The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-13

body filed presentments against the owners of
able attorneys and took the cases to the Su-
preme Court to test the right of the Grand
Jury to take such action. We also found,
through the efforts of the Civic Federation,
that disgusting exhibitions were being nightly
given by abandoned women which made San
Francisco notorious wherever tourists. met
Presentments were also filed against these
women, and they also appealed to the Supreme
Court for relief.
We cannot too forcibly condemn the side
entrance saloons. They are menace to the
prosperity of the city. Young women are in
duced to visit them, and many a girl who
would have been an ornament to society has
been ruined through them. Respectable mer-
chants and saloon-keepers should cooperate
with good citizens generally for the purpose OF
suppressing these dens OF iniquity.
Gambling, Opium-Dens and Lotteries.
Strict attention has been paid to all reports
that have reached the Grand Jury regarding
gambling, lotteries and opium dens. The
hearty cooperation of the heads of the Police
Department has been had; still this body be-
lieves that gambling is going on under the
eyes of some of the police officials. Many
places have been closed, and other places
that are suspected but of which no evidence
could be gotten that would have secured con-
viction have been listed for the benefit OF the
next Grand Jury.
There are many forms of gambling that do
not seem to be crime, and it is these games of
chance that cause the public to think gam
bling is unrestricted. The action of Wells,
Fargo d. Co. in cooperating with the Postottice
Department in refusing to carry lottery tickets
or transact business with lotteries is highly
commendable. This has, to some extent, ham,
pered the lottery companies but the evil still
exists and perhaps always Will. II the banks
! and collection exchanges would join with the
Government in this matter the results would
be of great public benefit.
The TACT that newspapers continue to pub
lish notices of lotteries is crying shame, but
we are advised that 1t is not within the
province OF the Grand Jury to indict, as the
law is not made to cover more than INSIDE
meanor in these cases.
This jury desires to express to the people of
the City the commendable course of such of
the dailies as have now refused to advertise the
drawings of the various lottery companies. 1t
is to be hoped that other proprietors will, in
justice to themselves and to the public, follow
this good example, which win go well in the
line of progress this State is now making.
The recommendation of the Grand Jury is
that the Legislature make the sale of lottery
tickets and advertising and aiding the lottery
business felony, instead of misdemeanor,
and the verdict of the majority of trial jury
sufficient for conviction. Meanwhile the faith
full administration of the law, the frequency of
prosecution and the severity OF punishment by
Imprisonment as well as fines in every case of
conviction under the present statutes, would
have healthier effectin restricting the spread.
if not entirely suppressing this great evil.
Street Department.
This Grand Jury recommends that the Board
OF Supervisors lease or acquire suitable pieces
OF property for public toilet uses, and the Su-
perintendent OF Streets agrees to see to it that
during his term of office all such places are
properly kept without any additional expense
to the City. We have no doubt that Mr. Ash
worth is DESTROYS of giving the City good and
in spite Of good intentions, some Of his i as
sistants AMI deputies are not SO carefully Sc
lected as they might be, and unless Mr..
Ashworth oversees them more closely, and the
work on which they report, crooked and dis
honest work in the Street Department is
bound to creepin: For samples of such work.
S,a rs cfe
to block that is being concerted on Army
street, crossing Mission. This concrete is a
mere shell, and does not come up to the speci-
out effort. The cesspool openings should be
five feet and six inches deep, and they are only
five feet and three inches deep. And yet this
coming up to the specifications in every detail
This work should not be accepted.
On Elwood street, off O'Farrell one short
block of bituminous pavement was accepted
on February % by James A. Dobbie. The in
Yestigation showed that in one place, in the
middle of the street, the bituminous rock was
half inches thick. The investigation made in
the gutter showed that the bituminous rock
was two and quarter inches thick. The
specifications called tor two and half inches
all over. The bituminous rock was laid by A
]. Raisch. The price was % cents per foot. In
this case 1t is evident that Deputy James A.
Dobbie cannot and should not be relied on by
the superintendent of Streets.
Other places visited by your committee.
though they do not come up to the contract
and specifications, yet are fairly well done.
hence we omit details The property-owners
are to blame in most cases where such Jobs are
rushed through, as they do not seem to take
any interest in what is going on, and allow
these frauds to be carried out without protest
to the proper officials.
We would also suggest to the Park Commits
sioners that additional places for toilet pur-
poses be sent apart in Golden Gate Park, and
more drinking fountains be erected.
School Department.,
Having made close scrutiny of contracts