Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-07
=. =. mcLain,s statement.

n. l.. McLafnss Statement.
EpToRs HERALD-I wish to reply to
some structures in your issues Of the 4sh
and 9th instant in regard to work done
under my supervision in the old City Hall,
and would suggest that you put in the
largest headline type you can. should
not have considered the matter worthy of
notice but for your distinct charges of
fraud, which place the members of our
City Council and myself in an unfair
light before the public, and in consid-
GRAFTON of the utter falseness of some OF
the statements made. and indeed the
entire animus Of the articles referred to
rendesr it necessary as amatter OF SELF
defense. The whole trouble seems to
hinge on the fact that Mr.. Skinner did not
get the job The members Of the Council
probably had good and sufficient reasons
for not giving it to him, but whatsoever
thew may have been, wish it distinctly
understood that they are under no OBJ
legations to me, either individually or
collectively, or / to them.
You com plain that there was no con-
tract made with me and yet charge
the Council with thwarting the PROPOSE
tion of the Police Commissioners to give
Mr.. Skinner the work, which you say
they at that time proposed to do. If
the Council has evaded the law, what
about the proposition referred to? Later
it appears MIR. Skinner offered to do the
work specified by him for 81 600. Now,
sir, say the work specified was done by
me for little over 81 200, and that the
additional expense incurred was for work
found afterwards to be necessary OF
advisable, such as plumbing in the cells
and cutting staircase by which prison
ers can be taken into court without
subjecting them to the influence of their
friends on the street etc. land that neither
Mr.. Skinner nor any other man could have
done the amount of work cheaper with
out putting in inferior material and work
manship. It was done by the day with
out any incentive to shirk it, or gloss it
over. and will stand inspection. Your
reference to prison labor would lead to
the inference that such was not used in
this case, which is not fact. / was
ordered to use it and did 90 for every
thing not requiring special skill. You
gave an itemized account of material
furnished and labor performed which is
false and misleading. You claim to have
two bills from California Lumber Com
pany for $265, ,58 each, two from Crane
Bros. for $42.20 each and one from
Los Angeles Lumber Company for $95,
all 0. KID by me. There is only one bill
for California Lumber Company for
$265 So, one for $42 20 for Crane Bros.
and none for Los Angeles Lumber Com
pany, of whom I know nothing. Even
your total is incorrect, but assuming it
to be accurate by deducting the above
erroneous bills, instead of 1918 O615.
the total expense was 2,7722SL only,
Now, regarding Mr.. Fosmir's bill,
wish to say that there was special con-
tract made by the city with him to fur
nlsh the work on the bill, amounting to
$299, and that the one for $101 was for
2ooitlonal necessary work. In the case
of 8. K. Adams bill for $215. rs for paint.
Ing, wish to say that the work was well
done, and whatever the queer appear
ance may he. the time was made and
work performed to my satisfaction, and |
with regard to the motive for |
employing him, would suggest that |
The one charged in your article
:omes with an i'll grace from a writer
Whoee sole motive in penning it was to
Whip our City Council over my shoulders
or not employing one whom either his
interest or pleasure deemed advisable.
1t would be more to the writer's credit
4 he had told all that he knew regarding
his work, instead of confning himself to
stating just suficientto falsify the whole,
as he undoubtedly knows that the
amount Of work performed was at least
three times as much as that COM
in the specifications. But we
are charged with fraud. l say we, be-
;ause if there has been any I must have
been party to it, as also ali the parties
in the work, as they and l
,ave qualified to the accounts rendered.
This scathing charge also applies to our
jlty Council, as, contrary to your state
nent, those bills were not passed by
hem without investigation. Perhaps
he writer will make his charges dis
lnct and point out wherein fraud has
oeen perpetrated, as such charges
are too serious to be made lightly.
Perhaps also, he would inform
us why one of the bills-in fact the last
one presented-was duly signed and
paid, while the balance are withheld |
and probably vetoed. In conclusion, 1 |
would say that 30 far from our Council |
spending the taxpayers money reck-
lesely, they constantly urged me to use
all the economy compatible with max
ing good, substantial job, and that in.
stead of being censured and held up to |
the public as fraudulent and reckless
spendthrifts, they merit the support of
every good citizen in endeavoring to
have their work done in a thorough and
economical manner, and no man with
common sense would expect them to de-
mand of Mr.. Skinner or any one else
So 900 worth of work for $1,000, unless
it came within the letter and spirit of
his contract, but would allow as extras
any additional work they may require
done. Respectfully,
H. l.. NOLAN.
Tho Board of SuperYiR0rR.