The Washington herald., 1907-05-24
PLANS TO SAVE CITY
Spreckles Suggests Reforms
for San Francisco.
WILL AUDIT OFFICIALS ACTS

Unofficial Grand Jury Expected 90
scrutinize Work OF Supervisors.
Mayor schmitz Not to BE shown Any
Leniency-NeEIect City's Improve
ments and No Repairs Made.
San Francisco. May 23.-For the first
time since the grand jury investigation
was begun Rudolph Sprcckels discussed
to-day his purpose in financing the Un-
dcrtaking and his plans and hopes for
city government
Sprcckels said that it was the intention
Of the prosecution TO leave Mayor Schmitz
and the supervisors in Office until the
close Of their official terms at the end Of
the year Under existing circumstances
no other arrangement Was possible Mayor
Schmitz still held the key to the situa-
tion, he said. and there was no way by
which Schmitz could be ousted
Sprcckels. cooperating with other
members of the prosecution. has made
plans by which he hopes to insure the
election Of honest officials.
II is his plan TO form an organization
which shall exercise extra judicial pow
ers II will act as a kind Of auditing
body. and check up every act Of the city
government 1t will maintain large
force Of deputies, who will watch the
various city officers and report imme-
diltely the slightest infraction. In the
words Of Spreckles ii will check the
tendency Of the city officials 20 take
little extra compensation.
CONSTITUTES Itself n Jury.
The organization will constitute itself
perpetual grand jury. Sprec&c!1 said.
People object that we have confessed
criminals on the board Of supervisors.
There is no help for the situation. To re-
move them would give the Mayor an
opportunity 20 appoint their successors
and assume control of the entire city
government The only difference between
the present situation and the situation
Of last year is that We now have legal
proof of the criminality Of our officials
l can assure you that we will have from
the supervisors for the remainder Of their
term as good an administration as, if not
the best. administration We ever had
No money will be wasted on contracts
The city Will get value for every dollar
expended.
There is the complaint that capital will
not come here under existing conditions.
Capital would not come here before under
rr1t t-4 4~..
have no fear now. Every dollar invested
viii be protected
Prosecutions tp Go On.
AS for the prosecution. il viii be con-
tinued without interruption. The results
Of late have been extremely gratifying.
The testimony of Abe Ruef will be ex-
ceediugly valuable We will be able TO
convict I'm every case where We have ac-
cused. We have not the slightest fear Of
the outcome. The evidence is complete
and convincing.
As far 8s Mayor Schmitz Is concerned,
we do not desire a confession. The case
against him is absolutely complete. The
mayor is wolf and he should be made
to suffer for his crimes. Under no cir
cumstanccs should ! favor leuiency I'm
AAaT '''f''- tfAAHF' lF 1IINAII lr ItahLIH
punished.
With "a good business administration
next year, We can save S23.o00,010 a year.
That sum can be cut of our expense ac-
count
we propose 10 form an organization. in
no way political which will be 20 the city
government what an auditing concern is
to a big business house. The trouble with
the city government has been that this
auditing has been done from the inside.
We propose % do il from the outside
We hope to put stop 10 the practice
existing among some city officials Of TAX
/ ing little extra compensation
Il believe that we will be able 20 get
better men e. enter the public service.
We shall not concern ourselves with their
politics"
City bordering on Anarchy.
Here are a few Of the troubles that be
| set San Francisco:
Mayor. supervisors, and "a majority Of
other officials and heads Of departments
/ fighting 20 keep out Of the penitentiary.
/ Not a street repaired since the earthquake
and fire of last year
Not public building restored. The
AtNN = bttNliif-~~ VflllE lIttIcdfNFi III frame
shacks- for which outrageously high rem
tai is paid on leases signed by the bood-
/ ling supervisors
No efforts made 10 provide for the re-
building Of the city ON artistic lines. with
widened streets or other improvements.
Every resident affected directly OF indi-
rectly by strikes involving l5c00 men.
Street cars operated i'm daylight only.
and only those from the western residence
district patronized because of assaults
upon passengers in other sections. A
/ large force Of extra police lines each
/ street along which cars are operated to
/ give semblance of protection to passen-
gers ana nonunion crews
Alleged attempt by cabal Of indicted
millionaires 20 seize reins Of city govern
ment by written authority from Mayor
Schmitz.
Commercial bodies of the city engage To
watch the police and report refusals 10
make arrests. Also large CORDS OF attor-
neys to prosecute offenders I'm police
courts and keep tab on police Judges
Strike sympathizers. besides assaulting
many passengers, apply vile epithets 10
women who ride in cars.
/ Laundry workers have been on strike
/ two months and bachelors are doing their
/ own washing
/ Breweries closed by strikes Of employees
/ Telephone girls on strike and telephone
communication almost impossible
/ Iron workers, electrical lnemen, and
other unions on strike. and walters sub
/ nit a new schedule Of wages.
WIN ATHLETIC H0NORS.
/ Middies Spencer and Ingram Are
! Awarded Important Trophies,