LOOTING A CITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13238, 19 March 1907, Page 7

LOOTING A CITY.

CORRUPTION IN 'FUISCO

MAYOR AND LAWYFR SENT FOR TRIAL.

- United : Press."-Association Electric - - Telegraph—Copyright. ■■ '■ ! ! NEW YORK, Malch 17. Tho Mayor of Suv .Franciscrn Sehmitz and Abraham Ruef; were committed for trial in -connection wi:h the San Francisco municipal bribery, cases'.

Tile committal of- Sehmitz Ruef follows on-the: grand, jury enquiry which was made'.eai'ly ill the year. 'The special correspondent at San Francisco of the. London "Times," under, .dale January 23rd, sent a.le'fei- in: which air amazing story of systema tic corruption was told. ■ ~ ' The-'"Times " says:,—Ruef is a French Jew, born iii-San FhtncLs'co,' and ej.ucu'tei ili-the public schools and at the University of\California. He is about forty years old;; and looks fifty. :'.'.Many'persons ' in San Francisco are 'under the '• impression that .he 'inheriied. a"good deal' of money ■and that'he-took up' politics .:>s a hobby, but this' is-hot the'case.- His father,: who is still alive, .gave" him an -excellent education* !but. aftenvards' Ruef 'had to make diis :6\vii swi»y in- the world; ■ ■ and lie became a lawyer. He soon obtained a. large practice,-, mainly among -the-:lowest and inosi: 'depraved' French, and/ Italian elements in 'San ;Friil]tisco,.^and : ;'at ; the: time, he, began to be: a ; ,.was supposed ..to".- be '..worth- about: 200,000 -. dollars. When one asks: : a Buef's methcifls.. as van: attorney :-the usual answer is : "Welly .'nothing was ever proved against: him." r,, .'.'-".::: ■■'.';..... '.-;;•''• .-. ", ■'[ Scli'riritz,' Syjieh-, Jie .'ran', for Mayor,.: was ■president Of'the vMusipians'' Union and leader of.'the't orchestra, '. in tW Columbia. Theatre:' at a ■', .salary-'-of forty/ dollars i;i. week;"jiiiving. desceiicled to that; position after' being engaged 'in' various business enterprises, most of which had failed:.: He' and Ruef had known each other for many /years,., and- ; Ruef "had' acted :'as Schniitz's. • attorney-.'; •"■'.He is' about the\siune age as 'Ruef: and : is a ; native '.of 'Sim Fiancisco,. the;son: of. U'Gemian:father and; ah Irish mother. ; .:If'he:iiosses'es any will eir 'abil-, ity :of, liis. own; he ;-,&«" displayed '.neither since •.he becivnio.:Mayo;r. : . The •vei'y first -thing Salimitz'tUcVarer taking office ; '\vas: to write!; a, letterto--Ruef--the celebrated

■" Letter of letter was; sent to all the' hew'spapefe, - from Ruef's...office. and :s ; -irt'e'ii : "tliat'"'throughout.'hisi.terin ; cif ofiie'e- Schlnitz would be: guided' by ,Ruef's :advice. r ;'and:judgment;:; It. yeas'; practically: i .invitation to".all persons ;'-irh6.desired favours froni the/.administi'atioh to',.-" see" Ruef. It m;ide . Ruef f'he: ;" boss " :0f,.,-San Frahciico, '' : : ':""■' : :':--'.'; '■■■■■'■ .■'. A ■:''.'"'''.;.', : ; ,■:

The system of ""graft", or corruption'is : said /by^tlie:-."■ Times" 'Writer 'to. be.-,": the inbst : .perfect' of 'its Vkirid. ! ever. evolved." After.:.deknnbing il^^ •the,;'.largest/ owned T; by a cdiripany having 160 tenants--,:he "French:Tcestaiiraiits,''';aiid. the 'gambling."■ establi^lifti.fenis,- all. of, which were .'sources ;of /revenue: to ilic .city offi-ci-i'ls; the writer- 'continues :-—The, between the. "grafters.- ? v.and persons who lived by'breaking'thellnw, /ex\ended.even to 'pickpockets.-and .''cqnfide/ice.'meh.'' :They were. protected.-.so/ thoroughly,:.tliat:vj .they Avere -' regularly "orjraftise'.fc'" There" /were irangs''■'•■of-.' theseV-crimiiialsV.' each ..uiider'i.a " ; bafitaiu," 'who marclied l ;them every, day td'. theii: ; part icular field.'of : , operalions ' end "supplied// them, "cashy;if. any.; were needed, "to start"'the/ game," and .with .the parapherrMia/ ; 6f the aanounfc of' protectori. inouey demanded from tlie' 'cijimihals. : jrii| iii' % ccbrdan s;". ,with thevalue b;f , ."'tlie':'ro;nce^ipns. v them;;;:. example.:: diie;;' iyiah/::w/ho : ran. a small" g'anW" ; : at ".the' b/ack' pf / his '.' cigar shop- paid 100 dollars a week.'. .- ■'... ..