The San Francisco call., 1905-08-03
hcQUA|D STALLS
INVESTIGATION
Grand Jury Foreman Re-
fused Entrance to Hospital
to Inquire About Frauds
SUPERINTENDENT UGLY
Serves Ruef, His Master, by
Thwarting the Probing OF
the Registration Crimes

Superintendent McQuaid of the City
and County Hospital defled Foreman
Andrews of the Grand Jury and Assist
mt District Attorney Hurris yesterday
and refused them permission to exam
Inc patients in the hospital as to their
alleged Illegal registration. McQuafd
! sNvOrc Mt and threatened the officials,
declaring that he would throw them
out If they attempted to investigate too
thoroughly. He bOasffuIIy asserted
that he was not to be trified with and
that there was no cause for exami-
nation. When told that his attitude
toward the inquisitors strengthened
their suspicious, he told them to go
ahead and do their worst. Never be-
fore in the history of the Grand Jury
mas such determined opposition to in
vesttgation been encountered.
After the inquisitors had listened to
McQuaids TRADE on reformers and the
Grand Jury Foreman Andrews told him
that the affair was not ended by far
and that, once started, the investiga-
tlon would keep on until the right of
the patients to vote is determined.
The climax of the meeting was when
McQuaid dared the Grand Jury to find
anything crooked with his methods in
the registration, and then in one of his
lrate moments exclaimed, ABE Ruef is
my friend and 1 am proud of it,"
superintendent McQuaid said last
night that he would get a doctors GER
tificate to show that any inmates were
patients if the Grand Jury attempts to
subpoena thcm. He said that everything
done yesterday was a bluff to keep the
Investigators busy until the election is
over. He announced that If the Grand
Jury attempts to enter the hospital to-
day he will have the gates closed upon
them.
He repeatedly told Andrews that the
present Grand Jury is looking for trouble
and could get its "fll'' from him. Throw
ing out his chest he shouted loudly that
he had been in politics in San Francisco
since boy and knew every trick and
turn in the game.
McQuaid made a traveSty of the ex-
animation by refusing permission to the
Grand Jury foreman TO see even one of the
inmates, and he threatened to throw the
investigators out of the building if they
attempted to question a patient. He an
swered such questions as he saw fit and
wandered off the subject to score some
of his many enemies in the political field.
If McQuaid had had his way there
would have been no stenographer present
to record his vituperations and write out
the various threats which he made
against the "meddling' Grand Jury. He
Mrs. Collins in the room and said that
he would refuse to answer the questions
put to him II they were to be written
down; but later he forgot his objections
and talked freely.
When Foreman Andrews, Attorney
Harris, Stenographer Mrs. Collins and
the bailiff appeared in the office of Super
intendent McQuaio hey were greeted by
that official with cold smile. He was
not aware that an investigation was to
be held. Mr.. Andrews talked about the
management of the institution for some
time before getting down to business.
The list of the voters connected with the
hospital was produced and points were
talked about in a general way, but when
direct questions were put to McQuaid he
stopped talking.
SHOWS HIS TEETH.
rs it true that some of these voters
have no right to be registered from this
precinct?" was asked. and the stenog-
rapher got her pad and pencil in readi-
ness. McQuaid grew perturbed and said
that he would not talk while stenog-
rapher was present.
You take my word for it, exclaimed
McQuaid, there are 14S voters regis
tered from this hospital. but only 102
of them are entitled to vote. But they
will vote, and no law will stop them be-
cause technically they are in the right
have been in this business long enough
to know when registration is being con-
Quoted properly, and my four years ex-
perience in the Registrars office gave
me enough knowledge of the law not to
implicate myself in a false registration
case. Ever since the so-called dirty gang
of grafters' took possession of the City
Hall the patients in this hospital have
voted but since l came into control here
there has been no crooked work on the
premises
There have been accusations that the
registration from this hospital was not
straight, and l am here to investigate"
declared Foreman Andrews, land we
do not propose to take your or any other
persons word that this work Is legal We
must find it officially
There is cleaner hospital admins
tration now than ever before" said Me-
Quaid hotly. land I have been in San
Francisco since my birth and know this
political game from the ground. 1 do not
intend that you shall take any other
mans word for the conditions here but
my own, and that will have to suffice If
you want the names and occupations go
to the Registrars office and you will find
them there. 1 will not permit any liber-
ties to be taken in this building by you
and your party, and 1 will not tolerate
any report that l myself do not furnish"
REGISTRAR STANDS IN.
Foreman Andrews had gone to the Reg
istrar's office before visiting the hospital,
but the occupations of the voters were not
made out for his inspection. When told OF
this McQuaid was much aggrieved at the
foreman and became irritated to a great
degree.
THE inmates of this institution voted
before my term as superintendent, but
not since" he said. land they
will not be permitted to vote IL
legally while 1 am in Office. But I
would like to see a great roaring battle
between us, lots of gore spread around
and some more of this unpleasant news
paper notoriety. l will win in spite of
you. When the fight starts next Tues
day my sympathy is with the other
crowd (Ruefs) and then you will know
where l have been"
Andrews asked if the men without the
right to vote could be prevented from
voting, and was told that they could not.
They have a right according to the
charter, or, 1 might say, by right of es-
tablished custom" explained McQuaid-