The San Francisco call., 1905-08-01

Conclusive evidence of the fraudulent
methods of registering voters by the
Ruef-Schmitz administration was brought
to light at the City and County Hospital
yesterday. An investigation by the fore
man of the Grand Jury showed that there
was larger number of voters on the
lists as coming from the institution than
were employed there.
This means that besides the men on
the payroll, who are bona fide residents,
a number of the patients have been en-
: tered as eligible to participate in the
election, which is a direct violation of
the law. Besides those fraudulently
registered, another violation of the law
was dicovered in that two deputies from
the Registrars Office were sent to the
hospital to enter the names of the en-
ployes-anda as it has developed-others
not legally entitled The city's laws say
that every voter must appear in person
at the City Hall and enter his name on
the book as an eligible. The registration
the hospital Is therefore Illegal.
A report was sent to Foreman An
drews from the Republican League that
there were a larger number of voters on
the list than were temporarily residents
of the precinct; Andrews started on the
tour of investigation yesterday morning.
With him were Miss Collins, stenograph-s
er of the Grand jury Clerk Harris from
Byington's Office and two bailiffs Of the
Grand Jury.
VIOLATION OF LAW.
After an examination of c. P. II.
Clasby, receiving clerk z. Riordan, chief
orderly; F. S.. Ward, commissary, and j.
P. Roesman. 1t was found that the ad-
ministration had accomplished two vto-
lations of the law. Although there are
only 195 employees on the payroll at the
nd al of Uh "a
are swomen-leaving SO actual voters-it
was found that 149 male voters had reg
istered from that institution. This means
that in the Thirty-second Assembly Dis
trict a municipal institution, where all
outward semblance of wrong should be
suppressed, is the first place where the
illegal methods spring forth
No other explanation can be offered by
Foreman Andrews of this unusual num-
Der of registered men than that part Of
them were inmates Of the hospital. He
SAYS there is no doubt of this fact. To
be a voter in a precinct one must be
temporary resident Of ttat precinct, and
hospital inmates have never been consid-
cred such.
SEND OUT DEPUTIES.
July II and IL were the days decided
upon by the administration to place these
names on the register and probably in
fiuence them in voting later. Two depu-
ties were sent out from the office of the
Registrar, which is again a violation OF
the law, and the names were entered on
the list.
A complaint has been made to the Re-
publican Club that wagonloads of the
hospital inmates were being brought to
the institution and preparations were be-
ing perfected to get them on the list of
eligibles.
AS soon as the investigation of the
Grand Jury is made the names of the of
tenders in this regard will be made
known and strict punishment will be at
tempted Yesterday tie identity of the
persons registering illegally had not been
found, but Andrews is confident of sue
cess in ferreting out the guilty.
FRAUD IS DISCOVERED.
According to Foreman Andrews Of the
Grand Jury, another friend of the present
city administration has been connected
with lately discovered case OF fraudu-
lent voting at the primaries in August,
1904 The discoveries are said to show
further crookedness in the methods of
the president of the Board of Public
Works and how the ignorant accomplice
in the wrong was hidden away over
Maestrettis saloon and furnished with
money to leave town.
If the evidence in the hands of the Dis
trict Attorney is proved j. B. Sykes, one
time lawyer with Ruef. school teacher
and president of the Thirty-ninth Assem-
bly, Improvement Club, will be indicted
and tried as were Maestretti and the
others for alleged fraud at the same cleo
ton. N. E. Whiteside. who was ignor-