New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-17
FRISCO REFORM PLANS
FOR HONEST GOVERNMENT
Mayor Taylor a Shre5cd La7cyer and
an Expert in Municipal Il fairs.

cal atmosphere cleared and the indecision that
marked business had passed Every
recognized that honest government would prevail
FOR two years. and that plans could be made for
rebuilding and re-estabshing business in the
burned district without fear of Being held up by
grating" officials.
The announcement OF honest government means
more to san Franciscans than to residents of most
other cities because for six years they have been
subject all the exactions that rapacious thieves
could devise. No business and no industry has
heen free from eechike grip of the professional
political CRATER Since the fire and until the
posture Of Sclmitz and Ruef. this grating was
carried on in fragrant manner than ever
before and the necessities of business men forced
them submit to the wholesale robbery without
complaint.
II was this experience that called enor-
nous vote for District Attorney Langdon, who ran
ahead Of his ticket by 5000 votes. Every one knew
Of this grating. and it the instructive revolt
Of honest men, who at last chance 10
strike down the thieves. that led to the ovcrwhelm-
ing vote for the Good Government candidates
Neither Laugdon nor Taylor paid out any money,
and the managers of the Good Government party
rampaien merely spent money for cards, circulars
and effective billboard advertising that called at
tention to the fact that Taylor had started in to
clean up the city and that the people should give
him chance 10 finish the job.
MAYOR TAYLORs PLANS
uavor TAYLOR has no elaborate plans for civic TO
form, but he proposes to so on steadily ana 90
each niece Of work thoroughly before he takes up
? new enc. Although the Mayor is a poet and IN
lowed with a vivid imagination he is q shreWd,
conservative, farSeeng lawyer. and he is thus free
from the vice Of some Eastern reform mayors who
impulsively start in on moral crusades winch iheY
find afterward have legal ground TO stand upon
The Mayor aided in drafting the present city char
fer and he is thoroughly familiar with what can be
done in the way OF reform. He has appointed
good men IN charge Of the important commissions
and he says that he will leave the work OF these
sga,vF 1f'f 70 do
effectively then he Will promptly remove them anu
ind others who are more energetic
TIE Mayor was criticised by many for appoint
ing Michael Casey head Of the Board OF PUBIC
Works because Casey is the president OF INC
Transfers Union The appointment proved good
one for Casey set work 10 clear the streets
and sidewalks. and he has done more III Two
months than his predecessor did In sixteen casey
is in close touch with ali the hiE contractors ana
feamsters and hence any complaints in regard 10
the bad condition of streets come directly to nm
There was much criticism Of three men whom
Mayor Taylor appointed on the Police Commission.
but the commission has made itself felt and wee
and crime are far less rampant than they were two
months ago. The commissioners have issued or
ders by which they expect TO close up the thevinS
dens that have fourished. and they also propose
10 shut the doors Of all saloons that sell liquor to
women. Their latest exploit has been TO revoke
the liquor license OF Pratt & Tierney. notorious
firm that has carried on A saloon where women
freouented the baTroom These men were fairly
warned but they persisted in believing that their
''pur' would them from the fate of others
and they paid the penalty.
CLOSING Up THE DIVES
Two months ago Goldengate avenue. between
Gartin and Fillmore streets. was wide open"
every night. with saloons lining the avenue where
women congregated and danced and drank and
where the rural visitor was filled with bad
liquor and robbed with impunty. Now the electric
lights all gone and the dens closed up and
dark This is regarded as a good beginning, and
the Mayor says the work is to go on without fear
favor. The police longer refuse arrest
who insult non-union carmen. Stir there is
much Iawlessness the streetcars, and the fail
10 prevent riots is the weakest point in the
police system.
Whether Mayor Taylor will retain Chief Buggy
IS uncertain. No one has been able to get the
facts in regard the Mayors reasons for appoint
ing Tim" but the generally accepted theory is
that Rudolph Spreckels asked for his appointment.
Certain it is that Detective Bruins has been much
in evidence at Police Headquarters. Chief Buggy
owes his business success to Mr.. Spreckels, and he
was appointed elisor to care for Ruef when Sheriff
ONei failed to find the boodlng boss Chief Eiggy
proved an efficient elisor for allowed to
communicate with the boss and the strictness Of
his seclusion responsible in large measure for
his nervous breakdown and his spectacular con-
Iession in court
LANGDoN's ACTIVE WORK.
District Attorney Langdon has mapped out
active campaign for this winter and next spring.
After the trial of TREY L. Ford, general counsel or
the United Railroads, for bribery he purposes TO
try President Patrick Calhoun the United Rail
roads for the same offence Ford tried once.
but the jury failed 20 agree the prosecution
unable TO put Ruef on the stand and prove
that Ford paid him a large to secure the over
head trolley franchise for the United Railroads.
Tord's second trial has been temporarily stopped
by the legal holidays declared by the Governor TO
tide the financial stringency. The prosecution
claim they will convict Ford on this second trial.
hut this seems doubtful Ruef will not appear.
The boss played a cunning game, leading Langdon
and Heney TO believe he would testify against
Ford and then at the last minute refusing to go
on the stand unless he had complete immunity.
lIeney was greatly enraged over this breach of
faith, It impossible TO yield TO his demands,
and the failure him a witness spoiled
carefully tried
In regard Calhoun it is doubtful whether any
- conviction be secured, If he put up money
for the trolley franchise IL precisely the
as IL a man In the street was held up by footpad
and forced TO give up his money and watch. Cal
houn did after the fire TO bring Francisco
out of chaos and re-estabHsh business than any
one else. He poured out money to put electricity
on his lines. and he put a hale dozen streets into
condition in a short time His energy and his
berality have not been forgotten. and no property
owner could sit a fury and return verdict
against such simply because he had been
forced to yield up by an INSCRIPTIONS boss and
boodling Mayor.
There are a number OF other officials OF the tele-
phone company and several members OF the prize
fight trust slated for trial. but their cases
are not important Ruef must be sentenced as soon
rs his services witness are at an end. but the
boodlins supervisors will be allowed go scot
fFee, in consideration OF the testimony which they
,'lIsve given for the prosecution. With the CHIEF
sboodlers Ruef and Schmitz, convicted the moral
effect OF the prosecution has been brought home to