The San Francisco call., 1895-12-17
Grand Jury Asks the Super.
viSorS to Have the Coin
Restored.
INVESTIGATION OF AsHWORTH
Another Charge May Be Laid Against
the Superintendent of Streets.
The Fire Department.

the public treasury Of money wrongfully
appropriated by the School Board for in
creased salaries; decided to investigate
Fire Department officers next Friday, and
adjourn sine die December 27.
George W. Elder. expert of the Board of
Supervisors, complying with the request
of the Grand Jury, submitted an extra re-
port embodying the result of a special ex-
animation made of the material used in
street work on Laguna street, between Oak
and Fell, and OF the lumber in the side
walk at the corner OF Hayward and Harri-
son street.
The Grand Jury some time ago secured
testimony of property-owners on Laguna
street to the effect that there was less than
an inch thickness of cement and concrete
under the basalt blocks of the gutterways
in that street, whereas the specifications
required q thickness of five inches. 1t was
also brought out in the testimony of Mayor
Sutro and that OF his private secretary,
Mr.. Rogers, and his expert, Mr.. Gaden,
that the Mayors approval of the assess
ment was obtained on the positive personal
assurance of the Superintendent of Streets
himself that the work in question had
been performed in all particulars accord
In order to make no mistake in the
proof necessary to sustain in court a Sec
ond accusation against Mr.. Ashworth Mr.
Elder, the expert, was directed to make
thorough inspection OF the work. The
report presented yesterday corroborates
and sustains the testimony of property
owners, and the question now rests with
the Grand Jury whether Mr.. Ashworth
shall again be accused of corrupt and will
ful misconduct in office
Mr.. Ashworth was in the jury room for
fully one hour. The District Attorney was
represented by Mr.. Black. Mr.. Ashworth
was questioned at length by Messrs. Sonn-
tag, Clinch, Leventritt and Wiley. He
explained his system of appointing inspec-
tors and his general management at his
Office in about the same way that he ex-
planned to the court the manner in which
he conducted the affairs of the depart
ment.
George W. Elder, the second witness
called, was questioned particularly con-
cerning the Laguna-street block and the
sidewalk on Hayward street.
The jury deliberated a long time after
Mr.. Elder came out. but no vote was taken
to test the sense of the body on the propo-
Sition to lodge another accusation against
the superintendent. Members OF the Grand
Jury who are willing to discuss the subject
aver that the proof IN the case now pend
ing is much stronger than that which was
deemed sufficient to make the first accusa-
ton. The jury decided to further con-
slider the subject.
The next thing in the line of regular
business was the consideration of School
Department affairs. Charles NJ. Yates,
chairman of the committee. presented the
report OF the expert, to which extended
reference was made IN The CALL of last
Sunday. After hearing the report the
Grand jury prepared the following COM
munication to the Board of Supervisors:
SAN FRANCISCO, Decem Der Is, 1895
To the Board Of Supervisors We
send herewith a communication from the sec
retary OF the Board OF Education in reference
TO the payment of back salaries OF certain
teachers, particularly specified in said com
muuication, and beg to call your attention to
the following resolution unanimously passed
by the Grand Jury this 10th day of December
1895.
WHEREAS. 1t appears by the communication
sent by the secretary of the Board of Education
that the salaries OF certain teachers therein men
toned have been, in the opinion of the Grand
Jury, illegally paid and whereas in the opinion OF
the g rand Jury no warrant in law gives the Board
Of Education the right to raise the salary of any
teacher and at the same time pay the difference
between the former salary and the amount to
which the salary has been raised by he Board of
Education for the months preceding the change in
salary-in other words. to raise the salary and al
low the same f. r past services; therefore. be 1t
ResOtUed. That it is the sense OF this Grand Jury
that the Board of Supervisors should take such
stems as are necessary to recover the respective
amounts paid TO said teachers, as set forth in the
communication hereto appended and made part
hereof, and that such action shoulu De TAKEN with
all possible dispatch.
Res0lued, That copy of this resolution, together
with the communication referred 10, be trans
nltted 10 the said Board OF Supervisors. Yours
very respectfully. OLIVER ELDRIDGE
J. ]. GROOM, Secretary. Foreman Grand Jury.
The documents which 90 with The reso-
tion were transmitted to theGrand jury
by George Beanston, secretary OF the Board
of Education, in response to request of
Charles Nj. Yates, George II. Sanders and
Z. H. Hanjes, com prislng the committee
OF the jury on schools
The minutes of the Board of Education
are quoted TO show that DR.. Clinton intro
duced a resolution, the pream bic of which
sets forth that the board on February IA,
1894, reduced the salary OF the Deputy Su-
perintendent of Schools from $3.50 to s155
per month, which was wholly unwarranted.
in view of the fact that the deputy had
been paid $3.50 month since the creation
of the office, and that the Board, on Janu-
ary 30. 1895, fixed the salary OF said deputy
at $3.50 pr month. The resolution then
provides that the deputy be allowed the
sum OF $570 being the balance due him for
services performed from July 1, 1894, to
January l, 1898.
The transcript of the minutes of the
Board of Education also shows that Joseph
O'Connor, principal of the Horace Mann
ScDOOs, ana AlDeTI SCI pliHbiPol VI tliC
John SWEET School, were each allowed $75,
balance due for Julv August and Septem-
Der, 1894.
The transcripts of the Board of Education
records show that questions of law in
volyed were referred 10 the Judiciary Com
mittee, and that committee promptly re-
ported to the board that the reduction OF
salaries was wrong.
The Grand Jury does not question the
right of School Directors TO fix the salaries
OF teachers and other employees OF the
School Department, but does insist that
there is no authority to make retroactive
increase.
Il is expected that the Board OF super
visors will make an effort TO compel the
beneticiares of the back salary graD 10
restore the money wrongfully appropriated
to the public treasury.
Another important communication 10 |
the Board OF Supervisors has been pre-
pared. it represents, as the sense OF the
Grand Jury, that the dens OF vice on |
Morton street. which disgrace San Fran
cisco, should be closed. and that the open |
so demoralizing TO the youth |
of the City should also be closed.
A hearing before the Grand Jury has |
been requested by the Diegins Brothers, |
Street contractors and proprietors OF the