Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-22
RxPENsryE LuxuRrks.



Investigations.
On Monday afternoon, at the close OF
office-hours, Prentiss Maslin, Secretary OF
the State Board of Examiners, stepped into
the State Controllers Office and presented a
claim for s2,014 05. expenses alleged to
have been incurred in the late State Prison
Investigation held at San Quentin. The
claim was approved by the Board of Ex-
eminers. Out of this amount 81 ,342 55
was down as having been incurred in sum-
moniDg witnesses. and the salary of the
Bailiff, J. NJ Sullivan This part of the
claim appeared to be all right, but when
Deputy Controller Felix Dunn came to
the items sof 1886 65 for travelling ex-
penses of S. P. Maslin, S420 for seventy DAYS
services of S. P. Maslin as Clerk, S14 IS for
travelling expenses of S. P Maslin, and
$500 as expenses of an expert. he concluded
to consult bis brother, the Controller. be-
fore he would draw warrant for the latter
amounts. He thought it very strange
that a claim for seventy days' services
should be put in, when in reality the in
vestigation lasted but three days. The
claim, it seems, has been made from the
day the resolution was adopted by the
Legislature, and at the rate of So per diem
Mr.. Dunn notified Mr.. Maslin that he
would not draw a warrant for the total
amount, but would to the extent of ST.
342 IS. Maslin yesterday changed the
claim to the above amount and the war
rant was issued.
MAsLIN's STATEMENT.
A RECORD UNION reporter saw Mr.. Mas
lin yesterday in relation to the matter. The
latter said
Il don't want any controversy over this
matter. When the Governor returns, at
the end of the month, will lay the whole
business before him and he can do as he
sees fit. As q matter Of fact, ought not
to have made out an itemized account of
expenditures incurred in the investigation.
should have put in claim for the total
amount and, according to the Act passed
by the Legislature, setting aside $4,000 for
the purpose, it would have had to be paid
without question. l simply thought l
would be honest and. as far as l could,
slow every cent that was expended As
far as these matters are concerned. the Gov
ernor could have drawn the whole $4,000
at once and turned what was left over into
the State Treasury, under the provisions
of the bill"
WHAT THE DEPUTY CONTROLLER SAYS.
In this connection Deputy Controller
Dunn stated that if the latter thing had
been done-as Maslin claims it could have
been-the Controller would have the right
to demand statement as to how the
money was expended, under the provisions
OF Section 433, subdivision u, of the Politi-
cal Code, which reads:
The Controller is empowered, in his discre-
ton, TO require any person presenting an ac-
count for settlement 10 be sworn before him
and to answer orally. or in writing, as to any
facts relating to it.
The matter will rest until the Governor
returns.
PEOPLE WILL TALK.
Considerable comment is made upon
some of the items OF expense in the Maslin
bill, such as those for carriages to convey
him to and from the trains both here and
in San Francisco. A great many people
who think that comfortable street. car in
which to ride a few blocks on such occa-
sions is something of luxury, and who
cannot understand why anyone should
want TO occupy sleeping-car in making a
daylight trip (the only kind that is made)
between here and San Francisco, express
establishment that the young gentleman
who fathers the bill in question should
deem it necessary to travel in such an un-
necessarily luxurious and expensive man
ner.