Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-27
VIM. HAM. HALL.
What the Ex-State Engineer Says About
His Dual Duties.

What the Ex-State Engineer Says About
His Dual Duties.
In an Interview with a reporter on the
San Francisco Chronicle. VIM. Ham. Hall.
member of the State River Commission.
and recently appointed ON the Government
Irrigation Survey Corps. has made the fol-
lowing statement regarding the controversy
over the matter of his holding two posi-.
tons
Seeing" said the ex-State Engineer.
that have not yet received the official
notice Of my engagement on the general
Government work, and that | have until
July lst to consider the question raised. ii
is premature to say what my views of the
matter are, or to say what l shall finally
do. The first step, however, will be to Law
the matter in writing before Governor
Waterman and the Director of the United
States Geological Survey. l have not vet
had an opportunity to do this, as the Gov.
ernor is in San Diego, or was there two
days ago, when / last heard of him. The
opinion rendered by the Attorney. General.
of which mention is made in Sacramento
dispatches, is, | presume, one addressed to
me on the 22d, and which l now have in
my possession, in reply to an official in
quiry made by me on the 21st. / shall
lay this opinion before the Governor
with statement of the facts. All l
can say now is that in the light of this
opinion and my present knowledge of
facts with respect to my newer engage
ment, l would not now be in a position
to be criticised as violating any law or pro-
vision OF our State Constitution, even
though my engagement on the Govern
ment work bad now commenced. As to
whether or not the duties of the two en-.
gagements are incompatible, the Governor
will Judge of that on the part of the State
before the necessity arises for deciding the
matter. If it is right that should not hold
to both of these professional engagements,
of course / shall resign that with the State
at the proper time.
aside from this view of the case, 1 do
not know that shall in the least care to
hold the State position. Thus far it does no,
| appear that the members of this State Com
mission are to be paid for their services, OF
| reimbursed for their expenses or provided
with means to do work which should be
| done, except as they may advance the
money themselves and appeal to the next
Legislature to reimburse them. l am no,
anxious to work for the State for anothe,
| year, even to the extent of a part of my
| time only for nothing, and pay my own ex.
penses besides, as / have for the past year
nor do relish the prospect of depending
| on legislative action for repayment of cast
advanced for the State. Let us wait a it'll,
till we know all the facts, and officially la,
them before the Governor"
Mr.. HALL FURTHER INTERVIEWED.
After the above was put in type last nigh
Mr.. Hall was seen by RECORD UNION re
porter, he having arrived by late trair
from San Francisco. He ridiculed the pub
lished statement that his department ha(
expended $4,000 for office and field equip
ments during his incumbency. "Thi
figure" he said, "about represents the en-
tire cost OF the State Engineers Depart
ment for nine years. including salaries o
engineers and laborers, and of everythin.
else required by the department Th,
horses, wagons, camp equipage, etc., in
stead of costing $230,000 really cost abou
50, 600. / don't think it would exceed tina
figure"
Mr.. Hall was asked if it were true tina
he Jailed to turn over his Office TO Mr.
Irelan at the appointed time.
" No, sir, it is not true he said with EN-
phasis. " / was here on the 10th, the day
set for the transfer of the Office, but Mr.
Irelan was not. And furthermore, tn,
latter told me in San Francisco that b,
found a gentleman at work in the offic,
when he went there. This whole stuff il
as contemplate as it is absurd and as alb
surd as it is contemplate"
Concerning the matter of his hoidin,
both State and Government position, Mr.
Hall stated that he had forwarded the fol