Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-03-22
GRAFT AT FRISCO
AST0UNDS JURY.
SENSATIONAL CHARGES INVOLVE
MAYOR AND RUFF AS WELL
AS MINOR OFFICIALS.
GOT PAY FROM BOTH SIDES.
Allegation Is Made at Session of Inquisl-
tors Lasting Far Into Night-For-
mer Boss Gets Respite.

san FRANCISCO, March ia eli
max was reached in the graft scandals
in this city Monday night when the
grand jury received the testimony of the
members of the board of supervisors.
At late hour the grand jury was still
in session.
1t is asserted that Ruef and Schmitz
were betrayed by men with whom they
had alleged dealings, and it is charged
that at the very time the city was stag
gering from the great calamity of last
April, certain officials accepted $45O,OOO
as bride from the United Railroads.
Pay from Both Sides.
The Pacific States Telephone company,
it is claimed, bribed the supervisors to re-
fuse to grant a franchise to the Home
Telephone company, but the Home Tele-
phone company appealed to Schmitz and
Ruef, and through them the supervisors,
some of whom, it is said, had already
taken money from the old company, were
coerced into granting the franchise to
the new company.
The supervisors thus got money from
both the telephone companies.
1t was expected that indictments will
be returned soon.
The first witness was James L. Gala
eHNls email illdll u the uldnCc
of supervisors, One-time acting mayor
and Ruef's direct agent. He was fol-
lowed by Andrew NJ. Wilson, formerly
supervisor and now state railroad com
missioner. They were succeeded on the
stand by Thomas Lonergan and Col.
Charles BoXton, both prominent super
YiSOrS.
Big Graft Is Barred.
Deals hitherto barely suspected were
diyulged with an amplitude of explana-
ton and wealth of facts that amazed
the lnqulsltors Stenographers worked
all night preparing formal indictments.
First and most important, the purchase
of franchises from the city by the Unit
ed Railways by its president, Patrick
calhoun, is charged The price paid is
said to have been $450,0OO. Of this inn
nehse sum the supervisors received but
small share. 1t is said.
1t is alleged that Ruef demanded
S45O,COO from Patrick Calhoun to carry
through the transaction. and this money
was drawn by the United Railroads in
lnstaliments calculated to be small
enough to be divided. Ruef, it is charged.
explained that $4,000 of this was to 90
to a mysterious person whom he insist
ed had to be squared" and $4,000
more was set aside for the supervisors
and this sum is said to have been placed
in the hands of Gallagher by Ruef
Gallagher, it is said. retained $4,000
for himself, $4,000 was given to Daniel
Caleman and $4,000 went to Wilson
Other supervisors received $4,000 each
and still others were given as little as
$4,000.
Big Sum for Two.
few may have received nothing. 1t
it claimed that $4,000 was left to be
divided equally between Mayor Schmitz
and Ruef
The corruption surrounding the his
tory of the franchise granted to the
Home Telephone company is said to
nave been even more surprising.
The board of supervisors it is charged
was bought twice, once by the Pacific
States company and once by the Home
company. The Pacific States company
paid the most money-ever hired suite
Doodle was given-but the franchise went
to the Home Telephone people.
Most of the supervisors, it is charged,
got $4,000 apiece from the Pacific States
company. little later the Home Tele-
phone agents. is said. paid number
of the supervisors $4,000 each but Ruef
and Schmitz. having been seen mean
while, the sum was considered enough to
cheat the transaction.
Another transaction which was sus-
pected, but never proved, when it was
sworn to by witnesses before the grand
jury, is the prize fight Doodle of $40
600
Ruef Trial Postponed.
On request of the prosecution the trial
of Ruef. charged with extortiOn. as the
result of a previous inquiry. was post
poned by Judge Dunno until March %,
in order to await the action of the
United States supreme court at Wash
ington on the writ of error granted to
Ruef by Judge Hebbard. The writ of
error will come up in Washington next
Monday.