The San Francisco call., 1907-02-01
ANOTHER FORM OF
CRAFT EXPOSED .
BY POLICE
Enploye of Electrical De-
partment Issues a Be-
gus Inspection Certificate
WARRANTS HAVE
BEEN ISSUED

While both large and small graft
inquiry -ternblors have been shaking
the various departments OF the city
government and disturbing the peo-
ple's servants, from the Mayor down
to the patrolman on the beat, the
department OF electricity has hereto
fore escaped criticism. Detectives Tom
Gibson and Riordan presented state
ment OF facts to Captain OF Detectives
Duke yesterday, though, that viii In
all probability cause an investigation
by the Grand Jury OF one or more
attaches Of the electrical department
on charges of graft
The facts in the case are that IN
spector William Elkins. acting under
the alleged authority OF his superior.
w. p Hewitt the head OF the de-
partment, issued spurious certificate
Of inspection at the instance OF H.
Morgan and F. Mcclure. two unreg-
istered electricians. who, while In ths
employ OF Robert W. MARYLAND, oon-
tractor OF 152 Twelfth street en-
gagged IN a separate piece OF work for
j. w. Rose and collected thereto e85.
Inspector Elkins Is alleged by the de-
tectives to have issued q certificate
of inspection without ever having Wis
tied the premises and TO have forged
the name of his superior to receipt
for s5. the regulation Zee. There is
no record of the bogus certidcate on
the books of the department
The exp0suro OF the alleged graft
IN the electricians department OF the
city government came about by Con-
tractor MARYLAND accusing his two en-
ployes, Morgan and Mcclure, Of OBJ
tanning money under false pretenseS-
While they were supposed TO be work
ing for him they engaged IN an In
dividual contract to wire the hotel and
saloon OF j. w. Rose at the corner
Of Pal otv
The workmen drew pay from Mart
land and Rose at the same time. be-
sides securing a fraudulent certificate
as to their work.
TRY TO "sQUAREs MATTER
overtures to square" the matter
were made yesterday by the employees .
Of the electrical department 10 De-
tectives Gibson and Rfordan. To these
advances the sleuths replied that IL
there were graft 1t must come
out, and they would not be q party
to any concealment. Warrants have
been issued for the arrest of the two
workmen who are alleged to have
taken double pay, but no action has
yet been commenced against the per-
son or persons concerned In the is
suance Of the forged certificate of In
spection- This matter will undoubt-
edly be taken UP by the Grand Jury at
an early date.
The scandal resulting from the ex-
posure of graft in the department OF
electricity disclosed another instance
OF similar crookedness, which was
brought to the attention of w. P.
Hewitt, head Of the department., sew
eral months ago, but seemingly drop
ped
FEES COLLECTED ILLEGALLY
Fisher Anes. well known attorney.
says that he was approached by a
client whose property had been wired
and who had been informed by friends
familiar with electrical work that the
cost was excessive. The client handed
Anes a certificate Of inspection and
stated that 1t had been shown him by
the workmen as evidence that the
work had been done properly and IN
workmanltke manner. Ames took the
certificate to the department Office Of
W. P. Hewitt, where il was ascertained
that 1t had been issued without any
record being made on the books. and
that there had been no entry made Of
the receipt Of the fee There the In
cident ended. apparently. and though a
Inspector Elkins was named promi-T
nently in connection with the matter.
no investigation resulted
For the present Attorney Ames de-
clines to disclose the name Of the client
who was shown the bogus certificate.
but as the Grand Jury will probably
proceed with an investigation of the
affairs of the department OF electricity.
he will doubtless be able to shed cor
roborated light on the incident OF the
certificate issued to Morgan and Me
G4tire.
1t is not thought by the detectives
that the small matter Of the fee IL the
motive for. the graft. but that through
the issuance OF these bogus certificates
incompetent 'workmen are able TO Sc
cure contracts, and. armed with the
certificate, collect excessive bills from
the victims, a division being made with
some one higher up.