The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-14

SAN Francisco, Nov. IS.-The San Fran
ris,o politician has devised and Is now
onerating more successful ways Of grating
than ever we're dreamed of by experts at
the business in the East. And not only
doe, your Golden Gate manipulation get
,hc championship belt on the score OF va
r7ctv and ~thoroughness in grating, but the
cir, INSTANCE under which he achieves this
distinction are such as to advance him to
an even dizzier eminence Of rascality.
Fer San Francisco, which had been a
mother TO him inc in her palmy days had
nourished him and given him OF her best.
Ia stricken to the earth and is even now only
feebly trying to rise. Even the most con-
sistent pirate might forbear to rob her
without losing caste. But the San Fran
cisco looter knows no mercy. In the hours
Of the city's greatest extremity he was more
greedy than ever. And to-day he is doing
his best TO take the last dollar in San Fran
Cisoo's public purse. He is the cruelest
volt in the merciless paok.
II does not seem possible that an institu-
zion like the Municipal Crib could be
maintained forty-eight hours in any city
Of the East. Certain is IL that its existence
would lead to the overwhelming defeat Of
any municipal administration that tolerated
q. And yet, despite the most persistent
and v~itriolic attacks by press and pulpit,
the Municipal Crib has been run for
years. The fire wiped il out. but IL is again
rehabiitated and is doing business at the
same old stand.
II anybody needed any such proof to
convince him that the government of San
Francisco is q government OF grafters, by
grsfters, for grafters a visit to the "mu-
nicipal crib" would furnish enough of il
10 damn the Arohangel Michael were be
Mayor OF the Coast capital. And yet, with
this amazing institution in full blast and
its astounding existence and law defying
character known to every voter, Mayor
Schmitz was reelected.
What is the municipal crib"2 Well. it
h hell viewed through the wrong end Of
a telescope. II Is a cross section OF Bedlam.
It Is q human cesspool, a moral sewer, a
municipal ulcer Materially. IL ia a wooden
frame building OF cheap and Himsy con-
struction situated at 6Is and $40 jackson
street. II could not possibly rave cost more
than so, 900. Il contains about 200 rooms.
For sixteen hours every day these rooms
ere tenanted. This being q redhot union
labor town the wretched inmates work in
eight hour shifts, there being a day force
and a night force. Zach OF the ccupants
at these 200 rooms pays "a a day in rent.
This produces an income OF 50 q day for
each room, a total Of $5s4 900 annually.
There Is also IN enforced weekly medical
inspection for which a fee OF 81 is charged
all around. This adds $40 900 to the total.
In connection with the house 10 run a cigar
stand, a saloon and a restaurant, the lessees
Of these privileges paying large sums for
them.
All told the Municipal Crib" produced
before the fire an income Of something
like so5O,0O0 a year. II is somewhat less
than that at present, as the place has not
been rebuilt to quite it's former extent.
For a time IL was run with a brazen lack
Of any attempt at quiet. Doors and win
dows were constantly open and the sights
and sounds were such that no person who
passed il could possibly be unaware OF its
character. A chorus Of protest indu ced
the police TO put the lid on to the extent
ri ground glass windows and outside doors
tina should be self-closing, but no attempt
ut real concealment has ever been made
Once the chorus Of public indignation
grew so great that policemen we're stationed
IN front Of the place to warn pedestrians not
10 enter. This didn't last long. Having
put the policemen at the doors, the admins
tration got it's Judge, Carroll Cook, to take
them away again by granting an injunction
on the groundthat tn police wereinterfering
With the legitimate business OF the men with
the cigar stand privilege, the restaur ant
privilege and the saloon privilege.
This same Judge was nominated by Ross
Ruef's Republican convention for Presiding
Judge Of the Court ofAppeals. On the morn
ing of-election day n OF the local papers
printed an open letter rom'Father Caraher,
pastor Of St. Francois Roml IN Catholic
Church. in which he described the Munich
pal Crib" as that sty at $40 jackson street.
declared that Judge Cook protected and
fostered brothels and added:
BY his friendship for brothel n and their
proprietors and inmates he ends, "a far
ss il is in his power, the family life and
plunges our youth into sin and shame
The voters bur led Judge Cook last Tues
day, but the Municipal Crib" Is still run
ming. II gets part o { it's name from it's
m~ethodical division into little stall like
compartment s. 1t pets the other part OF
II from the patent fact that no such institu-
ton could possib ly be run without the
"a piONCCbiOh oAAb piOh0 u bHN WV
control the city administration.
And yet every attempt to bring the owner
ship OF this swine pen house to city offici ais
has failed. In fact, though everybody
knows whose it is and who keeps 1t going
and who pockets that vast sum Of the most
contemplate kind OF graft. nobody has
thus far been able to prove il. Many have
tried and failed
Permits for building are granted by the
Hoard Of Public Works. Their sanction Is
essential in all building operations. You
so to the Board OF Public Works and inquire
10 whom the permit for putting up a build
ing at $40 jackson street was given. They
will tell you that A. P. Busse is the man.
Can they oblige you with particulars re-
garding the identity OF Mr.. Buseei No, they
regret TO say, they cannot. They never
,eard Of him before. They believe. how
ever, that he is a 90 ntractor. Put Mr..
Busse is unknown 10 any other contractor
80