The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-04
WHY BRIBERY SUCCEEDS.

1t seems almost providential that while
a dying convict at Los Angeles is disclos-
ing some of the infamies of past years in
political corruption at San Francisco the
Grand Jury is seeking to uncover similar
crimes of recent preparation. The whole
story is a romance of crime. Told in brief,
connected form 1t is this:
Just before the Wallace Grand Jury
few years ago brought in indictments
against Christopher Buckley for corrupt
dealings with the Solid Nine OF the
Board of Supervisors as then constituted,
the board granted an omnibus street-rail-
road franchise, supposedly in Buckley's
interest. 1t was intended to sell this to
capitalists at heavy figure. A man
named Mayne, one of Buckley's agents,
thinking that he had not received fair
share of the plumber from this and other
transactions, went before the Wallace
Grand Jury and told the whole story.
Buckley fled to Canada. The Wallace
Grand Jury was declared by the Supreme
Court to be an illegally constituted body.
Buckley returned. The documentary evil
dence which Mayne produced ought still
to be in the hands Of some member of
that jury or some member ought to know
what became of it. 1t would be exceed
ingly useful now, and the one who knows
where it is will announce the fact to the
present Grand Jury if he is good citizen.
According to Mayne's story, it was
Buckley who Instigated the recent Grim
inal charge against him OF abusing two
girls named Shipton, and who secured his
conviction. Mayne declares that he is the
innocent victim of Buc KEYS revenge.
But Mayne reiterates the old story Of his
corrupt dealings between Buckley and the
Solid Nine of the Board of Supervisors.
AS Mayne must necessarily be q criminal,
his declarations before the Wallace Grand
Jury deserved no more consideration than
that of criminal telling the secrets OF his
fellow criminals who had swindled him.
But it seems that in addition to his own
testimony he presented documentary evil
dence of strong kind. More, he is dying
now, and in the article of death is reiterat-
ing his former charges. This gives them a
peculiar value.
Meanwhile the scenes had shifted. The
Board of Supervisors containing the Solid
Nine became extinct. A new board, with
a Solid Eight, is now in charge, and an
other Grand Jury is seeking to ascertain
the meaning for acts of this body which
seem to indicate corruption and ascertain
the ground for the common belief that
corruption is rampant. 1t has already dis
covered that the affairs OF the Street De-
partment are managed in the most dis
graceful manner. 1t is alarmed lest the
enormous tax levy made by the board
means fund TO be plundered. 1t sees the
Solid Eight, despite the energetic remon-
strances of the majority, refusing to pass
an ordinance abolshing a ruinous gam
bling poolroom industry which is robbing
and debauching boys and clerks, and hears
the current rumor that the gamblers are
paying the Solid Eight $1,000 month not
to pass the ordinance. This law was
framed by the Grand Jury and urged upon
the board. The majority refuse to pass it,
and in the desperate hope OF ealisting re-
spectacle support threaten to incorporate
clause prohibiting pool-selling at the
Ingleside racetrack. This move is taken
as virtual confession of desire to sup
port the downtown gambling poolrooms.
The difficulties in securing evidence of
Official bribery are great. 1t is only when
thieves fall out that honest men get their
dues and as yet there has been 70 such
falling out as that which led to Maynes
charges. 1t is very difficult to secure evil
dence OF bribery, except from criminal par
Elephants in it, and so long as plumber is
abundant they are not likely to disagree
and disclose the truth. The Grand Jury
may not secure evidence sufficient to con-
Vict hut already sufficient ie knnwp IN
alarm the City and place good men on their
guard. Through all this mass of corrup-
ton the hand Of the degraded political
boss is discernible, and it is yet possible
that this instrument OF evil will be exposed