The San Francisco call., 1905-01-26
IDnDlOralCOnduCt.
IS Given as the
Cause.
DepOSed Official
Denies Truth
Of Charge.

The career of H. w. Hutton as
Police Commissioner was brought to an
abrupt close by Mayor Schmitz yester-
day afternoon. The chief magistrate
: exercised his prerogative and summar-
ily ousted the member who has been a
thorn in theeside of the administration
the last two years Immoral conduct
was given as the cause for removal,
the Mayor having gathered evidence
that links the Commissioners name
with that of Miss Viola Keeier, an art
student of eighteen years. There are
other allegations of misconduct OF the
same character, all of which Mayor
Schmitz declared to be "unbecomlng
in a Police Commissioner of the city
and county of San Francisco
Hutton is emphatic in denial Of the
truth of the charges and declares that
they were trumped up so that ne mleht
be removed and the administration
freed of his persistency In eHorts TO
enforce the law and make San Fran
cisco a more wholesome city. He says
he has expected such step by the
Mayor for some time and knew he
was jeopardizing his tenure by being
SO energetic against 1929 Dupont street,
62O Jackson street, the French restau-
rants and other places of vice.
KNEW HE WAS SHADOWED.
Il was not deferred in one particular
from doing my duty conSclentlouSly,
fearlessly and with honest purpose,
said the deposed Commissioner last
night. While l have been looking for
this to happen, 1 am surprised, how
ever at the means adopted. did not
think they would attack my private
life. I have known that detectives
were shadowing me, but l thought they
We're trying to get at me in some otner
way.
The charges that the Mayor makes
against me. are utterly false so far as
the accusation of improperly is con-
cerned. But even if they were true.
whose business is it to concern himself
about my private life? Suppose all
public officials were put to the test,
how many would you have left to run
the government?
Yes. l know Miss Viola keeler and
she has been at my house as guest
But the allegation that our relations
have in any way been improper Is
without a vestige of truth. There are
six rooms in my home. l frequently
entertain at dinner. l often have
friends here at card parties. Am l to
live like a hermit? Is man TO cut
himself off from all social life because
he Is a member of the Police Board?
Il have never visited any woman at
235 OFarrell street, as is alleged. L
have gone to play cards with men who
have apartments there, but never was
in the company of any woman in the
hotel. / repeat that the Mayor has un-
justly accused me.
.."I was appointed to the commission
three years ago by the same Mayor
who has now removed me. / became
interested in the labor union movement
and worked hard for Schmitz and the
ticket in the first campaign. We got
along harmoniously for year. Later
discord came between US. l fought for
the removal of the big nickel-in-the-
slot machines from the saloons. Schmitz
tried to have me desist. but l stuck to
what I regarded my duty.
COULD NOT BE HANDLED.
THE Mayor learned that L was a
man who could not be swerved once
my mind was made UP that / was
right. 1t was not long till the admin
istration let me alone. and | was one
of them no more. My activities in
seeking to expose police corruption in
Chinatown, my attitude against the
French restaurants and the inability
of the administration to control me
were responsible for the action of the
Mayor to-day.
II have not given the matter serious
thought, but l do not think Z will
make any contest Of my dismissal. My
term would expire in another year, and
a suit could not be adiudicated much
before that time. / did not go to the
meeting of the Commissioners tonight.
There was no use going down there
and making any fuss about it,
Commissioner Hutton has long been
a difficult and somewhat mysterious
factor for Mayor Schmitz and his ad-
ministration to deal with. The Com
missioner has been disposed to antag-
onize the administration. He was new
er content with the ordinary enforce
ment of the law, but was seeking, 1t
appeared, to discredit the administra-
TONS conduct of the government His