Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-15
OFFICIALS DENY
CRAFT CHARGES
C0UNCILMEN ARE INCENSED
BY REPORT
Evening Paper Prints Story Which
Members Of City Council Believe
Was Inspired by Mayor
McAleer

Councilmen Hitler, Blanchard, Hough-
ton and Committee Clerk Will
lard Goodwin were higly incensed
yesterday at the allegations of
graft in an evening paper in con-
nection with the granting of the
Salt Lake railroad a franchise for a
spur track in the alley east of Santa
Fe avenue. 1t was charged that these
four, In connection with several per-
sons not in the city's employ, had
formed a syndicate and taken up OPP
tions along the line of the proposed
spur track.
This was emphatically denied by all
the accused persons yesterday and
Willard Goodwin told what he declares
to be the entire story Of all real estate
transactions in connection with the
spur track.
about week ago my brother
Charles o. Goodwin, who Is in the real
estate business, found he. could pur-
chase twelve lots on the southeast cor
ner of Santa Fe avenue and Eleventh
street of C. M. Stimson and advised
me to buy it. Acting on his advice ]
formed an informal syndicate in which
were e. L. Blanchard, councilman of
the Ninth ward; S. W. Hitler, council
man Of the Third ward; Tom McCarey,
myself and several others not em-
ployed by the city in any capacity, and
we purchased the twelve lots.
"As far as I know the question of
the spur track did not enter into the
negotiations and if it had l do not
think there is any occasion for a cry
of graft, as it was a perfectly legiti-
mate business tranaction."
Dock Grows Indignant
The same paper that accused Hitler
and Blanchard of getting theirs also
asserted that the mayor had said he
had been told that Houghton had some
options along the line of the spur and
when Houghton read the statement
he wanted to fight.
With a copy of the paper in his hand
Houghton rushed into Mayor McAleer'
office, intent on having the chief exec
utive explain what Houghton termed
his "base SANDERS" The mayor was
not in and Houghton nearly wore out
a telephone trying to get into com
munication with him. He failed to
succeed in this, but declared he would
insist that the council investigate him
and his actions next Monday.
Councilman Hitler was equally in
dignant, but his anger was not so
spectacular.
Hitler Makes Explanation
"This question of a spur track came
east" said Mr.. Hitler. ''If I had then
taken up options or bought property
and then did all in my power to put
the spur track through there might
have been some ground for this charge
of graft, but it was only last week
that I went into the little syndicate
to secure this property for an invest
ment By that time everyone knew
that the Salt Lake would get the spur,
for the council had already passed the
ordinance granting the franchise So
far as 1 was concerned, and I believe
it is true of every one in the venture
everything was open and above board.
The accused ones declare that Mayor
McAleer is entirely responsible for the
disagreeable stories of alleged graft.
They declare that he is taking this
way to revenge himself on the council
for passing the ordinance granting the
spur track over his veto.
The mayor did not want the spur
track because it will damage the prop
erty of the Republic Iron and Steel
company, of which the mayor is presi-
dent and principal stockholder. The
alley through which the track will run
passes over his property and cuts off
a strip on the Santa Fe avenue side
about 100 feet wide and two blocks
long. The strip is rendered practically
worthless by the spur track.