Note 493 — Chapter XXX · Conclusion.

The machine-free press of the State, however, openly insisted that it would be a good thing if full publicity of the United Railroads expenditures could be had.

“What the missing books might contain of an interesting sort,” said The Sacramento Bee in discussing the incident, “may be gathered from a ‘list of expenses’ submitted by Calhoun in lieu of the books, including an item of $314,000 to Patrick Calhoun for ‘services rendered.’

“The character of these ‘services’ may be surmised by anybody familiar with the history of the recent bribery and Graft Prosecutions in San Francisco. But surely the public and the stockholders and creditors of the United Railroads are entitled to specifications.

“It is largely that corporations may not bribe in secure secrecy, or otherwise commit criminal acts without detection, that the Progressive states are bringing them under strict regulation and inspection by proper authority.”