Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-22
SPRECKELS SEES
THROUGH MAYOR
SCHM|Tz' PLANS
Objects to Committee
Butting In
Appointment of New Board of Super
visors, He Says, Would Intern
fere with Prosecution
of Grafters
Ry Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 21.-Rudolph
Spreckels, who occupies prominent
place in the prosecution of municipal
corruption in this city, defined his posi-
tion in the peculiar condition CT ara'rs
arising from the graft" investigation
and the reasons which constrained the
prosecution from cooperating with the
late COMMITTEE Of seven"
Asked by the Associated Press
whether editorial statements published
locally to the effect that the ce .nmlttee
of seven was endeavoring by its inter-
ference in municipal affairs to SNATCH
the fruits of victory from Rudolph
Spreckes," represented his sentiments
he replied:
"I do not need anybody to blow my
horn, nor do 1 thank any one for trying
to do it. These editorial utterances,
despite any opinion to the contrary
were made without my knowledge, con-
seouently they must have been without
my consent.
AS far as the committee of seven is
concerned 1 have this to say;
"The committee is-or was-composed
of men Of fine standing In the COM
munity. No one will impugn their mo-
tives, but it is perfectly apparent that
they. even though without their knoWl-
edge, were selected by corporate in
terests; and they were appointed by
Mayor Schmitz. Now / and my assist
ants have our hands full in prosecuting
bribers and grafters. That is enough
for any set of men to undertake.
1--WE are not concerned at the present
time with the duties which the COM
mittee of seven felt itself called upon }
execute. We did not ask the commit ae
of seven to confer with us. But when
the committee called upon Mr.. Heney
and I told them frankly that 1 did not
see why they, representing body of
men who had made no effort to hold up
my hands in the initial or later stages
of the bribery-graft investigation,
should at this time butt in with ds-
mand that we permit the supervisors TO
resign.
1.-THE resignation at this time of the
supervisors, sixteen Of them self-con-
fessed bribe takers, would mean the
appointment by Mayor Schmitz of a
new board which would be of course in
accord with any plans he might desire
to carry out. I need not suggest what
such plans might be.
1T was the intention of the commit
tee of seven, as announced to us when
the conference I speak Of was sought,
to secure the consent of the prosecution
to the removal of the board Of public
works, the police commission and the
board of supervisors, whether by resig-
nation or otherwise. 1 made 1t very
\olain to the committee that 1t was our
haliaf ho 1y,oIt or
through the mayor by the United Rail-
roads and Mr.. Herrin, and that we
could have no dealings with it.
''It is certainly true that the situa-
ton now existing in San Francisco de-
mands relief through a change of
municipal officers. But I myself am
concerned only with the carrying out
of the investigation and the prosecution
of the graft and bribery.
"The charge that seek to control the
politics of the city, or to administer
municipal affairs, is absolutely false.
My sole endeavor and my whole purpose
is to clean out the corruption that has
infested all forms of municipal life and
thereafter formulate and put into effect
system of municipal espionage and
control which shall make at least i'm
probable the resumption of those vices
which we are now trying to stamp out.
1t is true that we are Keeping the
board of supervisors, the majority of
them self-confessed bribe takers iii
office. We are doing this, not by way
of political control, but for the purpose
of preventing the mayor from naming
a new board which would carry out his
orders and nulify to a great extent our
efforts for permanent reform"
Regarding the move just made by the
district attorney to cause the surrender
to the city of the Geary street railway
and the operation of that system NUM-
cipally. Mr.. Spreckels said:
IT have not fully made up my mind
on the question of municipal ownership
of public utilities. l do not believe
ownership is practical under
our present form of government, but I
am studying for solution. The charge
by President Calhoun of the United
Railroads that the district attorney has
taken steps for the seizure of the Geary
street road in order to cripple the
United Railroads in it's fight against the
Garments union, is very natural and
ordinary charge. Mr.. Calhoun is on
the defensive. He must do the best
he can"