Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
PAYING WITHOUT MONEY.
FAi4SG "AA%
The Exhausted Treasury District Attor-
ney to the Supervisors.

The Exhausted Treasury-District Attor-
ney to the Supervisors.
The fact has already been published, that
in addition to the opposition made by the
minority of the Board of Supervisors against
allowing the $4,000 retainer fee, the District
Attorney appeared before the Board at that
time and urged the rejection of SO large an
ssunearned fee" and insisted that it was not
proper nor safe for the Board to employ spe.
cial counsel in this manner without an agree
ment being first obtained as to the limit that
could ultimately be charged for legal services.
The claim having, however, been passed by a
vote of four-Messrs. Bailey, Buckley, IRE
man and Wilson-againstth the remaining three,
notwithstanding the fact that the District
Attorney informed them that there was
not a dollar in the county treas
ury with which to pay it, and
that the taxpayers of the county would be
compelled to pay the bank per cent. upon
the amount for the balance of the year if it
was allowed, it still remained in a .'still-
born" condition, Auditor Gerber having re-
fused to issue his warrant for the amount.
He is supported in this position by the Dis
trict Attorney and the minority members of
the Board-Messrs. Blair, Butler and Chris
ty-and, as they state, by nearly every prop
erty-owner whom they meet, who urge them
to resist payment to the utmost, and de-
nounce the action of the majority of the
Board in passing such claim as unjust and
a swindle upon the property-owners of the
county.
The minority of the Board are still insist
ing for an advance contract TO provide against
future exorbitant charges for counsel fees in
connection with these suits, and state that
notwithstanding they are anxious for the
most speedy decision that can be obtained
upon the question of hydraulic mining, they
are also anxious to protect the treasury
against wholesale charges for moonshine, like
the retainer fee and the Sullivan claim for
-S14 per day, which was contracted through
the same attorney. They state that the feel
ing is so intense that they have been urged to
call public meeting, that a unanimous vote
of approval may be given to their efforts to
resist the county's being swamped with I'M
measured liabilities. In connection with this
subject the District Attorney yesterday, in
addition to his previous recommendation and
protest when the retainer fee and previ-
GUS Sullivan claim were being considered,
submitted the following communication TO
the Board, which was read and placed on file,
without action being thus far taken:
''To the Honorable Board of Supervisor
Gentlemen Realizing the fact that the
people of this county are in favor of taking
such legal measures as will tend to prevent
the destruction OF the streams and low lands
in this State, respectfully inform you that
/ am ready and willing to commence and
conduct to completion any and all suits under
direction Of your honorable body, with the
end in view that the property of this county
NAV De saved from further injury from debris
and tailings from hydraulic mines. Should
you believe that want OF time or experience
units me for the sole care of SO important a
task, l confidently venture the suggestion
that there are many able counsel, any one of
whom viii assist the prosecution for sum
no greater than you have agreed to pay Mr..
Cadwalader as a bare retainer fee. Further,
l offer the suggestion that able associate
counsel can be engaged who will guarantee
to properly represent the interests of the
county and who will submit that his COM
pensation be determined as your honorable
body may deem proper.
Il am led to submit to your consid-
Grafton the foregoing proposition for
the reason that you have employed
an attorney TO commence suits in
behalf OF this county, and have by ma
iority vote agreed to pay him So GOO as re-
tainer fee, without any knowledge as to the fee
he will demand when his work is completed.
l respectfully submit that Mr.. Cadwaiader
should a. least enter into contract with the
Board specifying the number and character OF
suits which he intends TO commence, and the
amount he intends charging. This will be
Just to both parties, and will give to the in
terested taxpayers some idea of the nature
and expense of the proposed litigation.
"For the first time in many years the
Treasury Of the county is exhausted, the
county is too poor to pay its just debts, and
its warrants are paid from the vaults OF the
Sacramento Bank, which institution charges
the county per cent. as interest. The
county officials are operating under reduced
salary bill and receive less compeu sation than
has been paid for like services during years
past, vet despite this fact the Treasury is in
depleted condition. and taxpayers will be
required to pay nearly 81 upon every sl0C
worth of taxable property for city and fol
State aud county taxes.
1T Is for these reasons that / recommend
that necessary litigation be conducted as
economically as! possible, and that exorbit.
ant fees be avoided by having it Understood
in the beginning how much special counsel
intends to exact from the people Of thi;
county. Very respectfully submitted,
" HENRY L. BUCKLEY,
District Attorney"