"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
signature of Schmitz as well as that of Gallagher as
authorization for paying out funds. This precautionary course
was followed to its logical conclusion. On July 12, a
contractor by the name of J. J. Dowling cashed a municipal
warrant which bore the signatures of no less than three
Mayors, Schmitz, Gallagher and Boxton.
Late in June, Schmitz sent to the auditor warrants signed by
himself for June salaries for himself, his secretary, his
stenographer and his usher. The auditor decided to allow these
warrants for that part of the month up to the date of
Schmitz's conviction. San Francisco allows its Mayor $300 a
month for contingent expenses. Both Schmitz and Gallagher
claimed this $300 for July. The auditor decided to recognize
neither claim. In answer to Schmitz's demand that Gallagher be
ignored as Mayor, the auditor sent the imprisoned executive a
soothing or grimly humorous letter, as one may view it, in
which he recognized Schmitz as the de jure Mayor, possessing
"the honor and the title," and Gallagher "simply as a de facto
Mayor," possessing the office.
When the bribe-taking Supervisors resigned, Schmitz, from the
county jail, appointed their successors. Seven of these Schmitz
appointees actually took the oath of office. On the night of
Taylor's election to succeed Boxton as Mayor, one of Schmitz's
appointees, Samuel T. Sawyer, appeared before the board and
demanded that he be sworn in as Supervisor. Gallagher, who was
presiding refused to recognize Schmitz as Mayor and refused
Sawyer a seat.
Even after Taylor had been elected, Chief of Police Dinan
continued to recognize Schmitz as Mayor. Dinan, for example,
placed the automobile maintained by the city for the use of the
Mayor, under guard of a policeman and for several days
prevented Mayor Taylor securing it.
Mayor Taylor gave effective check to this harassing opposition
by refusing to sign warrants upon the treasury which bore
Schmitz's signature. Gradually Schmitz's resistance to the new
order died out.
Schmitz contented himself with issuing a statement through the
Associated Press that he would be a candidate for re-election.
He said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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