Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1907 — SCHMITZ GIVES UP RULE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SCHMITZ GIVES UP RULE.

Accnaed aa Bribe Taker, He Relinquishes Reiarns of Government. Charged by “Abe” Rues before the grand jury with receivings a bribe of $50,000 from the United Railroads

Company and facing the penitentiary, Mayor Schmitz has relinquished the reins of San Francisco’s government to a committee of seven, representing tbeflve great commercial organizations of the city. From now on he will be mayor of the city In name only. The city is under the control of men

whom the Mayor selected to administer its affairs upon the lines demanded by the public. The capitulation of the Mayor is complete. He transferred to writing his authority, tantamount to a power of attorney. Following Ruef’s story to the grand Jury, which bared all details of big bribery and boodle plots, and, it is declared, accused the head officials of public servlee corporations, a movement was started'to force the Mayor to resign and to install Frederick W. Dohrmaun, a prominent wholesale merchant, in the Mayor’s chair. It was reported that Hie grand Jury, before adjournment, voted a - new indictment against Schmitz and also indictments against four high officials «jf the United Railroads Company. It is said that Ituef himself told the grand Jury that he pocketed $91,000 as his “fee” out of the $200,000 bribe fund paid by the Uuited Railroads, and $50,000 went to Schmitz. The rest of the money, $89,000, was divided among eighteen supervisors, sixteen of them getting $4,000 each, one SIO,OOO, and one $15,000. The foregoing information as to the testimony given iy Abe Iteuf to the grand Jury Is given by Special Agent Burns.

MAYOR SCHMITZ.