The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04
WORK OF THE GRAND JURY,
Why Police Judge Campbell
Was Taken Before the
Tribunal.
An Effort to Clear the Sidewalks
g of Obstructions-Th In
heritance Tax.

When the present Grand Jury gets
through with City officers, ex-City officers,
special privileges, judicial delinquencies
and police inetficiencies this town will
wonder that the general shake-up was so
long delayed. 1t may please the jury to
make no report whatever at the conclusion
of the term. lis action while in power
will constitute its record. The plan of
campaign is to go ahead and do some
thing-not to tell the public at the end of
four months what ought to be done.
Friday last Police Judge Campbell was
hauled up. The jurors wanted to know
why he dismissed the case against two
men who were arrested last June for as
saulting girl. There were some grievous
circumstances connected with the case.
Whether Judge Campbell was able to
explain matters to the jury cannot be
ascertained at present. He said there was
testimony to show that the girl was "a
years OF age and must have been party to
the crime.
Ex-County Clerk Haley's case will yet
be investigated. He will be called upon to
explain the allegations of neglect of his
official duties, and will be asked why he
did not obey the law relating to the inner
itance tax. 1t is said that Haley's neglect
or utter disregard of his official RESPONSE
bilities cost the City $250,0 in two estates.
1t is declared now that the Grand Jury in
tends to hold him and his bondsmen re-
sponsible for official neglect. The condi-
ton i'll which he left the records of his
Office will be gone into thoroughly.
Charles Sonntag was foreman of the
Grand Jury twelve years ago. 1t is Just
twelve years since the sidewalks of San
Francisco have been thoroughly cleared OF
signs, distractions and nuisances. He is a
member of the present Grand Jury, and is
accredited with having been the moving
spirit in sending to the Board of Super
visors this communications
Gentlemen: The Grand Jury now in session
desires to have the laws relative to street OBJ
structlons rlgldly enforced by the police and
more especially TO cause the removal of sign
boards, advertising posts, projecting signs from
buildings, bootblack and fruit stands and
other nuisances on the sidewalks which are
City.
We find that many special permits have
been granted by former Boards of Supervisors
TO various persons to maintain these OBJ
structions and in that way appropriate public
property for private use In order to make our
work more effective we respectfully request
that at your meeting to-day an order be passed
reVoklhg all such permits: Respectfully,
OLIVER ELDRIDGE, Foreman.
]. j. GROOM, Secretary
There was purpose in transmitting this
communlcation early in the session, and
the Supervisors probably perceived it.
Following is the text of a resolution
drawn yesterday, which will be introduced
at the next regular meeting of the board:
WHEREAS. communication from the Grand
~ jury was hied In the Office of the clerk on July
20, ioSo, requesting the passage of an order
reYoklng all permits to maintain sidewalk OBJ
stTuctions OF any kind; therefore
hesotved, That all petitions awaiting the ae-
tloh OF the board for the right to erect or main
tam wire signs, also for the privilege of erect
ing or maintaining any signs, bulletin-boards,
etc. OF whatsoever kind, character or descrip
non, to be placed on or projected over the side
valk or street, in contravention of section of
order 1855, be, and the same are, hereby de-
nled; That hereafter all applications for such
permits be refused and that all privileges of
IKE character heretofore granted be, and the
same are, hereby revoked; further
RESOLVED, That the Chief of Police be, and is
hereby, requested to aid in the enforcement of
this resolution and the orders of the board.