The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-08
SCANDAL
Showing
ITS HEAD
DR.. G. W. Simpson Says
an 0. flee Was offered
for Money.
FOR A PALTRY TWENTY
DOLLARS.
Aftermath of the Recent Trouble
in Appointing a Health
Board.
STATEMENTS CT THE PERSONS
CONC 1RNED.
Mayor Thomas D MES All Knowledg
of the Affair and So Does
His Son.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
Q0Q Rroadray Nav


sos Broadway, May T.
The statement was made to-day that
money was talked of in the recent ap-
pointments OF the Board of Health. Dr.
Simpson says that he was asked for $500
and paid over $50 on account and Mr.
Houston of the firm OF Barham & Thomas
declares Simpson wanted to buy the office
and offered him the money for his in
fuence.
Mayor Thomas denies all knowledge of
the affair, and said this evening that
whoever had talked to DR.. Simpson had
certainly shown an intimate knowledge
of his (the Mayor's) private financial
matters which should cut no figure in his
official acts.
Dr. Simpson, who was not appointed
last evening according to the original pro-
gramme, made the following statement
to-day:
have known Mayor Thomas for some time
in fraternal orders and thought him a good
man for Mayor. l therefore worked for him,
and after he WAS e.ected went to him and told
him l wanted the position of City Veterinary
Surgeon and asked If l shoGld present a writ
ten application with recomIne ndations. He
said no. that he would have three OF the five
positions the hands of the Board of Health
and would take care of me. A few days be-
fore the 1st OF MAY l went to him again and
he tod me TO see his son Harry. | saw Harry
and he sent me a Mr.. Houston, in his
fathers Office on Ninth street, where l went at
once.
When I made myself known he took me into
q private office and told me the Mayor was a
poor man and that he owed his ply stefan and
attorney. The Board of Health to be
allopathlc and Dr.. Small would undoubt-
edly get out. Ii he did his bill must be paid,
and TO get the money it had been decided TO
levy on the men who were 10 get the positions
As my cffice would Weld $24OO in two years
my share would be $500. I Id him did II OF
have that amount, and he asked If had S25.
gave him 800. all had.
Wednesday my wife received q telephone
message from Harry Thomas asking me to see
Houston. 1 came down 10 Houston's office,
hut he was out. ! then went TO see Harry
Thomas, and he told me TO see Houston ut
once. Mayor Thomas room was open and
walked in. told him the fight was on and I
expected him to remain loyal to me. He re-
ceived me colly, and said he had done all he
could and Was tired OF the whole sffair. l had
seen DR.. Pierce around the office, and then BE-
gan 10 suspect that all was not smooth.
l went to Houston, who returned my 800
and told me the slate had been cracked, and
that if failed on the next vote not TO blame
him or Thomas, as they had done all they
could for me.
Mayor Thomas denies any knowledge of
the story. He says:
Inever met DR.. Pierce but once and have
known DR.. Simpson for some time in the Ma
sons. He came 10 my house to ms when /
was sick, ana after the eleciio he asked TO be
made Veterinary Surgeon. l told him he
should have 1t, as l had been told that Pierce
worked against me. When told that Simpson
was a free silver man and Democrat and tina
DR.. Pierce had worked for me L told the doc
tors they could retain DR.. Pierce If they so de-
sired, as l had no objection TO him.
Mr.. Houston, Mr. Benham or Harry never
mentioned Dr. Simpson to me. aud l never
indicated TO them my choice unit told Harry
when the board was named. do not believe
word OF the story against Houston, and
believe Simpson must have worked himself
into believing something that he either
dreamed or was told him. l never authorized
any one to sell positions.
Mr.. Houston when seen laughed at the
story and said:
can assure you would not sell such an
office for 500. DR.. Simpson came to me some
ttme and requested me to speak q good
word for him, as he had worked Tor Thomas
then went to the noun tains. and dill not re-
turn until Wednesday. Meanwhile the board
was appointed and made Its selec lions, which
were later declared illegal.
Wednesday Dr.. Simpson came IN to see m e,
and asked me TO see physician whom he be-
lieved was TO be on the board. did SO, and
would give more when he in Office. told
him did not want his money, and did what l
could without any thought OF remuneration n.
am not in the business of Office brokerage.
Harry Thomas, the son of Mayor
Thomas and secretary OF the Board Of
Public Works, says:
DR.. simpson came in here and asked me to
favor MIN to my father for City Veterinary. /
told him could not and Tor him to get some
friends. He asked me who were fathers
closest friends and I told him Houston and
Benham. have mad nothing m ore TO do with
l. AFFAIR ana handed his name to the doctors
with the Others that father wanted the board
appOiQt.