Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-27
THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.
Papers That should be Gunrds
With a Jealous Care.

THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.
Papers That should be Guarded
With a Jealous Care.
There is nothing connected with the
public interests that should be guarded
with more care than the archives OF the
people. Deeds, bonds and contracts fled
for record ought to be kept in safe places,
and they should be guarded from the
least molestation ON the part of outsiders.
If they are to be copied, the work should
conform to the original instrument in
every minute particular. The copying
ought to follow the original, verbatim et
literatim ct punctuatim,
There is complaint that this is no!
being done. 1t is known that memorial
has been presented to the Board of Su.
pervisors asking that the matter be looked
into. 1t was supposed that this would
have been acted upon when the board
met on Monday last, and the memorial
lists were q little disappointed that nc
action was taken at that time. No doub!
it will come up for careful consideration
at near date.
The allegations are understood to
emanate from some of the searchers of
records, and that they set forth that the
names in deeds and other instruments
and the numbers of lots and lettering of
blocks are changed in some instances. II
is not clear whether the charges specify
whether the erasures and changes are
made prior to the Recorder affixing his
signature or after that. If the former be
the case the complaints do not amount
to much. The most careful copyist is
liable to make mistake now and then,
and if the comparers find an error in the
name, number or letter, there can be no
injury done in erasing the wrong letter
and putting in the right one. Searchers
who have occasion to refer to paper
prior to the Recorder passing on
the copy in the book should by
all means refer to the original.
If after the Recorder has affixed his
signature TO the copy in the book an
error is found, no one should be allowed
to touch that book excepting the Re-
corder himself. and he should make an
entry in the margin showing when, why
and by whom the correction was made.
If other persons than the Recorder are
allowed to tamper with the books the
gravest of complications may arise. The
title to real property may be changed,
mortgages may be shifted from one lot
or block to another, and confusion worse
confounded may be made to reign where
the greatest order should be the rule.
In view of the fact that complaint
has been filed with the Supervisors, the
best thing to do will be to have thor
ough investigation, and if Irregularities
are being committed let them be brought
to an abrupt close; and if, as is quite
probable, there is much smoke from q
very small spark let this be made public.
And there are other Offices where great
care should be exercised. These search
ers allege that there are important
papers in the old cellar under the court
house. The means at hand for taking
care of the public archives are far from
complete. and it is difficult to find q place
for them all. There is no gainsaying the
fact that of late great Improvements have
been made in this matter of arrang-
ing and keeping tho papers filed
for preservation. If still there are some
important papers that are in danger of
being lost, mutilated or mislaid, by all
means they should be taken care of.
In the city Offices recently there was a
great outcry raised when it was found
that all the papers of the South Side Irri-
cation Company had been lost. 1t was
only yesterday evening that they turned
up and were returned to the City Clerk.
Ex-City Attorney ]. G.. Daily, in looking
over lot of old papers, took out pack
age, which on opening he found to be
half dozen papers, including all of
those OF the South Side Irrigation
Company. The franchise, the acceptance
of the franchise, the bonds, and
all the other papers were there. A bit
of paper was wrapped around these
which had this written across its face:
j, Daily:
''These papers were found with ours !;
they seem to belong to you,
j. A. ANDERSON, &C."
Mr.. John p Moran in Mr.. Daly's ab-
sence from the city, took the package to
the City Hall and to HERALD reporter
who CHANGED to be there, he explained
that the papers had been withdrawn at
the time the Injunction suits were pend
ing, were mislaid, and never returned
until found by chance.
Such things should not occur. No
public documents should be allowed
out of the public repositories
designed for them unless a re-
ceipt is taken for the same. These
buuuiO Uo kepJ III b DOOk IOr reference,
and then the clerks would know Just
what had become of them.
In this connection it may be re.
marked that the bonds OF the South Side
Irrigation Company are not worth cent.
By the terms of the charter new bonds
were to be filed at the end of
each two years. This was not exacted
Of the company by the Council.
The term for which the old bonds were
made ran out, thus releasing the bonds
men from all obligation.
The biggest FOOLS transact their private
business better than this, but it is diff
cult to get even good men to look after
public affairs in any manner better than
the most slip-shod. It is we'll to have
the charter of the company and the &C.
ceptance of it, for these documents will
hold the members of the company
bound to the city, although the sureties
slip out.
Hall "Warmfng.n
The completion OF the new and SUBJ