The San Francisco call., 1906-11-10
Reports of a Fifty Thousand Dollar
Bribe Reach the Grand Jury.
Stock Assessed Just Before
Permit Was Granted.


One of the matters urgently pressing for the
attention of the Grand Jury the permit granted
to the Preside and Ferries Street Railway Company
known the Union-sreet line authorizing change from
the cable and horse the overhead trolley system
Current reports the effect that Doodle fund of
$4,000 raised and paid the time the permit
granted by the unanimous of the Supervisors
The Union-street line had more difficulty with the
Board of Supervisors than the United Railroads. The
members of the board fell each other their hurry
to comply with every request of the larger corporation
When the Union-street company forward
shortly after the fire with petition for similar
that accorded the United Railroads the Supervisors
beled They first up the plea that the franchises OF
the company had expired In this opinion the City En-
gneer concurred The word out that until the fran
chises could be produced permit would be granted
After weeks of delay the franchises placed
before the Supervisors Still the Supervisors
satisfied They wanted assurance that trolley could
climb the hills. The plan all but dropped this
point. Later it pressed with fresh energy. The Su-
pervisors again called halt. They wanted a promise
that work would begin once and that the company
would maintain lights along the it traversed.
STOCK OF COMPANY IS ASSESSED.
1t about this time that the stock ofthe company
was assessed something like s. share There are
$4,000 shares in all and the assessment yielded S50OOO
On September II without discussion by unanimous vote
the Supervisors passed the ordinance giving COM
pany permit change its road into overhead trolley
system. The ordinance did call for payment of
any sum into the treasury of the city.
Soon after this runors spread thata corruption
fund had been raised by the company and employed to
put the ordinance through The name of Abe Ruef h-
ured in these rumors and him ascrbed the role
of mediator
Most of the stock of the Presdio and Ferries COM
pany held in San Francisco and cities about the bay
George A Newha the president of the concern is one
of the heaviest stockholders Blocks of stock are held
by the Alexander Forbes and Kent estates of Marin
County The Forbes estate is valued at 81 100000
1t has been separated into three divisions
Forbes Estate Company, the Forbes and Forbes
Brothers.
James H. Wilkins superintendent of construction at
San Quentin prison. former Assembyman and Prison Di
rector married of the daughters of Alexander Forbes
and has assisted in the manag cement of the estate.
Yes said Wilkins last night, "the impression pre-
walls thata of money paid for the permit granted
by the Supervisors but for the facts YOU must see
But, Mr.. Wilkins, the permit was at first refuseda"
Eyes it was held up
"And about that time an assessment of 81 was
LEVIED!
WILKINS RELUCTANTLY EXPLAINS.
"Yes it was about that time the assessment was
levied but for the facts you must see"
"And shortly after the levied the per-
NIT granted?"
"Yes, the permit granted then"
Then there was Doodle fund.-
Wilkins squirmed uneasily dug his into the car
pet and chewed the end of his cigar.
That's the talk but you'll have to see"
For what else could the money have been rased?"
Well it might have been for rehabilitation
Nov Mr. Wilkins, as matter of fact wasn't there