davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08
Abe Ruef Planned
for Construction OF
a New City Hall
Had a Gigantic Scheme
for Graft That Was
Nipped in Bud

Abe Ruef, prior to the reign of anti
graft dynasty in the city. had great
plan for brand new City Hall, which
was to be a better money getter for
grafters than the celebrated Statehouse
of Pennsylvania, the construction of
which is now being investigated by a
shocked and horrified commission in
of the Pennsylvania capitol was
$4,0o0.o00 Nine millions additional
was expended in the furnishings. Door
knobs were worth more than their
weight in gold, and almost t-mahogany
furniture, purchased by the square
yard, cost the salary of a life insurance
company president.
Ruef was an astute and eager pupil
of the Pennsylvania bosses. He did
not intend that San Francisco should
gance. so he had planned a structure
which would offer greater room for
graft than did the Pennsylvania mar
vel
A contractor named Sanderson had
the job for supplying furnishings to
the Pennsylvania Statehouse A clause
inserted secretly in the advertisement
for bids provided that the contracts
should all be let TO one man, and San
derson was the only one aware of this
clause. He got the job. Ruef was
going TO arrange some similar scheme
The old City Hall was to be con-
demned and new site selected, prob
ably near the civic center of the Burn :
ham plan. Then the game was to be
played for all it was worth. Schmitz
was to further the scheme.
When the first criticism was made
on the looting of the State Treasury
of Pennsylvania by Statehouse con-
tracts, a. PENNSYLVANIA politician en-
tered a remonstrance. In such criti-
cism, he said, celebrity should be tenn
pered with cunctation" In the local
graft investigation Heney and Burns
did not follow that advice Their haste
in driving Ruef into his hole pre-
vented him from duplicating the Penn
sylvania jobbery.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08
CASE INTERESTING

In spite of the fact. however.
that there is little likelihood that
the District Attorneys Office viii
take immediate cognizance of the
charges against Hearst made on
the basis of statements to De-
tective William ]. Burns by Ed
ward M. Graney, the charges
have created unusual inter-
est in view of the at
tacks of the Hearst newspapers
upon President Roosevelt for the
alleged acceptance of corporation
contributions to the Republican
campaign fund
AS a matter of fact, the Hearst
charges are made to Langdon as
District Attorney and are inde-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08
MULTIMILLIONAIRE STEEL
MAGNATE DIES SUDDENLY
Theodore D. Buhl Drops Dead Near
Wsldorf-Astoria Hotel, Where
He Had Been a Guest

NEW YORK. April 7.-Theodore d.
Buhl. president Of the Bull Malleable
Iron Works Of Detroit. president of the
Detroit National Bank and also of
the hrm OF Parke, Davis & Co.
chemical and drug manufacturers
dropped dead today on the side
walk near the Waldorf-Astoria Ho-
tel. where he had been a guest. Bull
was one OF q group OF steel magnates
n multimillicnaire and prominent in
banking circles in the middle-west and
the East
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08
After Bribery Investigation
Agent Barrett Will Be
Looked After
GRANEY IS RETIcENT
Ruef's Plan to Stampede
the Prosecution a
Dismal Failure

Assistant District Attorney
Francis J. Heney, who stands as
the actual head and directing
force of the graft prosecution al
though holding a subordinate po-
sition. promises that in good time
he will take up the charges of po-
litical corruption made against
News Editor John P. Barrett of
the Examiner, acting as the agent
of William r. Hearst, as we'll as
any similar charges, properly sub
stantiated, whether against news
paper editors or political bosses,
but that his present efforts will be
devoted without deviation against
the prosecution of graft cases un-
of the ofhce-holding bribe-takers
and the bribe-givers have been
brought to book.
Heney takes the position that
the line of procedure already laid
down cannot be abandoned
either for the purpose of exposing
Hearst's methods or for the sake
of furthering Hearst's political
ambitions and grudges.
HENEY DEFINES POSITION
With reference to the charges
against Barrett and Hearst Heney
said yesterday;
"As Assistant District Attorney
all I can say is that l cordially
agree with the statement made bv
District Attorney Langdon that
the prosecution will not permit it.
self at this time to be drawn into
any newspaper controversy. For
the present, and as long as l am
Assistant District Attorney. all
the energies of the Office will be
devoted to the prosecution of the
graft cases, until the official
crooks and those who have bribed
them have been fully exposed
After we have completed that i'm
portant business, if the several
newspaper editors of the city wish
to have each other indicted, or de-
sire to have any political boss IN
dicted who has been overlooked.
we will gladly investigate impair
TALLY all charges made, and will
prosecute vigorously in each and
every case where the evidence
produced in support of the
charges is sufficient to warrant
conviction, regardless of the po-
litical complexion of the party
charged.
The newspapers must be pa
tient, however, and await their
several turns. Remember, gentle
men, that the world was not made
in a day."
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08
Bon kILuEp. IN w1NpsroRM

