The San Francisco call., 1906-07-10
Mayor Determined to Have
New Police Commission
Schmitz Awaits Resignation Of O'Grady and Reagan
and May Gust Drinkhouse and Maestretti.
Continued from Page 1, Column /.

Continued from Page 1, Column L.
Works refuse to subside Maestretti is
silent on the matter and will only say
that he has heard nothing to indicate
a change. The Mayor, however, would
not deny that the resignation of Macs
tretti would be called for
For several months before the earth
quake the Mayor, while not facing an
open bolt on the part of his Police
Commissioners, has not been on par
ticularly close terms with any of them.
1t is knoYn that he was at variance
with Poheim. who, with OGrady,
worked hard for re- e-election last Mo-
vember. Commissioner Reagan has for
many months escaped removal through
the strong political party influence that
he commands, as he was prior to April
Is the stumbling block in the way of
united action by the board. Drink
house has seconded Reagan in almost
every blockading move and in many in.
stances the board has been deadlocked
over important police matters.
The Mayor had been dissatisfied with
the actions of Commissioner Poheim
for some time, and they were not on
speaking terms
the doings of the Commissioner and
the association he had formed. Then
came the alliance of Poheim, O'Grady
and Solomon in the glassware business,
with the latter member of the firm
looking out for the grand opportunity
to supply whisky from his Cincinnati
house to fill the glasses to the brim.
The firm had boldly sent out printed
notices to all saloons, bearing the
names of Commissioners Peheim and
O'Grady in big letters. There was no
mistaking the fact that saloon men
who received licenses from the COM
mission were expected to return the
favor by calling upon the new firm
for a fine assortment of glasses.
sOLOMON's CARD.
But this was not all A card accom-
panied the notices, showing that B. M.
Solomon, one of the members of the
firm. was selling high grade whiskies.
When the Mayor saw the notices he
exclaimed in amazement to close
friend, What do you think of that?"
Then prominent business men as we'll
as saloon men went to the Mayor and
protested. The merchants explained
that they had never sought any favors
from the administration, but they did
not think 1t fair to be driven out Of
the glassware and whisky business by
his appointees on the Police Commits
sion. They told of their losses by fire,
and said that while they were willing
to meet fair competition they could not
stand idly by and see trade that 1t had
taken years and money to build up
snatched from them by men who had
the saloon men in their power.
Commissioner Reagan has been in
bad odor with the administration ever
since the last election when he was
charged with being a traitor to the
". H.
ticket. Reagan, before his appoint
ment as a Commissioner, was work
ing on the streets as paver. He inn
mediately went into the insurance busi-
ness. and it was not long before he was
accused of using his position to force
saloon men to give him their insur
ance. A saloon man named Augen-
bIick was refused license on the
votes of Reagan and Drinkhouse. Au-
genbdck, it is said, claimed that he
was denied license because he had
refused to give Reagan his Insurance.
Subsequently he was granted a license.
The Grand Jury attempted to investi-
gate the matter, but Augenblick would
not substantiate the charge.
The Mayor at that time was disposed
to oust Reagan, but the latter's strong
political friends pleaded in his behalf
and succeeded in holding him in office.
SMALL STOCK ON HAND.
The firm of Pohelm, O'Grady &
Solomon occupies a room at 2053 SUIT
ter street. There are a couple of desks
in the room and a typewriter. Three
shelves are used to show samples of
whisky, wine and beer glasses. No
crockery or utensils used about hotels,
restaurants or saloons were in evil
dence. The firm has no storeroom or
warehouse. B. NJ. Solomon is the busi-
ness man of the firm, and he explains
his connection with the deposed Com
missioners in this manner: You see,
have been on very friendly terms
with Poheim and OGrady for a num-
Der of years, and after the fire, when
everybody was embarking in new en-
terprises j thought the glassware and
crockery business would afford a good
business field l am a business man,
and have been an agent for whisky
houses for number of years. l am
familiar, however, with the glassware
and crockery business, but the start
ing of a new business requires capital,
and what was more natural than that l
should call upon my friends Poheim
and O'Grady? They thought 1t a good
venture and Joined with me in a part
nership.'
rs it true that in soliciting glass
ware trade from the saloons that you
informed the proprietors that you were
also selling whisky, and that when
they refused to buy whisky you said.
You don't want me to tell Joe that?'
meaning Poheim?" was asked.
II never made any such statement"
replied Solomon, and the liquor sold
was to trade that l had established
years before the fire"
When 1t was intimated that the firm
was simply doing a jobbing business
in glassware, Mr.. Solomon produced a
bill to show that the firm was buying
goods in large quantities. He con-
cealed all but the address of the firm,
which was a local one, by doubling
up the document. He maintained that
the actions of the firm in soliciting
business were perfectly justifiable, and
could see no impropriety in a doctor
and lawyer. both Police Commits
sioners, joining him in the glassware
and crockery business. That Mr.. Solo
mon would not need much ready cash
from Messrs. Poheim and O'Grady is
evident from the fact that the firm
carries no stock.
/. 'gl BSr
ROW OVER AN INDIAN MAID