The Washington herald., 1907-12-27
HITS CORPORATION POLITICS
Declares Cities Could Eliminate
Much Municipal Disturbance by
Granting MonOpOIies to Public
UtIiities-IS Bitter Against Oregon
Land Men,WhOm He VIII Prosecute

grafters in San Francisco, and of land /
fraud people in oregon and other States. /
After trying a civil case in Tucson, Mr. |
Heney proceeds 10 Portland. Greg. where, |
on January Is. he will prosecute the cases
against ex-Un:ted States Attorney John |
H. Hall and ex-Representative in Con-
gress Binger Hermann. who was also a
commissioner Of the General Land Office.
When MIR. Heney was in Washington
press dispatch from there reported that |
he had another big fish in the net which |
he was going 10 haul when he reached
Oregon. To-day ne was asked about
this,
Explains False Report.
Il said nothing which would justify
such a report" said Mr.. Heney. but as
so much has been written about it.
shall be glad Of this opportunity to ex-
plain how the report originated.
when John II. Hall was removed from
his Office as United States attorney the
court appointed me temporarily to that
office Then President Roosevelt appoint
ed W. c. Bristol whose appointment has
never been confirmed by the Senate.
The President made that appointment
about two years ago. and has renewed
the appointment at the beginning of each
recess and each session. The appointment
was referred. of course. TO the Judiciary
Committee Of the Senate. and was spe-
IL
sisting of Senators Foraker. Kitredge.
and Culberson.
Mr.. Bristol was opposed before this
subcommittee by Senator Fulton, OF
Oregon who. 1 understand brought
charge against Mr. Bristol. which l ex-
amined and found 10 be baseIess. and
have explained TO the subcommittee.
However. that subcommittee has never
favorably reported Mr. Bristors name.
Wants Bristol Confirmed.
L may have said in this connection In
Washington, that many implicated in
the Oregon land frauds are friends of
Senator Fulton. Therefore. it appears
whimsical TO me that Senator Fulton
should. through the terrific power OF Sen
atorial courtesy, be able to defeat the
confirmation OF Mr.. Bristol, who is ca
pable Of making it unpleasant for the
men in Oregon"
Mr.. Heney was asked about the muni
cipal graft prosecution in san Francisco.
Il hope to close those Oregon cases
with Mr. Bristol in two or three weeks.
and then shall return to San Francisco
and continue my part in the work there
| against rnunicipal prafters"
Did the failure TO convict Tirrey Ford.
in San Francisco. discourage you at ALP
Talks of Oregon Cases.
''Not in the least" answered Mr..
r Honey. THE leader of that jury-not the
foreman. you viii understand. but its ac-
! tual lcader-was the San Francisco repre-
, sentative OF a life insurance company OF
J your city, I am given to understand
that no one associated with this company
could be expected to overexert himself
for the conviction OF CRATER
However. there were special circum-
, stances which very much favored Mr.
Ford. His was one Of the cases where
- the representative of a corporation was,
a you might almost say. the victim OF a
] graft system. Personally, he is a most
friends. These facts cannot but influence
jury
! will you call upon Abe Ruef as a
witness to aid you in your further graft
= prosecutions
a Mr. Heney smiled. IF I had made UP
D my p.ind on that point I should not care
to expose my purpose az this time. There
are some undesirable citizens who are
eager TO know our purpose in that re-
spect. / have Reufs sworn statement
as his testimony might affect all of those
against whom we have procured indict-
ments"
Are you willing to give an opinion on
the general cause Of municipal graft?"
Speaks of Civic Graft.
"AH the more willing, because It seems
to me the cause is the same and the re-
suit is the same in nearly every large
, American city II IS combination of
public utilities corporations at one end
Of the social scale, and organized vice at
the other end against the interests of
good government
Those interests combine TO support
bosses who viii give them a government
which Will sell special privileges. OF
course, so far as the corporations are
concerned, a great deal can be said as
their being the victims of a graft system
which they DO not originate; which they
would be glad to be rid OF. But the fact
is there, and they act upon those facts.
z Now. the remedy, in my opinion. so
S far as the special privilege people
Z goes. is to put all corporations asking
privileges out OF politics. That can be
e done and has been done in the case. for
, instance. of the Boston gas corpora
= ton.
= FavOrs MOnODOIies.
I Tn my opinion. every public utilities
y corporation should be monopoly. I
: would start that way. Then 1 would
: plainly set forth IN the charter or
franchise of each public utilities cor
e poration all of its rights and privi-
leges. its limitations. and its duties.
That would take it out of politics
IF a municipality charters its gas
Il and lighting and telephones-an of its
i public utilities corporations-in the
d manner I have Indicated. it would not
u be meddling in politics because there
would be nothing in politics for it TO
$ gain. and the politicians would not
= threaten it. because their threats would
+ be laughed at.
IF YOU do not give your gas COM
] :