COLUMBUS. Ohio. April "A severe
storm swept Columbus and vicinity this
evening. causing much damage to
property. A shed at the plant OF the
Columbus Leather Company collapsed
during the storm. burying four boys
who had sought refuge there. Daniel
Carroll was killed.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08

post in San Francisco will be filed by
Matsubara,. assistant consul who was
transferred recently from Honolulu.
Matsubars is about 80 years old. He
is graduate of the Imperial Uni
versity of Toxic, where he was an in
structor of international law for two
years. He mixes much more freely
than Uyeno, and is liked in the Jap.
young. they say. however, to oecunv
the post of Consul here in succession
to Uyeno.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08

TAHITI, March PEN. Baron. Post
master of the colony, died a weelx
ago. after a long illness. M. cabous-
teau has been appointed his successor.
In the city election held at Papeete
on March 10 the Cardella party elected
all three City Councillors by an over
whelmins majority. =
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-08

It will astonish you to know just how
many things the great fire did not destroy
in San Francisco They are treated inter
estingly next Sunday in
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Municipal Court.

As will be noted in a communica
ton over that gentleman's signature,
published elsewhere in this issue, this
county received visit from the Rev.
H. c. Pringle of Waterville, Wednes-
day of last week, and as a result,
Thursday was a busy day in the
Skowhegan Municipal Court.
Nine warrants sworn out by Mr..
Pringle were served by Deputy Sher-
if F. j. Horne of Canaan. The re-
spondents, VIM. Howard, {. NJ. Hill
ton and Geo. L. Washburne, the pro-
prietors, were arraigned upon two
charges, single sale and nuisance, and
the clerks, c. X. Miller, Albert Athern
and Lewis c. league, were charged
with a single sale only Mr.. Howard,
proprietor of the Howard House in
Arson, was arraigned first on the sin
gle sale charge to which he pleaded
not guilty. He was defended by G..
W. Cover. F. I. Lawrence appeared
for the State.
From the evidence it appeared that
on March -, last, Aaron +. Davis of
Mercer, a spotter employed by the
Civic League and working under the
direction of Mr.. Pringle, bought of
the clerk of the Howard House one
pint of whiskey. This was in the
forenoon. In the afternoon he bought
of the same party and in the same
place a half pint of whiskeN. He tes-
titled that he had been doing spotter
work since last November and that
he received SO per day and expenses.
He was given a searching cross eX :
animation by Mr. Cover, but his tes-
timony was not shaken. As all the
cases we're similar only Mr.. Howard
was tried.
The respondent was found guilty by
Judge Bachelor, who imposed fine
Of $500 and costs and six months i'll
Jail and in default of payment of the
fine and costs six months additional.
An appeal was taken and sureties fur
nished for the appearance at the Sep
TENDER term of the supreme court.
Mr.. Washburne and Mr.. Hilton
were each on the single sale charge
given a fine of 500 and costs and 30
DAYS in Jail with 80 days additional if
the fine and costs were not paid
They also appealed and furnished
sureties. On the nuisance charge the
trio were bound over to the next
term of court in September. All fur
nished bonds
The three clerks, against whom
there was but one charge, that OF a
single sale, were sentenced to fine
of 500 and costs each and 80 days in
Jail. They furnished bonds after APP
pealing from the decision of the
court.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

