The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-25
ASHWORTH CAP|TULATES,
He Will Stand No Longer in
the Way of Honest
Street Work.
ARTICLES OF PEACE SIGNED.
Therefore Gaden VIII Not Read
That Searching Report to
the Civic Federation.

George T. Gaden will not read before the
Civic Federation tomorrow night the re-
port which he has been working on nights
for the past two weeks.
That is to be regretted, for it would have
made spicy reading. 1t is not to be maze
a matter of official record: neither can IL
be printed. Mr.. Gaden refuses to give 1t
out or to be interviewed on its. subject mat
ter. Those who have been privileged to
read it declare it to be "hot stuff. They
say that it arraigns the Street Department
of this City and County in fashion calcu-
lated to raise ones hair, and that It's dec
larations were all supported with dates
and the names of people and places.
Spades were called spades all through
the three columns of solid nOnpareil and
in same places the facts and figures and
these names rubbed up against each other
in such fashion that little holes were
burned in the paper and sheets were curled
at the edges.
In fact for the past few days there has
been distinct smell of sulphur about Ga
den's desk in the Mayors outer Office,
where the original copy was kept under
lock and key.
But Yesterday all was changed. A peace
that was almost drowsy had settled upon
the place.
What had caused it?
The Superintendent of Streets went in to
see Mayor Sutro yesterday, and said:
''There is no sense in our playing at cross
purposes, Mr.. Mayor. wish to say that
my books and my office will be open to
you, and that will be pleased to work in
harmony with your officials. At any time
they wish to accompany my men for the
inspection of street work, l Will be glad to
have them, or l will be glad to send an in
spector to look after work which you may
indicate as faulty. 1t is my desire to have
the streetwork done properly, and where
find that it is not being done SO l will not
accept it."
Now, this was very gratifying; the very
thing, indeed, that the Mayors Office has
been striving after for a long time.
So the Mayor told Gaden that perhaps
no good purpose could be served by max
ing his report to the Civic Federation, and
that explains the sudden sagging down of
interest in the meeting of tomorrow night.
Henry n. Clement, who has just
Joined the federation, has written a letter
anent this report which is in itself rather
warm stuff" The following is from a
copy:
Law offices OF Henry N. Clement. Mills)
Building, San Francisco, Cal, Saturday,
July 20, 1895.
Mr.. Dear Mr.. Gdden: 1 have just finished
reading your report to the Civic Federation
concerning the conduct of the Street Depart
ment and the corruption which dominates the
whole system of sewers
cesspools, etc. It is a very clear and concise
statement of these evils. Its merit consists in
the fact that you do not deal in glittering gen
eralities, but point out specifically and in de-
tail the frauds which have been perpetrated
and the manner in which they were perpe-
trated. l regard it as a valuable contribution
to the subject treated and hope it will De pub
lished at length and in full. Now, If the Civic
Federation Will only set II motion continuous
and practical force OF some kind to watch and
circumvent the scoundrels who commit these
frauds, not in one big onslaught for
he sake of public notoriety or with
the idea of concentrating public attention,
but series of quiet, effective, steadfast, re-
lentless prosecutions for every breach of duty
or malfcasance on the part of any officer failing
to do his duty there will be great good accom-
plished. In order to set this force in motion
some good man must be chosen and employed
and paid by the month just as the Mayor has
employed you and just as Supervisor Spreckels
has employed Elder to find out and punish the
perpetrators of the frauds against the City.
With such man acting in cooperation with
you and Elder as standing menace to evil
doing there would be much clearer and purer
political atmosphere.
I thank you for what you say concerning the
adoption of the new charter. Under that
document the Mayor would have no lack OF
u0Evar n Dr0epputa the Williams YourS with
great esteem, HENRY n. CLEMENT.