The San Francisco call., 1898-02-20

missed from this position is not known. A year ago w. H. Peterson was given the place, and according to the ac- counts of his stewardship, the cause of the present investigation, he has been grabbing with both hands ever since.
 Peterson's perquisites seem to have been the commissions that he could squeeze from the trades-people with whom he did business. If the stories of his business methods be true, Peterson was too shrewd to attend to the com mission business in person. always sending some one to pull the chestnuts from the fire for him. One of these was J. J. Kelly, sweeper on the wharf, and on this account Kelly has been made to suffer with the other. The salaries of the two men were fair, Peterson's being $175 per month and that of Kelly S75, but it is said that the perquisites, especially of the form CT, was far in excess of the salary.
 Among those who did not think. they were being fairly treated in the mat ter of the States patronage was John Crockard of the firm of H. Crockard &. O., 216 Steuart street. For the past eight years this firm has furnished the bulk of the iron, bolts, toggles, links, etc., to the Harbor Commission, and to all accounts he gave good satisfaction. A While ago the work was taken from him and given to a shipSmith named Tom Rollins, whose place is on Broad way, between Davis and Front. During the time that the Crockards had the work they learned thing or two, and they are said to have spoken their minds on more than one occasion. Their remarks reached the ears of the liar Commissioners of Commissioner Colnon, and he decided that it was time to take a hand in the matter in order to prevent any more scandals in the body over which he presided as chairman. He sent for John Crockard, and the two had long conversation and the shipsmith is said to have given such information as to make any attempt on the part of the commissioner to conceal the facts and protect Peterson an impossibility. That was on last Wednesday, and on the fol- lowing day he set the boards expert to work on the books.
 It seems that in the meantime Peter son had got word that there was trou- ble ahead, and that Crockard had been talking, and in order to close Crock ards mouth he sent word to him that if he would not say anything more he would give back to the Crockards the trade they had for so many years. This came too late, for the egg had been laid and begun to hatch. The following day the expert took the books and Mr. Pet erson was relieved from his duties as purchasing agent for the board. The commissioners have not been inclined to say anything about the matter, and when pressed for reason for Peter sons absence from the purchasing bu reau, said 1t was on account of "politi- cal reasons" What Crockard told the commissioners may never be told, but at any rate it made a shaking of dry bones for time, for with Petersons suspension Kelly walked the plank. and it is doubtful if he ever gets back to his job again.
 In addition to the commission cinch" on all trade of the State, there are grave rumors that iron, lead, brass and other stores of the board have disap- peared from the shelter of the purchaS- ing bureau, but these may have been taken by the many bay pirates who in- fest the water front, and MT. Peterson may have felt their loss as keenly as any one. Accountant Harries may be able to get on the track of some of this property-in some of the city front junk shops.
 There is manifest disposition on the part of those who know the most about the crookedness to say as little as pos sible for a strong effort is being made to save Peterson. This may be accom- plished, but it will be at the sacrifice of Kelly and perhaps Crockard, whom it is rumored are to be made the scape- goats in the case The latter, when in- formed yesterday what was in the wind, became very indignant and said: That fellow Peterson is no good. He has insulted me and my brother and ordered us from his office. 1 am not sorry if he does get pinched, for he de- serves all that they can give him, but am sorry for poor little Kelly. He was obliged to do just as Peterson told him. It was just as though I was go- ing to buy four cigars for fifty cents for you and should send one of my men out to do the errand. When he came back he would hand over four five centers and I would make him give the difference to me. That was Peterson and Kelly. I do not want to talk, and I will not, but if that fellow Peterson attempts to clear himself at my ex- pense I will tell a few things that will drive him into his hole so deep that he will never come out again. I will not tell now what I told to Commissioner Colnon but if he compels me to, l will tell more that I told to the Commis sioner. I have not done anything that
 
 show that have done straight busi ness"
 Meanwhile the office, or Bureau of Supplies, is in the hands of a new lot of men. William Angler is filling Pet erson's place and man named Ingram is attending to Kelly's duties, while Expert Harris has full swing of the whole place. What he has found or will find is not likely to be the subject of newspapers.
 There are not many people who are aware that Harbor Commissioner Col non had taken upon himself the re- responsibilities of being correspondent for country newspaper This he did recently, apparently to convince the people of the State or certain portions thereof. that he was not so badly mixed up in the Harbor Commission scandals as the witness in the paraffine paint case made him out to be. He wrote a four-co1l1mn article tO the Fresno F,x-