The San Francisco call., 1896-02-25
The Grand Jury and Chief Of
Police Are Pulling To.
gether.
SUSTAINED BY THE PUBLIC
Jury Exasperated by the Conduct of
Supervisors in Fixing Water
Rates.

The Chief of Police in his campaign to
close the dens of iniquity on Morton street
from Kearny to Stockton is receiving the
unanimous support and commendation of
the Grand Jury. 1t transpires that the
subject OF removing this blemish from San
Francisco has been discussed in the Grand
Jury room and urgent measures have
been recommended to bring about the de-
sired reform.
The Grand Jury and Chief Crowley have
been assured by leading merchants,
property-owners and representative men
generally that arbitrary and extreme
measures under the law to abolish the
evils complained of will be fully sustained
by public sentiment.
When the Grand Jury at the session last
Friday sent for the Chief of Police the pur-
pose IN view was to consider the Norton
street proposition. 1t comes to light now
that the subject was not impulslvely
taken up, but line of action to be pursued
was deliberately discussed and considered
IN all its bearings. Therefore, it is said
that the campaign against vice on Morton
street will not consist simply of few spas
modlc raids, but Will be persistentIy
pushed until that district in the center of
the town Is reclaimed TO civilization.
Ihe laws are known to be ample for the
suppression of the infamy which has been
so long tolerated IN that quarter. Encour-
aged by the Interpretation of the law by
Judge wallace III the poolroom cases. the
authorities viii be urged to prompt meas
ures against the offenders on Morton
street.
John L. Dare, as a prosecuting attorney,
IS able TO produce the decision of the Su-
preme Court TO make clear the proposition
that the Legislature has conferred upon
the municipal governing body all the
power necessary to suppress gambling
houses and disorderly resorts. 1t is ex-
pected that the degraded women and the
parasites living on the wages of their deg
radiation will organize and invoke the aid
OF the pull" The Grand Jury expects
that the keepers OF bawdy-houses, backed
by agents and owners of the property NAV
contribute TO a common pool" to fight
the cases in court, but this expected oppo-
sltlon VIII be met at the proper time. The
progress which the Chief of Police has
already made is significant and makes the
Grand Jury hopeful that the campaign
will end IN great victory for decency and
good morals.
The conduct of the Supervisors in rush
Ing the water order through the board
with haste unprecedented, and in utter
contempt OF an earnest and courteous re-
quest OF the Grand Jury that relief should
be extended TO the shipping interests, has
1t was supposed that the Supervisors
would deliberately consider the ordinance
establishing rates for the year beginning
July l next, but instead of giving the i'm
portant question consideration they took
snap Judgment, and instantly passed the
order. The speed of the transaction, the
preparation for quick work, and the fact
that the communication from the Grand
jury was contemptuously ignored, make
the Jurors believe that the whole plan OF
liking rates was preconcerted with the
connivance of the water company.
The Grand Jury is resolving a plan to
bring to public light all the facts and cir
Cumstances connected with the disgrace
ful and unwarranted procedure. Several
members were so indignant when they
learned that the Spring Valley board OF
directors had violated the agreement to re-
duce the cost of water for ships that they
wanted TO resign and abandon all effort to
bring relief TO the commerce OF this port.
The talk of resigning was suppressed, and
a line OF aggressive action recommended.
At the next meeting steps may be taken
to bring the Board of Supervisors to a
sense of its public sponsibiIity in fixing
water rates.