GRAFT IN SAN FRANCISSO.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10963, 4 May 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

GRAFT IN SAN FRANCISSO.

CONFESSIONS BY BRIBED OFFICIALS.

The London Times' New York correspondent telegraphs: — "The game, is up ' for the San Francisco "grafters." The members of the Board of Supervisors, the legislative body, have all confessed m order to save themselves, and the story they tell is even more amazing than the previous revelations. The supervisors confess that the United Railroads Company, wliich owns practically all the street railway lines m San Frnncisco, paid to each supervisor 438000, and to Mayor Schmitz and "Boss" Ruef £580,000. This was for the privilege bf substituting the overhead trolley system for cable lines after tlie earthquake. The Pacific States Telephone Company _paid ten supervisors. £1000 each. The Home Telephone Company, paid ten supervisors £700 each; seven supervisors £1200 each, and Ruef and Schmitz about £30,000. The San Francisco Gas and Electric Company paid the supervisors £150 each. Tlie Prize Fight Trust paid the supervisors £100 each, and. Ruef and Schmitz £2000. According to tlie, confessions of the supervisors, the money for Ruef jnd Schmitz was all paid to. the ''boss," who divided ai with ' the Mayor. Ruef is said: to be willing to confess, but to want a promise of complete immunity, which the prosecution refuses to grant. . All the supervisors are; to resign, and Schmitz .will-be allowed ;to remain m office until a new 'board, composed of,honest meri, is appointed. The- prosecution, ih. addition to endeavoring to obtain the conviction, of R;Uef and Schmitz, will try to liave tWs heads of the corporations' which are accused of bribing officials indicted and sentenced. They include prominent business riien m tliis. city. -.The grand jury yesterday returned'indictments against Ruef on 72 additional counts. The "boss" is m, custody m his hotel, and is being closely guarded. His trial has been postponed until next Morfday, by^, which' time the^United^ .States ... Supreme Court will.have given _ts deoision on a technical .legal point bronght-rip by his lawyers. It is expected that ScbmitzV trial will Ixjgin on April Bth. ; -,■-.. ' [ v :jT; ;:;:" Tliere is no doubt that President, Roc^v yelt has taken mpre than a mere. »Vt*eTest m the prosecut^ori of t-he San""!, rahcr-co "grafters." •I'Xhe* Federal ... Qoverriiriel-it practically lent. M r Heney, the chief pro-., iecutirig: officer jjo ,San Francisco. He "i s one of the ablest lawyers m the Federal service,, and .was- given a year's lea ye r f absence iri .order" that he might be appointed Assistant-Dislxici:. Atiorriey bf San Francisco. : ; ■"■■-;'■■."' :; : ' '

The Globe says that- the Sari Franciscb revelations at*e_ the riibst appalling^; and discouraging m" the hd-tbry of the United Slites. ' ;■