The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-08-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Saturday Morning, Augnat 16, 1886.
TWO WEEKS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA
The Vigilance Committee stiu in
Power.
REPORT ON OFFICIAL CORRUPTION

REPORT ON OFFICIAL CORRUPTION
The .Eriel brings dates from San Francisco 10
July 81 The Vigilance Committee was still in
power though all was quiet. The grain crop oi
the State exceeded all expectation.
The Vigilance Committee had appointed com.
mttee to investigate affairs in the public Offices.
From Its report We make some extracts:
Report of Official Corruption.
The magnitude of the task assigned the varie-
ty and extent of the subject matter proposed fo-
their investigation, as well as the shortness of
time allowed them, have rendered it impossible to
make so thorough an examination as c1uid be de-
srd.
Under these circumstances they have deemed it
best 10 point out such papabie and fragrant abus-
violations of law as have come under notice,
with some defects in the laws themselves. and to
make few suggestions with view of remedyipg
the ey lis complained Of
In the first place they have examined the fuar.
cisl system OF the country. which has been man
aged by Board Of Supervisors, County Auditor,
aud County Treasurer.
The act of the 29th of April, 1851, creating
Board of Supervisors for the county of San Fran
cisco authorises the Board to and.t the accounts
of all officers having the mana cement collection OF
distrbu'i IN of any moneys belonging to the cOun.
ty; aud TO examine, settle, and allow all accounts
cbargeabe agaius, the county Either by acci
dent or design, there ia no press restriction upon
the power of the Bosri to incur indebtedness, al
though every other county in the State is strictly
prohibited from creating any debts Whatever.
The natural consequence is, that we have lived
far beyond our annual income; extravagaAce has
been the order of the day. The county Is now
burdened with debt of at least half q million dol
lars drawing legal interest until paid. Warrants
have deprecated to less than half their value and
the holders have sustained loss in consequence;
though in many instances the law has been
violated, in their favor, by issuing warrants for
sum sufficient to enable the creditor 10 discount
them for the actual cash value of his claim
The county has been grossly and continually
swinded Bills for carriage hire of Grand Juries;
fees of Coroner and Sheriff; charges for statione
ry, travelling expenses of members of the Board
OF Supervisors; fees in criminal cases; appropria
tops and expenditures for county roads, bridges,
and jobs done without authority of law, at the in
stance Of individual members of the Board; print
ing bills, expenses OF elections. furniture, and
other charges-some of which have been gratu
tously and Illegally allowed-bave been presented
for double or treble the amounts due, have been
approved without examination, and paid; in many
cases, by issuing warrants for twice the amount
enable the holder to realise cash value 1t is to
be hoped that before the county debt is paid or
funded, thorough examination will be made, and
fraudulent and exaggerated claims wholly rejected
or properly reduced
The following are cited rs illustrations of the
system of reckless expenditure above referred to: :
lst. The purchase of the hospital building, and
which is dead loss to the county, as the bailding
has never been used, and is utterly unfit for the
purpose.
I'd The attempted purchase of the small build
ing in the rear of the City Hail. for S25,0U0.
3D. The appropriation OF $40 600 for county
map on the lst day of July, 1865 and the delivery
OF warrants for that amount on the 9Th day of Ju.
ly 1855, to Supervisor Musgrove, before the com
mencement of the work, which has never yet been
completed.
4tb. The appropriation of $3.50, and delivery of
warrants for said sum to Supervisor Musgrove,
about the same time, fer purchasing hose to wash
the Plaza, which has never yet been furnished.
Another great abuse has existed in the system of
appointing clerks and deputies, with large salaries,
at the expense of the county, without any neces.
sity for their services and contrary to law for the
purpose of rewarding political friends.
For example, The Clerk of the Board of Su.
pervsors, VIII received for his services in that ca.
pacity two hundred dollars per month, has also
acted as Clerk Of the Board of Equalization, and
for this service, which is merely nominal, he has
received the further sum of two hundred dollars per
moLth throughout the year.
The County Auditor, whose duties as such are
tritng, and who receives salary of $1,000 per
anuuni, is allowed q clerk at the expense of the
county, without authority of law.
The County Treasurer, whose receipts are large
and whose necessary expenses are borne by the
county, is allowed by the Board of Supervisors,
three deputies clerks at $3.50 each per month,
without authority of law.
Casey and Mulligan occupied these positions for
year or more under Green, late County Treasu-
rer, drawing their pay without rendering any real
services.
THE COUNTY RECORDERS OFFICE.
This is one of the most important aud lucrative
offices in the count and ought TO be managed with
the utmost care ana system under the personal su-
perintendence of the Recorder himself the least
neglect may occasion serious loss and injury to
property holders.
Instead of this the office seems to have been con.
Quoted mainly with the view of realizing as much
money as possible, and of rewarding political
friends with clerkships.
The following facts have been ascertained, and
are submitted -
That in many instances the records are not cor.
rect copies of the original instruments.
That the clerk employed in the office young
men OF no business capacity, many Of whom could
not write legible hand
The statute II quires that the record shall be of
hcialy signed by the Recorder, which is frequent
ly omitted through neglect
The clerks are III the habit of comparing their
work IN the afternoon, at a time when they are
anxious to leave the office, and do not devote the
time or care necessary for correct record, often
ii not uniformly emitting the acknowledgements or
proofs of execution which form an essential part
of the instrument.
In addition TO the heavy fees paid by individuals.
the office has been a source of heavy expense to
the county, and while money has been Iavishly
expended, little benefit has resulted.
For example, mT. ufAut received the sum OF
$22 900 for copying certain books, which it now
appears, were never compared, and are full OF
errors.
The sum of 5000 was appropriated by the late
Board of Supervisors, on the alst April last for
the purchase OF the indexes of all papers recorded
during the term of Mr. Grant, who claimed them
as his private property, when responsible parties
offered TO furnish similar aud more perfect in
dexes for 50 800. Fortunately for tax payers, the
act of The Board null and void, as the Consol
l., ,s.ff.a sxayreA hatn
THE sHERIFf's OFFICE.
The Importance of this Office is not often appre.
cisted, even by intelligent men.
The powers and duties OF the Sheriff is most ex
tensive and various his influence and patronage
are great, his labors aud responsibilities severe,
while he is often exposed TO the strongest tempta
tons, and in times of emergency everything de-
pepds on his trmness and decision. Ii is an office
TO which neither demsgegues time serving politi
clans, men Of inferior position. conceited but
ignorant, should aspire; yet which the best men
Ia the county will find il hard TO fill.
Unfortunately. the late and former Sheriff are
men wholly untitled for the position, either by ma
ture, education or associations, and their depu-
ties, with few exceptions have been Of the lowest
character.
The Sheriff-s fees and emoluments in this coun.
ty have been enormous, and probably without .
parallel In the United States. Besides his fees as
Sheriff he has also reeeiv..d ner cent va nd conn