The San Francisco call., 1896-02-27
Special Session Of the Grand
Jury on These
Topics.
CHEAP WATER FOR SHIPS
Chief Crowley and the Police
Commissioners Tes.
titled.
THE CRUSADE AGAINST VICE.
Many Dens of Infamy CloSed-Others
Will Be Suppressed With
out Delay.
THE CRUSADE AGAINST VICE

A special meeting of the Grand Jury was
held yesterday afternoon. The witnesses
attending were Chief Crowley and Police
Commissioners Tobin, Alvord and Gunst
After prolonged conference with District
Attorney Barnes the jury called on Chief
Crowley.
1t transpires that the subject of the in.
quiry was Morton street. The Chief made
full statement of what had been accom-
plished by the Police Department, acting
on the suggestion of the Police Commits
sioners. He SAID that many of the
women-keepers of the degraded dens on
that street-had been forced to leave the
locality, and those remaining would be
compelled to leave.
The Grand Jury commended Chief
Crowley and the Commissioners for the
good work already performed, and prom
ised to render all the assistance within the
power of the jury to further promote the
cause Of decency.
The Chief did not hesitate to express his
entire confidence in the ability of the de-
partment TO close all the Infamous places
on Morton street, and, when once closed,
to hold the advantage gained.
In regard TO the work OF the department
III Tue line Vi dIIeSlluS gaUlDlSTS ana IOI-
terry dealers the Chief presented figures to
show that during his administration of
affairs 10000 arrests had been made, and
the sum of $4,000 collected on fines and
forfeltures. OF lottery tickets thirty tons
had been seized.
William Alvord, Police Commissioner.
was the next witness called. He explained
TO the Gl and Jury what had been done by
the Com mmlSSloners and enumerated some
OF the difficulties encountered by the COM
mission IN closing such places as those
which had made Morton street so noto-
rious.
1t was not ascertained whether Mr.. Al
word gave 10 the jury list of the estates
and the names OF property owners inter-
ested IN property on this thoroughfare.
The closing OF the houses OF i'll fame may
diminish the income OF owners for some
months, but ultimately this property. so
near the retail center OF the City, will be-
come SO valuable for business purposes
hat the owners will gain rather than lose
by the crusade against infamous tenants.
Commissioners Tobin and GunSt were
not called into the jury-room yesterday
afternoon.
The water committee of the jury pre-
sented the following report:
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. %. 1895.
Frank Mdskey, Foreman of the Grand jury
DEAR sir: The water committee take pleasure
y
Grand Jury their final report with reference to
the adjustment OF the Spring Valley water
rates along the wharVeS of San Francisco, and
append thereto a letter received from the
Spring Valley Water Company expressing their
earnest and heartfelt cooperation in adjusting
and correcting determinations heretofore in
yestigsted and considered by this Jury along
the water front in the sale OF water to the
shipping consumers, and also their concIu-
slons, which we believe are made in good
faith, regarding reduction of shipping rates
in future.
In conclusion we desire TO state that the off
GERS OF the Spring Valley Water Company have
met your committee in spirit OF fairness and
equity in our Investigations, and we feel as
sured they are sincere and will carry out the
reductions indicated in their communication
Respectfully submitted.
CORNELIUS O'CoNNoR,
A T. PRICE,
{. s. IAUMEISTER.
Following is the text of the letter from
the Spring Valley Water Company to the
Grand Jury to which reference is made il
the foregoing committee report:
SAN Francisco, Feb. 26, 1896
To the Honorable Grand Jury-GENTLEMEN
We take pleasure in informing your honorable
body that the board OF directors of the Sprinf
Valley Water Works have concluded land have
so advised the committee of the Board of Su
pervisors on water rates) that from and ate
July l, 1886, this company Will undertake the
direct supply OF the shipping at the wharves o
san francisco, and the experience gathered b.
US as TO outlay, consumption and expense dur
ing the latter half OF this year win form bash
for the fixing OF the shipping water rates fo
the future at the wharves. Very respectfully
CHARLES VERB HOWARD,
President Spring Valley Water Works