The San Francisco call., 1906-08-09
.RENNER WILL GIVE
NAME To MAYOR.
Refuses to Tell Supervi-
sors Who Said Gala
CHER Accepted Fee
DENOUNCFDAGAIN

George Renner, manager Of the
comfortable hour yesterday before the
joint Supervisors finance and street
committee. Renner had been cited to
appear to prove his charge, recently
made in a speech before the Howard
Street Protective Association, that AT
torney" Gallagher had received fee
of $1,000 for putting through a spur
track permit before the Board of Su-
pervisors. Renner failed to prove his
accusation. He said his charge was
based on information received from a
third party. Renner refused to divulge
the name of his informant. but ex-
pressed his Willingness to tell his name
to the Mayor.
Supervisor Gallagher again branded
Renner as a liar and scoundrel. and
Renner said no man would dare to call
him such on the street.
WITNESSES ARE SWORN.
The investigation of the charge as
sumed the nature of court trial, for
every witness examined was solemnly
sworn to tell the whole truth by the
finance committee, which has that pow
er under the charter. The first witness
was Edgar Painter, secretary of the
North Central Improvement Associa-
ton, whose name had been previously
mentioned in connection with the RATS
ing of sack to put through a bill in
the Legislature giving boards of super
visors the power to grant spur track
permits. Renner began to question
Painter about specific permits for spur
tracks. when Gallagher remarked that
the questions had nothing to do with
the charge that he had corruptly taken
fee.
Painter in his statement charged that
the Draymen's Association had used
the Transfers Union to oppose the
granting of spur track permits.
NJ ]. Casey, president of the union,
denied that such was the case. and the
statement was ordered stricken out.
RENNER ON THE GRILL.
When Renner was put on the stand
he replied to a question of Gallagher
that he had been incorrectly quoted
In the papers. as he had not accused
Supervisor Gallagher, but Attorney"
Gallagher, of taking a fee OF $1,000
Renner admitted that he did not know
the statement was true when he made
1t, for he had got it second hand.
Then you lied when you said It, said
Gallagher. How did you get your in
formation?"
Il refuse to divulge the name of my
informant" replied Renner.
Then you are a scoundrel," said Gal
lagher.
Il want square DEAL" shouted Rem
ner. Il am not going to lose my tenn
per. but no man on the public streets
will say that l am a liar without my
resenting it. 1 will submit my au-
thority to Mayor Schmitz Ny inform
ant is a respected citizen and not a
hobo and the Mayor can sacrifice him,
as l have been. When l made my state
ment I did not know that Attorney"
Gallagher and Supervisor" Gallagher
were one and the same. 1 did not know
in my own mind that my informant
was correct, and I admit that made a
mistake in taking 1T for granted that
what he told me was true"
CALLS RENNER sCoUNDREL.
rs it not your duty to bring him
here?" asked Gallagher.
No, not to be slaughtered as I have
BEEN" said Renner. Il will give his
name to the Mayor to decide IL the
source Of my information was cor
rect. The same man told me that Abe
Ruef took fees for putting measures
through. ] never said that John Breu-
ner had paid Gallagher a fee of $1,000"
Any man who repeats something he
has heard rejecting on the honor of
another man is a scoundrel-and, lur.
Renner, you are that man. 1 say it to
your face now and will say 1t any time
you come to me-, shouted Gallagher.
IF l am a scoundrel." said Renner
point me out an honest man I did
not say 1t was crime nor call 1T a
bribe for an attorney to take a fee
Gallagher said Supervisor who is
an attorney has no right to receive a
fee for any act done In the 4ine of his
duty as a Supervisor.
Renner's examination was declared
ended, and he asked If the charge
against Ruef would be taken up.
Chairman Rea said Ruef was not a
public official and no action in his
case could be taken by the committee
Rea then announced that the commit
tee would file Its report on the inquiry
at next Mondays meeting of the board