After session of eighty six days,
the work of the I'D Legislature of
Maine goes into history. The prayer
book of the Episcopal church asks
the pardon of the good Lord for sins
of omission, as we'll as those of com
mission. This would drive to his
knees any devout member of the
body lust dissolved. Having seen
many Legislatures meet and depart,
and having carefully noted their pro-
ceedings, we can truthfully say that
we never knew Legislature before
upon which was preclpitated such a
mass of matter for consideration. In
fact there was so much of it, it could
not be considered, but simply dump
ed 1t is perfectly wonderful how in
two years the people were able to
think up SO many new laws and
amendments to existing laws. In the
midst of such hard, exacting and con-
fusing work, it is remarkable that the
members accomplished what they
did.
The appropriations were unusually
large, one cause of this being
the trades made by the capital re-
movalists to bring about their pur-
poses. This cost the State thousands
and tens of thousands of dollars, be-
sides holding up useful and needed
legislation. The grand total of the
two appropriation bills is Sc, 287 ,539.97,
against 81, 740, 1915, two years ago.
The money is to be raised with tax
rate of three mills which is an in
crease of one half mill; this is in
part accounted for by an increase of
one half mill in the mill tax for the
school fund and tax of one third
mill for State highways. These mea-
sures do not become operative til.
1908, but the three mill rate will &C
cumulate a sufficient reserve to meet
them and aside from these items the
State is within it's income of two
years ago.
During the session just closed 634
public laws and 237 resolves were en-
acted, as compared with 573 acts and
l76 resolves two years ago, There
were 9S9 printed bills, as compared
with 843 in 1905. There is no necessity
of enumerating or giving synopsis
of the laws passed, as they all appear
in full in the REPORTER supplement,
and should be carefully read and pre-
served by all our readers.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Breed-Walton.

The announcements have been re
ceived here of the marriage of Miss
Berle L. Walton and Mr.. Everett NJ.
Breed. The marriage was solemn
lied in the Wesley church, Van
couver, B. c., on Monday, March Il,
the Rev. w. A. Prescott officiating.
The double ring service was used.
Miss Walton, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. L. L. Walton, is graduate of
the Skowhegan High school and
Bloomfield Academy. She is also an
alumna of Wheaton Seminary. For
several years she has taught piano
forte music in our town, having re-
ceived instruction in the various
phases of music study in Boston under
the direction of some of its best
teachers.
Mr.. Breed, who is the son of Mr..
and Mrs. H. p. Breed, also of this
place, is the Pacific Coast Manager of
the Allis Chalmers Bullock Company
with headquarters at Vancouver, B.
G. He graduated from the U. of NJ.
as an electrical Engineer and immedi-
ately accepted position with the
Westinghouse Electric and Manpfac =
turing Co., in Pittsburg, Penn. He
afterwards became engineering sales
man of the Canadian Westinghouse
Co., at Montreal, which position he
resigned to enter the employ of the
Allis Chalmers Bullock Co.
Mr.. and Mrs. Breed will be at home
to their friends after May l, at 1910
Haro street, Vancouver, B. c.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Veterans Meeting.

The meeting of Skowhegan Grange
to be held next Wednesday evening
will be in charge of y. A. Withee and
will be given over to subjects con-
nected with the war of 81 to '65 and
such as are natusally suggested by
that great struggle. S. j. Walton
will speak on "Maine's Monument at
Andersonvillen and l.. l.. Walton will
address the meeting on "The Flag.
The hall will be open to the public,
after eight O'Clock, and the invita-
ton to attend is general. The Grange
is especially DESTROYS that all yeter-
ans of the war and all members of
the Relief Corps should be present.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Death of Mrs. Antill.

Mrs. Phoebe Ann Pulsifer widow
of the late Nathan Antill, died very
suddenly at her home on High street
Sunday evening The deceased was
born at Shirley, Maine, October, II,
1897, and has resided here since her
marriage which occurred June 10,
1862 In 1853 she was baptised by
the Rev. Mr.. Wheeler in the fellow
ship of the First Baptist church and
under the pastorate of the Rev. c. y.
Hanson became a member of the
Bethany church.
Mrs. Antill is survived by two
daughters, Misses Emma and Avis
Antill, both of this place, also by a
nephew and niece residing in Dexter.
The Rev. George Merriam conducted
the funeral services which were oh
served yesterday forenoon at eleven
O'Clock, at the home on High street.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Woman's Club.

