The San Francisco call., 1905-08-20

to the Treasurer's deputy for deposit in
the Treasurer's Office, who shall give the
cashier a receipt.
Coincident with the growth and devel-
opment of San Francisco, the majority
of the members of the Board of Super
visors, the most of whom have served the
city during the last five or six years. have
exercised their functions wisely and liber-
ally yet with careful and conservative
supervision over the fiscal affairs of the
municipality
MAYOR SCHMITZ ACCUSED.
Numerous accusations, both general and
specific in character, indicating neglect of
duty and official misconduct on the part
of the Mayor, Eugene E. Schmitz, have
been presented to this Grand Jury, and
each have been investigated as thorough
iy as possible in order that the facts
might be accurately determined and the
responsibility fairly fixed. Scores Of wit
nesses have been called and examined
and hundreds of official records have been
produced and scrutiniZed.
The accusations presented may be prop
erly divided into two classes-first,
neglect of the general duty imposed by
the charter to exercise proper administra
tive supervision over the affairs of the
various departments of the municipal
government, and, secondly, personal mis-
conduct in the use or abuse of the au-
thority and functions of this office,
coupled with the neglect of specific duties
enjoined by law.
Summarizing the result of our investi-
cation of accusations of the second class,
We find that the Mayor has been guilty
or misconduct in office.
We find that the administration of the
affairs of the Fire Department as whole
is worthy of commendation. We find
that the Of accounting Ia admiral
BILE, and that its efficiency in the protec-
ton of property approaches perfection.
This Grand Jury reports that the
Auditors office has been properly con-
Quoted under the administration of
Harry Baehr and William Wilkinson,
his chief deputy.
While this Grand Jury has confidence
in the honesty and integrity of Treas
urer McDougald, and believes that he
has been guilty of no intentional
wrongdoing, it must condemn the un
lawful practices that have been In
vogue in his Office. It has been the
custom to cash checks for individuals
in and about the City Hall and for Of
ficials of the government in direct con-
travention of the law of the State and
the provisions of the municipal char
ter.
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.
On January lU, 1SUos IDlb dTdnQ jury
filed accusations against the following
named Election Commissioners for will
full and corrupt misconduct in Office:
Robert w. Roberts, James A. Devote,
Z. c. Leffingwell, Thomas Mcguire and
A. w. Voorsanger. On January II,
1906, an amended accusation was filed
against the same Election Commission
ers, charging ''willful and corrupt mis-
conduct in Office
+t,s-
has made careful investigation of the
Sheriffs office and an inspection of the
County Jails. The work of the office
Is steadily increasing with the growth
of the city, but 1t has been managed,
so far as we can determine, in an econ
omical manner.
This Grand Jury, through it's commit
tee, has made at different times a very
careful investigation of the Board of
Education and of the public schools
While 1T has been impossible for the
committee to make a thorough audit
of the accounts, we are satisfied that
they are correct.
The Assessor is to be commended
upon his intelligent and equitable as
sessment of property. It has added
greatly to the city's revenues and at
the same time preserved a low tax rate
We report that the Recorders office
under the administration of Edmond
Godchaux and Charles M. Stolz, chief
deputy is all that could be desired.
This Grand Jury has investigated the
accounts and methods of the Public
Administrator. Michael ]. Hynes, and
reports that under his direction many
reforms have been inaugurated to I'm
prove upon previous administrations.
This Grand Jury, through it's COM
mittee has twice investigated the man
agement of the Coroner's office and of
the Morgue and believes that the ad-
ministration. Of Thomas B. w. Leland,