The San Francisco call., 1905-03-24
Allegations of Bribery and
General Corruption Arouse
Supervisors and Company
to Strong Denunciations
REPORT OF GRAND
JURY'S WORK FALSE
Boxton Writes a Letter to
Foreman Andrews De-
manding an Investigation
of Charges by Inquisitors

The Supervisors accused of soliciting
bribe from the gas company and the
officials of the lighting corporation
spent the greater part of yesterday
making denials of the story that some
of the municipal legislators had ex-
pressed desire to be corrupted. Two
or three members of the Grand Jury
heard the rumor early in January, but
1T is not probable that the inQuiSitorial
body will investigate the matter in
view of the absence of ]. F. Lawless,
formerly general manager of the gas
company.
Some of the accused officials promise
to make it hot for those responsible
for the story. There seems to be little
prospect that any fire will be discover
ed unless Mr. Lawless returns to fan
away the smoke. Early in the history
of the present Grand Jury charge
was made that certain members of the
Board of Supervisors had solicited a
bribe of $2500 from the gas company
in consideration of a promise to vote
for a high lighting rate. The docu-
ment containing the accusation was
. filed, and in the regular course of work
was opened about ten days ago. 1t ap-
peared that ex-General Manager Law
1883 was lCSpOlSlOlS lOl SlC VI lSiioi
story. Inquiry developed the fact that
he was some thousands of miles away
from San Francisco and that his testi-
mony unsubStantiated would never
warrant an indictment.
The Supervisors who are understood
to have been charged with soliciting
bribe about a year ago are Bent, Box
ton. Lunstedt, Alpers and Finn The
last named has since resigned from the
Board of Supervisors and been ap
pointed to the Fire Commission.
Supervisors Rea and Eggers, who
were announced as members of
crowd of blackmailers, have an excel
lent opportunity to seek redress.
BOURN MAKES DENIAL.
The officials of the gas company held
meeting yesterday morning and
President Bourn was authorized to
make the following statement:
Referring to an article in the Examiner
of to-day regarding the adoption of gas rates
by the Supervisors in the year 1904 This
article attempts TO create two impressions
viz: ID That the San Francisco Gas and
Electric Company employed corrupt means to
procure the passage Of the gas rate. and CD
that certain of the Supervisors offered to sell
their votes
With reference to the first: The manage
rnent OF the company resolved from the outset
that 1t would not under any circumstances
engage in politics. either directly or indirectly,
and would not employ eXpend
dollar for political influence. This policy has
beer scrupuously observed. Neither the COM
pany any one acting for il has used
a cent influence the action of any public
officer.
Ir December 1903 1 went to Europe re-
turning February 1901 While absent l die
NOT receive from Mr.. Lawless at that time
manager of the San Francisco Gas and EIec-
trie Company. any else. any cable
any message of any kind to the effect that
a satisfactory more than satisfactory rate
could be secured by the OF money,
did l receive any message whatever on the
subject OF rates, except telegram from Mr..
Lawless while | was in New York in Feb
ruary. asking If the company would be salts
fed to have the Supervisors fix rate of 81
per 1000 cubic feet My present recollection
is that l replied that a rate of 81 10 would
be fair. and in subsequent proceedings before
that rate. This the only message l sent
during my absence on the subject of gas rates.
With reference to the second Mr.. Lawless
never stated to ME that the Supervisors named
in the article offered to vote for one dollar
rate or any other rate. l have absolutely
no personal knowledge of the subject, nor do
fore the Grand Jury No member of the
Board of Supervisors has ever approached me
on the subject of gas rates.
SPEAKS ONLY FOR HIMSELF.
1t may be noted in Mr. Bourn's state
ment that he does not say that Gen
eral Manager Lawless did not report
the matter to the board of directors of
the gas company or that some other
tion did not impart the information to
the concerns president. In answer to
queries on this subject Mr.. Bourn says:
Il have nothing further to state
The accused Supervisors gave vent
! to such loud explosions of wrath that
they brought on rain last night. Cen
eral Manager Pollok of the gas COM
pany has promised to come before the
Board of Supervisors Monday and deny
the story.
The accused officials We're in COM
munication with President Bourn and
General Manager Pollok yesterday
morning, and the result of their tete-
a-tete and telephone conferences was
a decision to prove that the story of
alleged corruption was an out and out
falsehood. Foreman Andrews said
that the matter came before the Grand
Jury as a result of gossip at a club of
which Mr.. Bourn is a prominent MEM
Der. 1t is assured that nothing will
come of the matter unless Lawless is
located and induced to come to San
Francisco as a prosecuting witness.
The five Supervisors whose names
have been mentioned in connection
with attempting to solicit bribes from
the gas company were highly indig-
nant, excited and full of wrath yester-
day. Some threatened libel proceed
| ings, others demanded an immediate
I lilNSStiSdllOIl, Willie OtHeIS SIIllleQ ana
seemed willing to let events take their
course.
POLLOK SPEAKS TO BENT
| Supervisor Fred Bent is bitter in his
criticism of what he considers an un-
just and cowardly proceeding. He
wants an immediate investigation and
demands that his name be cleared from
all shadow of doubt in the so-called
crooked work. Bent made the follow
ing statement:
Mr.. Pollok of the gas company met ma
this morning and informed me that the Of
fcials of the company would go before the
Supervisors on Monday morning and have this
matter thoroughly aired. This roast Is un-
called for, but that is the thanks man gets
when he works hard to do the people good
turn. l was one of the members who fought
the gas company inch of the way and
was even discussed by the Afro-Amer-
lean contingent at Emeryville, where