The twelfth meeting of the Wo
mans Club was held in the Library
Parlors, Wednesday, April Sd, at 2.3O
p. m. The program was in charge of
Mrs. Anna Merrill, and was as follows;
Piano sClo, Miss Edith Lewis
Paper, Wireless Telegraphy
Mrs Ada A. Niles
Paper, Airships, Mrs. Alta Elliott
song, Mrs. Iannttt d. Judkins
accompanied by Miss Edith Lewis
Poem, Darius Green an! His Flying Ma.
chine, Miss Louise II. Coburn
Conversation: Is the world made better by
the advance in mechanical inventions?
Opened by Mrs Lizzie A. Marble for the
affirmative, and Mrs. Eva X. Greenwood
for the negative. Several ladies took part
but it was generally conceded that the
Affirmative was the only side.
Lists of names for preferred officers
for the coming year were distributed.
A report of committee on place
suitable for banquet for Federation
was given, and after a discussion it
was decided to wait for time, before
inviting the Federation to meet at
SkOWhegan.
The memoriam written by Mrs.
Lizzie NJ. Page for Miss Harriet Nash,
was read by the secretary and she
was requested to place it upon the
records.
The ladies were reminded of the
lecture by Anand &, Hiwale to be
given in the Library Parlors, Friday
evening at 7.30.
The hostesses for the next and last
meeting for the year were announced
as Mrs. Alice l.. Wadsworth and Miss
Hannah r. Page.
Refreshments were served at inter
mission and at the close of the meet
ing.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Three hundred farmers in Swansea,
Mass, owning 5000 cows, have enter
ed a protest with the town authorities
against subjecting their cattle to the
tuberculin or germ test. 1t was point
ed out that while there was no par
ticular objection to a physical exami-
ton of the cows, the germ test was
considered unnecessary. One of the
leading farmers declared that if the
board of health persisted in enforcing
the test, he would advocate pouring
all milk into the Taunton river.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
The Veto.

Those who are intimately acquaint-
all surprised at his veto of the bill
repeating the Sturgis act. He went
into the last campaign and was elect
ed, standing upon a platform that
called for the rigid and impartial en-
foreement of the prohibitory law;
and he didn't propose to have the
power to do so taken from his hands
without giving him an adequate sub
stitute. Had the Eaton resolve pass
ed, proposing an amendment to the
constitution SO that the Governor
could remove delinquent sheriffs, we
think the session would have been
unmarked by veto.
The Sturgis law is the most unpopu-
lar law ever put upon the statute
books of Maine; the people do not
believe in it or in its methods. And
therefore in standing by it because he
Things it is right, the Governor has
shown the highest type of courage,
and should be admired by all who be-
lleve in true manhood and indepen-
dence of thought.
1t is our settled conviction that the
people of Maine, as a whole, believe
III the impartial enforcement of the
prohibitory law. Now it is up to the
sheriffs to see to it that the officers
elected by the people do their duty,
and thus avoid the invasion of their
territory by the Sturgis deputies.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Hon. Galusha A. Grow, who was
called the "father" of the House of
Representatives., died at his nome in
Pennsy lvania, Easter day, of old age.
After retirement from public life for
40 years, he reentered Congress IA
years ago, serving 10 years. He was
the author of the homestead act
through which many million acres of
western farm lands were opened to
settlement by homesteaders.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
Quarterly Conference.

At the fourth quarterly conference
of the Centenary Methodist church,
held in the vestry, Friday evening of
last week, the presiding elder of the
Augusta district, Rev. q. D. Holmes
of Lewiston, was present A unani-
nous call was extended for the pres
ent pastor, Rev Fred A. Leitch, to
return here for another year, which
will be his third at this appointment.
The following officers were chosen:
Stewards, W H. Emery, E. d. Pack
ard, II. A. Dinsmore, L. j. Smith,
James A. Hoxie. NJ. j. Allen, DR.. j.
n. Merrill, W b. Steward, Charles
Kaylor, E. E. Hurd, Benjamin F. Cay
ford; |. j. Smith district steward !;
trustees, Isaac Dyer, E. b. Packard
A. w. Smith, DR.. l.. A. Daseombe, +.
n. Merrill, a. b. Lamb, w. T. Seek
ins, a. F. Oyer Fred f. Lawrence
The temporary recording secretary,
Mr.. Dinsmore has held the Office of
recording steward of the church for
the past five years There was a good
attendance. Reports of the various
departments of the church were sub
mitted.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04
NUMBER 4
Obituary

