THE SAN FRANCISCO FRAUDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 31 May 1907, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO FRAUDS.

CHARGES OF BRIBERY. TRUE BILLS FOUND. Received May 30, 9.22 p.m. NEW YORK, May 30. # The Grand Jury found true bills in eighty-nine charges of bribery in connection with the San Francisco frauds. Those indicted include Schmitz, Ruef, Patrick Calhoun, John Calhoun, (President of the United Railways of San Francisco), John Ford, William Abbott (the company's lawyer), Glass (President of the Pacific States Telephone), and Halsey (a former agent of the Telephone Company). Bail, fixed at £ 2,000 for each indictment, was allowed. (Gross as were the conditions of political rascality revealed at different times in connection with the government of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and other American cities, writes the New York correspondent of the Melbourne Age, nothing so audacious, far-reaching, and all embracing as the system by which "Boss" Ruef, "his led Mayor" (Schmitz), and the rest of his gang, looted poor' San Francisco has ever been dreamed of. The latest revelations have to do with what is locally known as "biggralt." Heretofore, Prosecuting Attorney Heney and his detective, Burns —the greatest investigator of crime in this country—had brought to light such matters as extortion from saloon keepers and restaurant keepers, and the taking of toll from keepers of places of vice and gambling dens. This is technically known as "little graft." The "big" variety implies the bribing of city officials by wealthy corporations in return for the granting of valuable privileges. The Grand Jury has ascertained that immense sums were paid Ruef, who distributed portions of these sums amongst the supervisors, by the United Railroads, the Pacific States Telephone Company, the Home Telephone Company, the San Francisco Gas and Electric Company, and the so-called "Fight Trust." Based on this information, sixty-five separate indictments have been returned against Ruef, who is already on trial for extortion. The indictments are based on the strongest possible foundation, namely, the confessions of the corrupt supervisors The amazing facts that have been brought out show simply that Ruef was a broker in corruption. He knew the price of every supervisor—in fact, he flung to these mean creatures just what he pleased, as one would throw a bone to a dog—and if any person or corporation wanted anything from the city he negotiated with Ruef, who placed a price on the concession. The price sometimes approached £100,000.' A few hundreds would go to the supervisors ; the remainder would be divided between Ruef and his subservient Mayor.)