on the coun-
Gil, which was composed of as corrupt a
lot of men as ever got together, to compel
Handle to appoint whom he wished, since
confirmation by the Council was necessary.
Therefore, it came to pass that Fred Tay-
lor, owner of about half the Opera-alley
houses, was made Controller; ]. W. Gin
ton, Street superintendent; Byron Bar
low, Joe HodgiEs and Colin Mcintosh,
members of the Board of Public Works
Sam Milligan, City Attorney, and w. F.
Zwickey, an unknown, Chief of Police.
Zwickey had been recommended by the
Christian element and influence, and was
not opposed by the gamblers. The sequel
shows with what reason.
Now followed an administration of the
widest extravaganza and utmost corrup-
ton. Streets were graded and contracts
let for the improvement at exorbitant
prices 10 favored bidders, specifications be-
ing altered after contract to suit the con-
tractor. Money flowed like water. Boggs,
with whom the story deals, was carried
along in the mad whirl. Drunken de-
bauches were of nightly occurrence. Tay-
lor visited his Opera-alley resorts, CARRYING
his friends of the Council and administra-
ton with him. Zwickey levied blackmail
right and left on gamblers, variety thest-
ers, saloonkeepers and women of the
town. Boggs spent hundreds of dollars
nightly in debauchery. Clinton, Street
superintendent, made hundreds out OF
commissions on supplies and kept fine
team of horses at the city's expense.
Boggs openly speculated. in city warrants,
which were being issued at the rate of
over $4,000 a month, buying them over
the counter at the city treasury and sell
ing them at an advance of per cent. He
made no secret of it-indeed boosted of
his financiering and was applauded by
the bankers with whom he dealt without
favor, because he had brought to par
warrants that had been previously quoted
below. Fortunes were making in those
days; real estate speculation had run
mad, and with the fostering pool of cor
ruption at the City Hall there was big
chance to make money in contracts. But
as this story is to deal with Boggs, only a
hint of those things, sufficient to show the
atmosphere in which the Boggs idea was
fostered, can be given.
Boggs was the general fayorite of the
bankers. He kept large balances scattered
among them with an impartiality that
knew no favorites and bred no discomfort;
and then he called in no warrants, but
kept the city's funds in circulation. AS
an instance of his methods let me relate
one point: He found that Eastern war
rant-buyers were eager for Tacoma 10-per-
cent warrants and that he could get or
per cent commission and accrued interest
on them through local bankers and brok-
ers, but that they could handle them bet
ter if the warrants were of large amounts.
Boggs had a wonderful influence with the
Council, so he procured the passage of a
resolution requiring all city employees to
he maid in cash at the Traasurer'c offioa