Henr. Ra0les died A. M home on
Water street Mendat. II disease Of
tn" hearf after an illness u about
two months. Hi7 health had been
failing for some irne and wa such a.
to lead to hi. retirement from bust
ness il January Of tae present year.
Last week he became subject 10
partial paralysis and TINS with disease
Of the hear VA M cause II his
death
Mr. Rawle- passed Ms early Ife in
Romeo. Mich, the place Of his birth.
lie was for some years in the hard
ware business in that place and his
marriage occurred there Jan Is. 1873.
In his early manhood he became
much Interested in the Masonic fra
ternities and served az secretary Of
the lodge Of that order in Romeo for
several terms Mr.. RawIes came to
SkO~hegan iu l-36 and. until his re
tirement above referred to. was en-
gagged in the hardware trade in the
DinsmOre block Besides his widow
and son. j. seymour. residing here
he is survived D& two brothers. Gen.
j b Rawle- Of san Franslco and
james D Of Boston. also one sister.
Miss Caroline Of Lakewood y j.
Funeral ceremonies Will De observ
ed this afternoon al two o'clock. con
Quoted ~ the Rev. b. Z Merrill
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

There was veritable Republican
landslide at the municipal election i'll
Chicago on Tuesday. The Postmas
Ter of the city, Frederick A. Busse,
the Republican candidate, was elect
ed mayor of that city, having a plur-
atty of ID, 121 votes over Mayor Ed
ward F. Dunn. The total number of
votes cast for Mr., Busse 1874, s39 and
ior Mr.. Dunno 151,71s. The Prohibi-
ton candidate polled 57s5 votes and
the Socialist 10, 459 The new mayor
VIII have the city council with him.
The make up of this body shows 50
Republicans, "a Democrats and one
Independent Democrat.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

A large proportion of the railroad
accidents which has made the past
winter look exceedingly black, are
due to the engineers undertaking to
make up lost time, and running at
unsafe rates of speed around curves.
There is more risk than comfort in
such travelling, and railroad managers
are finding out that fact.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

The city of Boston has a grand
method of pensioning its police force,
after certain age, and many of these
have purchased farms-some of them
in Maine-and demonstrated that
they can become successful farmers,
though they have had no previous ex-
perience in that industry.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Maine Central and the Rockland
Limerick railroads are affected by the
tax law passed at recent session of
the legislature. The excise tax on
steam roads is s5s7, POI, an increase of
S109,066 over last year. The railroad
commissioners tax on steam roads is
ST. 47. The total excise tax on street
railways is SIS, 400 against s15,978 last
wear
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

The past winter has been a cold
one, but not bad winter for game,
as has been reported i'll some quar-
tiers. Game wardens now report that
game has seemed to thrive during the
steady and stable cold weather, and
there will be plenty next fall as ever.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Of all the delegations in the Legis
lature just adjourned, we think, from
close observation, that the Somerset
county delegation will take the prize
There was hardly a session when they
were not in their places, keenly alert
to what was going on, and participat-
ing in the proceedings.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Mr.. James D. Rogers of Yarmouth,
an experienced cattlelnan has an
nounced his candidacy for appoint
ment as member of the Maine
State cattle commission to succeed
the Hon. f. o, Beal of Bangor, whose
term expires May next.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

The statue to the memory of the
Rough Riders will be erected in Ar
lington National cemetery, the cor
ner stone to be laid on April 18th.
On this occasion the address will be
made by President Roosevelt.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

In the progress of events, it is
thought that the electric railroad
would be extended from Gardiner to
Lewiston, this season; also, from the
Togus Home to Rockland, and from
Augusta to Waterville.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

On Tuesday the State assessors com
mitted the annual excise tax and rail-
road commissioners tax on the steam
and street railroads of the State.
-Four of the steam roads of Boston &
Maine, Portland & Rumford Falls,
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

While engaged in singing "Home
Sweet Home" with his fellow mem
bers of the East Auburn grange, Sat
urday evening, Cyrus Hall, aged IS,
dropped back in his seat and died of
heart disease.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

The annual housekeeping misery
has begun. When you clean win
dows, use hot water with dash of
kerosene oil, but not a particle of
soap, and you will have splendid re-
suits.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

President Roosevelt declines the
invitation of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' Association to deliver a
speech at Springfield on the railroad
situation. But he says that his rail
way policy is for the public good, and
will be followed up during his admin
istration.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Some Of the New York city minis
tiers are calling upon Roosevelt to
help fill their empty pews. He can
do most everything but save a soul.
The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-04

Every once in while we have re-
minders of that gloomy morning
when the battleship "Maine" was de-
stroyed by an explosion in Havana
harbor. John H. Boomer of Port
land, one of the survivors of that
event, has just died, at the age of 80
years.