The San Francisco call., 1899-09-01
GRAND JURY
RIPS Up THE
TWO BOARDS
Charges Them With
Corruption.
PROOF WANTING, HOWEVER
NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION Is
COMMENDED.
Final Report Of the Body Is Sub
mitted to Judge Daingerfeld
and the Members Are
Discharged.


stepped down and out yesterday. Early
in the afternoon the old jury appeared
before Judge Daingerield and filed its
maj report The court thanked the vari-
Gus members Tor their good work and
devotion 70 duty. after which he made the
order dismissing them from further duty.
Ihat the jury was a believer in the dis
honesty and culpabiHty of the Supervisors
ana the late Board OF Education is set
forth IN plain language in its report
"hlch was accepted with the thanks Of
the court. In part this report reads:
Ia submitting our final report We would
briefly suggest a reasonable exiectatiou on the
part OF the community as 10 what Grand Jury
may accomplish. While extraordinary powers
are conferred upon such a body il is haInpered
4y considerations often overlooked. A Grand
jury must proceed in accordance with law II
may not lntict on general principles, but IS
sworn 10 .utclai.y weigh the evidence offered
or gbtaInab4e in any given case and 20 find a
Indictment only when in its judgment the tes-
Ieei fully assured that ofenses have been COM
mittel brt H. il cannot obtain proof that
would stand the test Of court OF law II has
no right TO irdict however great may be the
popular cla-or- An instance Of this is found
IN the undoubted Culgability Of some OF the
members CT the last Board of Education The
1lry was convinced positions were sold and
that the city defrauded in many ways. but
~ best efforts failed To adduce any evidence
whatever. and 1t could consequently find no
There .s little doubt that some OF the pres
eat Board Of Supervisors have been improperly
influenced in the. discharge Of their official
duty. but here. too. no proof could be obtained.
II most instances OF bribery and corruption
there are no witnesses save the giver and the
taHer. both Of whom would deny the transac-
uCn. To send for books hoping 10 gain proof
is wholly useless such expenditures il re-
corded al all, ara carefully covered.
No jury can al one time successfully combat
all the abuses that beset the municipality. Ii
may be thankful If il succeeds in a single in
stance We have by no means accomplished all
hC-ed for, but in the matter Of the
bond outrage We have done something The
q
VIII not be resumed. The professional bonds
man has been filed with terror, and the Board
~ Supervisors. at our suggestion, has taken
steps 10 prevent further abuse. The only Off
c!aL whom we have indicted was the clerk OF
offender n accepting worthless bonds. He has
resigned MS position and Will be brought TO
Impressed by the brutality and demoraliza-
ton in connection with prize-hghts We have
protested against the further granting of per
mission for these tebasing exhibitions.
Early in our term, when We were actively
searching for evidence that positions in the
vised by the District Attorney that the ac-
ceQtance OF bribe by school official was by
the provision of section 1873 OF the PohtlcaI /
Code misdemeanor and not felony, as in
the case OF other public officials, and conse-
Gu-nrE not lncictabis by US mere seemed no Z
reason for the peculiar exception, and that fu- I
Jure Grand Juries might gain Jurisdiction in /
sieh cases We enceaFJTed 70 remedy the deIect- I
Under our direction an amendment was pre-
pared by the District Attorney and submitted /
o the Legislature. The amendment failed OF /
passage. asserted, from lack Of time, and 1
should be reintroduced at the next session. /
There is something very suspicious in the fact /
that an obscure amendment in the Political /
Code IS made 10 nullify the plain provisions OF /
the Penal Code applicable to all other public /
officers.
We feel that we ought also to commend the
members Of the present Board Of Education |
for the cre5itable way in which they have per- ]
.ormed a difficult duty. Taking Office after an
urscrunulous board had done its worst-leav- !
ing legacy Of debt that was a gross outrage !
on the teachers Of the department and an army !
