The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-02

hhu Apecihliy eonsnered by sub'c0m
mittec consisting Of Senators Foraker
kittrcdgc and Culberson.
"Mr Bristol was opposed before this
subcommittee by Senator Fulton. Of
Oregon, who, understand, brought q
charge against Mr. Bristol. and / ex.
hmined, found to he baseless, and have
explained TO the subcommittee. How.
ever, that subcommittee never bas re-.
ported iayorably. Mr.. Bristols name.
u may have said In this connection
In Washington. and | say to you now.
that all Of the important people who
have been implicated In the Oregon land
frauds arc friends OF Senator Fulton.
Therefore. II appears whimsical TO me
that Senator Fulton should through the
terrific power Of Senatorial courtesy be
able to defeat the confirmation OF Mr..
Bristol. who Is capable Of making IL
nnpleasant for the yet unconyicted land
thieves Of Oregon"
Mr.. Heney was asked about tho mn.
nicipal graft prosecution In San Fran.
cisco.
7 hope TO close up those Oregon cases
with Mr., Bristol In two or three wecks'
time and then shall return TO San Fran.
cisco and continue my part In the work
there against municipal grafters."
did tho failure TO convict Ford In
San Francisco discourage youf"
Not in the least" answered Mr.
lIeney. THE leader Of that jury-not
the foreman, You will understand, but
its actual leader--sas the San Fran.
cisco representative Of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company of your city. I am
given to understand that no one asso.
ciated with the Mutual Life Insurance
Company Of your city could be expected
TO over.exer 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 corporation was,
yon might almost say, the victim Of a
graft system. Personally. he Is a charm.
Ing man and has host Of warm friends
These facts cannot but influence Jury"
"Will you call upon Abraham Ruef
as witness to aid you In your further
graft prosecutionsY
Mr.. Hcney smiled.
III ! had made up my mind on that
point / should not care to expose my
purpose at this time. There are some
very undesirable citizens who are eager
to know our purpose In that respect
| have Abraham Rucf's sworn state.
ment, as his testimony might affect all
Of those against whom we have pro-
duced indictments, but Reuf has not
been entirely frank with us. We have
mn expression down In Arizona about
playing both ends against the middle
"ATe you willing to give an opinion on
the general cause Of municipal grafti"
"All the more willing because 1t seems
TO me the cause Is the same and the
result Is the same in nearly every large
American city. II is the combination
Of public utilities corporations at one
end OF the social scale and organized
vice at the other end against the inter-
ests Of good government Those in.
terests combined to support bosses who
win give them government which will
sell privileges to one which will sell pro-
lection to the other.
"0f course, so far as the corporations
are concerned. great deal can be said
as to their being the victims of 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. Now the remedy, in my
opinion, so far as the special privilege
people so, is to put all corporations ask
ing privileges out OF politics. That can
be done, and has been done, in the case
for instance Of the Boston Gas Corpora
tion.
''In my opinion, every public utilities
corporation should be a monopoly, I
would start that way. Then would
plainly set forth in the character or
franchise of each public utilities corpo-
ration all Of its rights and privileges,
its limitations and its duties. That would
take it out OF politics. There would be
nothing in politics for It to gain, and
the politicians would not threaten 1t
because their threats would be laughed
at.
"If you do not give your gas com
pany, for instance, monopoly and let
a rival dig up the streets and lay pipes,
you invite them both to bid for privi
leges and at the same time you invite
the municinal Government to threaten