The San Francisco call., 1907-06-02
Reads of Confessions

Q.-While you were away who exer-
cised t2 A.-Mr. Martin, he was ap-
rointed acting president during my
bsence.
Q.-June 9Th you returned2 A--No,
June gath.
Odd you make any inquiries
nrst. did you read in the newspapers, I
think The Call published what pur-
ported TO be confessions of supervisors,
did you read some Of those statements
in regard to receiving money on the
gas proposition? Al believe I did.
didn't read all the testimony.
Old you make any inquiries
among other directors or persons con-
nected with the corporation in regard
TO that as to whether there was any
truth in it or any came from the COM
pany2 A.-No, sir. / did not.
Q--That was because you knew that
you controlled the expenditures? Al
knew that it could not be so and it was
never discussed only In a joking way
only.
Q.-Have you any theory in regard to
It? Absolutely none, Mr.. Heney. 1
might say here, 1t seemed so absurd on
its face-a reduction by the board of
lpervisors TO be made TO 75c would
have cut the revenue in the neighbor-
hood OF million dollars and the reduc-
tion that was made subsequently S5c,
ana l1aI was DdSeQ on the TACT Indl
during the time of the investigation.
we had a big fire in station that oc-
CURED on the night of Washington S
birthday, and we lost probably half a
million dollars there We argued on
that, Mr.. McEnerney and myself before
the board. and after one or two caucuses
OF the committee to whom 1t was
referred. they brought in rec
ommendation of S5c. thought
H.
fore the board and shown we
could not furnish gas at IS cents, and
IL meant a los Of half a million dol
lars 10 US. and we would have to pay
money 70 have the revenue cut? No.
Q.-No, ii was to keep it from beng
reduced to as cents? A.-That would
have been fought bysus. / favored hav-
ing an Injunction at IS cents
Q.-How much difference did it make
whether IT was IS cents or IS cents in
your revenue? A.-That would make a
difference of Is cents, made a differ
ence Of half million approximately, a
trife more than that; 10 cents would be
100000; if il was 100000 less. simply
could not be done on. that basis. We
would have enjoined the supervisors
from putting il in force; il was prac-
tically confscatory rate
Q.-It would have cost probably $780,
NyO D9 inc AAti4C gOU Sul through Tor
attorneys fees to go into court? A.
Possibly.
Q.-And so it does not look so very
ridiculous that $4,000 might have been
paid to make a saving Of 100000 or
100000 without going into court? A
II you want to reason it that way.
Q.-Don't IL look pretty ridiculous
that IL men should come in and con-
fess they received bribe Of $3.50 If
they didn't get it? Al can't answer
from their standpoint.
Q.-Wouldn't that unquestionabIy ap-
pear ridiculous to you? A.-well, just
as that is, a bare statement, yes sir. L
should say IT would
Q-Was any stock given TO any par
ty-I5.eoo or 10000 shares of stock
given TO any party? A.--No. sir.
Q.-You have in your books all the
etock7 A-Yes. sir.
Q.-You are sure that nobody got any
stock to the amount of $4,000 or
s20,00D Absolutely sure. SIR.
Q.-You have no objection. 1 sup
pose, Mr.. Britton, to our expert, c.
D. Stuart, looking over the vouchers
and check book2 A.-No objection at
ell. Our books are open to the expert
any time he wants TO call at the office.
Q.-Do you know where Mr.. Pierce
is? Ale lives az the Family club.
He has gone out of town. Mr.. Halsey
told me. ] think. he went to Los Ange-
les.