Of useless teachers, many Of whom We're inno- |
cent vicrime-it boldly undertook 20 correst I
abuses and bring the expenditures within !
bounds.
The members Of the present jury have
shown a readiness 10 indict any one who was
found To be indictable Their action has al |
most without exception been unanimous. They /
have been more than willing-they have been
much is expected Of a Grand Jury; too little /
confidence is placed in ii. II properly aided
little. Very respectfully submitted,
.ars,a+ A. MgTafek f0TsfbL Baebman L. r + h NJ Blaek HRk
James c. Bourbin, George H. Buckingham. e.
Danforth. John Farnham, Charles B. Fem,
C. +. Grunsky. John 7. Henry, Charles 3.
WoVicSil. George 4, Newhali, BENJAMIN New
man, Sidney VI Smith, Charles H. Stanyan.
Following the general report there are
appended those OF the various sub-com
mittees appointed from the main body TO
investigate public offices and public
works Following is the report relative
TO the County Clerks office:
County Clerk-We find County Clerk William
A lleane
Goddard. In fact all the attaches of the office,
thoroughly versed in the matters under their
we may add that these innovations in the
administration Of the business Of the office
have been the subject OF much favora1ie COM
nent from the bench and bar, and Of all whose
duties have called them to transact important
matters in this office.
Nj Deane and effected by Mr.. Goddard, it
will IN the future be impossible TO stuff jury
boxes and the subsequent packing OF Juries
will no longer be included among the scan
dals q the City Hall.
Through the fact that the stability Of our
government rests largely upon the honesty OF
the jurymen. whom come all questions Of
life property and liberty, the Importance OF
tbis ss faeuard on the part OF the County Clerk
cannot be passed by US without commendation,
We find that this office is in first
class working order, with increased business
deputies courteous obiging and efficient and
the Office thoroughly and honestly conducted.
John p Henry and Sylvan Levy sub
rnitted the above report
UNION DEPOT AND FERRY BUILDING
The subcommittee reports that the union depot
Is well managed and that the building pays
for itself. The revenue from al sources is
about $500 0o0 per annum, Of which S463l Is
tsl,en out by the Controller for the sinking
t-ss, From the report number Of reduc-
ti0ns have been made and extra 500 has
been charged the Southern Pacific for use Of
slips The force Of employees has been reduced
also
AUDITOR-The subcommittee appointed 10
Investigate the affairs Of this branch Of the
rnenting on the methods employed in the man
agement thereof. refers TO matters OF present
Interest Il finds that during the first half /
year Of Mr.. Wells administration demands
amounting TO 81 g0l, CSC G5 have been audited.
The basement wherein the records Of the as
sessrnent roll are kept contains about 100 vol
tirnes which have been damaged by fire and
through lack OF funds 10 rearrange them.
They are going TO ruin and it is suggested that
the Supervisors make some provision Tor their
restoration. The committee also suggests that
the heads Of the different departments forward
demands To the Auditor Immediately after pass
ing ''as the unwise and unlawful practice
of withholding warrants has been a source OF
great annoyance" and we find IN the office
demands sggregating $3.50 800 II OF last year
with but S27 S3i o. TO pay the same. The deficit
IS accounted for by the reckless extrava- !
cance Of last year s, School Board.
CIT-Y. AND COUNTY ATTORNEY-Durin /
the Investigation Of the affairs Of this office |
the committee c. g. Jennings and H. NJ !
Black nnds that during the administration /
cf Franklin X Lane not a single judgment !
has been recovered against the city, while il /
has been successful in 81 cases. The committee /
recommends that the library in this office be |
enlarged and che rooms renovated and put in a |
heslthful condition.
SUPERIOR AND JUSTICES COURTS-The |
committee appointed to examine these Offices 4
finds nothing worthy OF special mention, with /
the execution OF the characteristic laziness Of /
the janitors who leave the various court /
rooms without proper attention" They find I