"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft ProsecutionHichborn, Franklin
History
"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution
Hichborn, Franklin
Political corruption -- California -- San Francisco; San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government
[168] The eighteenth Supervisor, who made no confession, was Duffey.
Duffey, according to Gallagher's confession, participated with
the others in the graft distributions. In the hurry of the
final arrangements for the confessions, however, Gallagher
gained the impression that confession was not to be required
of Duffey. Rather than give appearance of lack of good faith,
the prosecution decided to abide by the impression which
Gallagher claimed he had formed.
[169] This was the amount that Ruef turned over to the Supervisors.
It represented a comparatively small part of what he received
from the Public Service corporations. From the United
Railroads alone, because of the granting of the trolley
permit, he received $200,000. In addition he was drawing a
regular fee of $1,000 a month from the United Railroads.
The Supervisors were not always satisfied with the amount
Gallagher gave them. There were times when they entertained
the idea that Ruef had sent more than Gallagher gave. They
accordingly delegated Supervisor Wilson to ascertain from Ruef
whether all the money intended for them was reaching them.
Ruef refused to discuss the matter with Wilson. Wilson, at the
trial of The People vs. Ruef, No. 1437, testified:
"I told him (Ruef) that the Supervisors had asked me to call
and see him; that they wanted other information to confirm Mr.
Gallagher's reports to the Board on these money matters. He
said that he did not care to discuss that with anyone other
than Mr. Gallagher; that it took up time and that whatever Mr.
Gallagher did on the Board was with his full knowledge and
consent; that the matters were being handled satisfactorily by
Mr. Gallagher, and when anything arose, any other condition
confronted him, he would look elsewhere for a leader, but he
did not want to go in at that time and discuss those matters
with anyone."
[170] About the time the 85-cent gas rate was fixed, one of the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company's stations was burned. Ruef
stated to Gallagher that the fire would be used as one of the
reasons for fixing the 85-cent rate: that it would probably
appeal to the public as an excuse for fixing the rate at 85
cents when the platform of the party had mentioned 75 cents.
See Transcript, The People vs. Ruef, No. 1437, page 784.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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