The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-12-27
OFFICIAL IS DODGING
Aigeltinger Puts Blame on
President Dufey of
the Board
WHO TOOK PENNIES? (?
Roncovieri Hurries to Pay
$4,000 Into Treasury
as His Holding


Plundering Of the city treasury by
the Duffey board of public works,
abetted by the Gallagher finance COM
nittee Of the board of supervisors, and
uncertain financial operations of the
board of education are being investi-
gated by the Good Government league.
At a meeting held yesterday afternoon
It was decided to expert thoroughly
the records and reports of those two
departments of the municipality.
II was charged at the leagues meet
ing that out of expenditures amount
ing to between 100000 and $500, 600
made by the works board during the
fiscal year ending June, 1907. from two
thirds 10 four-hfths Of that amount
was squandered or stolen by the mem
bers OF the board and the favored con
tractors. a petition viii be sent 10
Mayor TAYLOR asking for the appoint
uent OF an expert commission TO probe
The scandal
Edward AigeItinger. commissioner Of
public works. when seen on the matter
last evening was quick to dodge cul-
pabnity for the great discrepancy be-
tween work paid for and work done
snd passed the blame up to George r
Duneys former president or the board,
and one Of the members OF the thiev-
ing board Of supervisors which Ruef
and schmitz put into once to aid them
in stealing every loose penny in the
metropolis OF the Pacific.
DUFFEY IS BLAMED
II don't know what might have been
DONE" said Aigeltinger. 7 don't think
that Duney could have got away with
that much, but knew nothing about
it. Ny work was chiefly Office work
and the inspection OF jobs. Duney, as
president, handled most Of the mat
ters."
Patrick Broderick. a contractor. and
George Renner. the drayman, have re-
ported TO the Good Government league.
OF which Isidor Jacobs IS president, the
system OF the Duffey works board
graft Renner and Broderick exam
fned the streets in the commercial dis
trict. including washington, Pacific,
California. Battery and contiguous
thoroughfares. They found that while
but $4,000 value had been given the
city in work the city had to pay $4,000.
throughout the whole city more than
100000 was wasted by the Duffey
finance COMMITTEES OF the supervisors
TO get definite report on the work
done and the cost TO the city experts
are to be employed by the league and
an extensive investigation made. It is
estimated that 100000 or 100000 was
spent for work that under honest on
cials 6ouId be duplicated for $15o.oOO
or 100000. &&zs
WHO STOLE THE PENNIESF
That Eugene z schmitz, while
7uxuriating as mayor and boodler OF
the city. grabbed the pennies. nickels
and dimes sent TO the San Francisco
school department by school children
throughout the United States for the
rehabilitation OF the burned school
houses is the suspicion Of the Good
Government league and a thorough
canvass Of the United States is to be
gmade by the organization TO secure
an accounting or all the money con-
tributed for that purpose.
The committee on school funds has
been able 10 locate only s2S. goo OF the
contribution. and that was held in
banks by superintendent Of Schools
Alfred Roncovierl He has been able to
account for all the money that has
reached him, and when he found out
that the fund was being investigated
BE quickly Withdrew $4,000 from the
France American bank and $4,000 from
Tie Bank Of California to turn II over
10 the city treasury. That was on De-
cember H. Roncovieri explained his
long private guardianship OF the coin
81 saying that # was special fund
and not part OF the general fund OF
the city.
When the plan Of appealing TO school
children in ali corners Of America tc
come to the aid OF the San francisco
school children and give TO a fund tc
rebuild tie schoolhouses 1t was esti-
mated that $1,000 900 would be forth
coming. instead only s2s.o0o has been
accounted for. It is believed that much
of this money was sent directly Il
schmitz as mayor. who was then en-
soying some sort OF repute- To get Al