The San Francisco call., 1895-07-21
FOR CONSPIRACY.
The Civic Federation VIII Proceed
Against the Solid Eight on
That Line.

The Civic Federation VIII Proceed
Against the Solid Eight on
That Line.
The Civic Federation will, at its meeting
on Friday next, pay special attention to
the alleged erookedness in the Board of
Supervisors, and Will probably determine
upon bringing action for conspiracy.
The leading spiaits of the federation
have been actively engaged in studying the
ground for the past two weeks and reports
will be made by them.
An attorney who has been consulted
will explain this proceeding as follows:
"The proper method of reaching a re-
calcitrant public official in the absence of
action by the Grand Jury is by accusation
agreeable to the provisions of section 772
OF the Penal Code.
"Under the procedure it is only neces-
sary to prove one single act or omission
constituting either nonfeasance, misfeas-
ance or malfeasance in Office. Indeed, mala
fides is not an essential element in the
establishment of the corpus deficit.
''The proceeding rests upon the absolute
right of the people not only to honesty
and faithful performance by officials of the
duties of Office, but efficient and intelligent
performance of duty.
'The public has just as much to fear
from the stupid and the negligent as from
the knave or the thief, and the object OF
this summary proceeding is to afford
prompt relief in every case when the
wheels of the government become clogged,
and from what cause it matters not.
GAS to what viii constitute a misde-
meanor in Office is a question as broad as
the variety of circumstances and facts
themselves. But any act amounting to
either nonfeasance, misfeasance or NAL
feasance is clearly within the rule.
"The combination known as the Solid
Eight among the City Supervisors is
clearly case of maheasance.
"For given set of men i'll legislative
body, and particularly when they consti-
tute an absolute majority, to band together
for corrupt or unlawful purposes is clearly
a case of malfeasance of the most danger
Gus kind. Whether the object be trading
votes or trading in patronage it is equally
reprehensible.
'"The right of the public to have their
discretion and intelligent Judgment with
independence and without personal or
partisan interest is undoubted and un-
qualified.
There is no form of misdemeanor in
Office more mischievous or more calculated
to destroy the integrity of the govern
ment than the common practices of legis-
lative officials to trade and barter their
official votes
"The proof of the existence OF combi-
nation among the Supervisors, even though
it be not corrupt in the ordinary sense (for
in truth the word corrupt covers all
these cases), having for it's object the
attainment of the personal ends of the
individual members through mutual Off
cial action, without regard to the merits of
the particular case, clearly establishes a
misdemeanor in Office, sufficient to justify
removal.
"But you may say, How can it be proved ?
It is true that it is most unlikely that wit
nesses can be produced who were present
when the conspiracy was formed. But
does murder go unpunished because the
murderer has been able to commit his
crime in the absence of human spectators
No, indeed. The rules of circumstantial
evidence apply; the long series of acts
speak louder than words.
1.-THE eight votes that have been solidly
cast without reason and without debate to
put Supervisors sons in Office, to reward
political associates and friends. to dismiss
the competent without cause and without
hearing, to grant unlawful privileges and
franchises, to make extortionate contracts