The Wasp — 1879 — page 142: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic page depicts corruption within San Francisco's police force through multiple vignettes showing officers engaging in graft and bribery. The title suggests a "counsellor" (likely a corrupt official or lawyer) directs police misconduct. The panels show police accepting bribes from various establishments—gambling dens, concert halls, and other businesses. One panel references "contributions" and "ring the elect[ion] with authority superiors," indicating organized payoffs tied to political protection. The satire critiques systemic corruption where police supposedly protect public order instead facilitate criminal enterprises through extortion. The "Gambling" and "Concert Hall" signs suggest authorities tolerate vice in exchange for kickbacks. This reflects genuine Gilded Age concerns about municipal corruption and police complicity in organized crime.