The San Francisco call., 1897-06-19
OPIUM DENS IN
THE CIIY'S HEART
a Grand Jury Committee
Finds Many Joints Easy
of Access.
Young Men and Girls Visit the
Resorts and Are Rea lily
Dabauched.
Assessors Office Working Under the
Cuub rsome Personal Property
T. K Collection Law.

The Grand Jury held regular session
yesterday afternoon. No witnesses we're
examined, but discussion on various
topics was entertained. The present Jury
began its work nearly six months ago, but
no time has been fixed for presenting
final report.
The committee appointed to visit opium
resorts presented the following report:
SAN FRANCISCO June 10, 1897.
To the Honorable Grand Jury: Your commit
tee TO whom was referred the matter of opium
dens in this City beg leave 10 report that on
application to the Chief of Police members
OF the Police Department were kindly detailed
as guides, who conducted us through various
opium resorts, principally in the Chinese dis
trict where the drug is consumed.
While it is apparent that the police have
succeeded TO a great extent in enforcing the
law, and have closed most of the dens to the
general pu bic, there yet exist large number
of places TO which access may be had and
where the use of the drug in al lis forms may
| be INDUCED in; but they are conducted in
such secret m amer as to evade the law, aud
are sun not only menace but positive dam
age 10 the community; for The reason that
young men ana girls find means to visit them
and become victims to the use of the drug l.
is plainly evldent TO the ordinary observer
that the use OF opium by The youths OF this
City is largely on the increase and by its use
they become debsuched. They form much the
greater portion OF the criminal element OF
this city and State and fill our jails and
prisons. In proof OF this latter statement we
have only 10 refer to the prison authorities for
Confirmation.
We have obtained information Of the most
convincing character that white girls between
the ages OF Is and 20 enticed into these
dens, become regular habitues and finally are
subject wholly 10 the wishes OF Chinese ylsi-
tors.
In view of these facts your committee would
most respectfully suggest TO your honorable
body that the attention of the proper authori-
ties be directed TO this matter, TO the effect
that action may be taken thereon, and the
evil, which is growing one, may be checked
Respectfully su omitted, J. w. CudWorth H
W. Hannemann, James Fogarty.
The mmittee appointed to look after
assessments submitted a report, of which
the following is a copy:
SAN FRANCISCO Cal, June lS, 1897.
To the Homo able the Grand Jury City and
County Gf San Frdncisco-GENTLEN ENEN: Your
committee have paid several visits to the
Assessors Office and examined the work of
tnat department We find the Office still
laDorlng under the expensive and cum bersome
personal property tax collection law made
applicable 10 san Francisco about two years
ago. Assessor Siebe is doing his best TO Der-
form economically the duties imposed upon
him under this law and his office is one OF the
lew that instead of overdrawing the annual
appropriation Will have a surplus at he end
OF the fiscal year. The question OF the validity
OF this law now being before our Supreme
Court we refrs in from further criticizing il,
early decision. We found the Office we'll con-
Quoted, each department. working under a
perfect syslem, which T, fleets credit upon the
Assessor as well as upon the employees
Samuel W. B ickus, A. Piper and AureIius E.
buckingham Grand Jury Committee.