The San Francisco call., 1905-05-02

Corruption of a startling nature was
revealed during the investigation made
by Foreman Andrews into the methods
employed in the Tax Collectors office.
Clerks were told by the defaulting
head of the Office not to press certain
people. The result of these inquiries
will be complete change in the con-
duct of the tax Office and several other
offices in the City Hail.
AS yet Foreman Andrews has not
been able to get any proof that would
indicate that the alleged shortage of
S165, 200 had ever existed. The broth
ers of the absconding Tax Collector re-
ported that when the shortage was
made good by James B. Smith Edward
J. Smith turned over to his brother his
drug store. There is no record of such
a transaction, and Foreman Andrew S
skepticism on the subject OF The short
age is still growing.
William Haggerty, clerk in the drug
store, who acted as a sort of go-be-
tween for the Smith brothers, was
questioned on this point. He knew of
no such transaction as the transfer
of the drug store from Edward j. Smith
to James B. Smith.
The entire working force of the Tax
Collector office was before Foreman
Andrews and District Attorney Bying
ton last night. Their testimony re-
vealed fully the rottenness under the
Smith regime.
LET ALONE" ORDERS.
I'VE We're told to let certain people
alone" asserted one witness. Smith
told US that he did not want to get
people down on the tax office. He gave
us lots of orders that seemed rather
funny"
The private safe of the absconding
Tax Collector was opened yesterday
and the contents were handed to Ex-
pert Douglas Young for examination.
The accounts are so muddled and com
plicated that it will require several
days to straighten them cut. But from
what the expert has already seen some
startling revelations will be made
when he has finished with the books.
Others besides the defaulting Tax Col
lector will be implicated.
1t is expected that the count of the
money in the city treasury will be fin
ished to-day. According to the compu-
tations made by Foreman Andrews and
the District Attorney the money will be
from $15, ,290 to $4,000 short. If the
shortage all told is more than the $15,-
290 for which Chief Deputy Louis A.
Devote is responsible. the inquiry
which is to be made into the conduct of
the Treasurers office will be pressed
Immediately. Attorney Isadore Harris
of the District Attorneys Office has
figures to prove that the shortage will
be more than $4,000.
JURY HASTENS.
The purpose of the rigid investigation
made into the Tax Collectors Office is
TO enable the Grand Jury to make a
report recommending immediate
changes in the Tax Collectors office
The report will be completed to-day
and adopted at full meeting of the
Grand Jury.
Why, the Office is rotten, said Fore
man Andrews. Il have said that be-
The way that the department has been
run is abominable Something must be
done about it Immediately. 1t is with
this end that the Grand Jury is rush
ing this report before taking UP any
thing else.
There are many. things for the jury
to do, but reforms in this office and in
the offices of the Treasurer and the Au-
ditor are needed Immediately. We can
punish the men who are oulpable later,
but right now we must remove the pos
sibility Of graft such as Edward j.
Smith has been doing.
Following are the employees of the de-
faulter, who testified to the crooked
ness of the Tax Collectors Office: C. E.
Broad, p. J. Curtin, j. A. Linehan, r.
Alborn, j. A. Code, E. w. D. Cashen,
II. c. Warren, John White, c. B. Hig-
gins, F. j. McAuliffe, w. II. Williams,
w. l. Readon, E. W. Hulford, William
Haggerty and H. N. Hall.
James A. Simpson, head deputy in
tie license office, where Edward j.
Smith grated to the extent of $200,00O
a year, was again called yesterday
morning. In the office in charge of
Simpson, Smith was able to raise
money at will on his personal tags.
F. X. Foley Of the same office was rig
idly questioned. Foreman Andrews will
resume his Investigations to-day.
MAY BE TAX COLLECTOR.