Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-15
STATESMAN SMITH AND OTHER THINGS.

STATESMAN SMITH AND OTHER THINGS.
The gall-bag of Statesman Aaron
Smith must be large and full. In fact,
that useful appurtenance must be char
acterized by "heaped measure, filed
full and flowing over" In his ridicu-
lous card to the board of supervisors he
speaks of attacks made upon him by
this journal. The HERALD only conde-
scended to concern itself with Mr.. Smith
when it found that the board of super
visors had coolly proposed to pay him
the sum of $4S2. 80 as bonus for his ser
vices as lobbyist at Sacramento. The
Republican county treasurer very prop
erly declined to honor this illegal and
preposterous demand. In this action
that official is supported by the unani-
nous sentiment of the voters and tax
payers of Los Angeles county. 1t was
not easy to avoid mentioning Aaron in
connection with this indefensible raid
on the county treasury. incidentally
we took occasion to call attention to the
fact that this Los Angeles member OF
the Tite Barnacle family was most
dangerous man to have about the
county court house. He belongs to the
most agile type of the machine
politician. AS the public are aware,
there have been succession
of very peculiar transactions about
the court house, and what is known as
the court house ring will bear watch
ing. This man Smith has always man
aged to keep his tentacles on the county
strong-box with the tenacity with
which the abalone clings to rock. To
slightly parody the lines of Tennyson,
Men may come and men may go,
But this Smith holds on forever.
Some OF the best informed citizens of
Los Angeles would draw breath of re-
lief if Aaron could be induced to seek
the shades of private life and let the
county get on without the aid of his
transcendent abilities for little while.
In fact, we think that if the only way to
accomplish that desideratum is to revo-
lutionize the political complexion of
both the board of supervisors and the
officials of the court house, at the next
election, that extreme step will be taken.
At the same time that the board al
lowed Mr.. Smith $4S2.90 for services as
a lobbyist at Sacramento the terrible
rumor reached us that this worthy had
been entrusted with the business
of negotiating 100000 of the
county court house bonds, and that
he was to receive commission for
this transaction. If anything,
this was far more outrageous than
the other proposition. Who does not
know that the only possible effect asso-
ciating Statesman Aaron with
financial negotiation of such magnitude
would be to depreciate the value of the
security, and to inspire capitalists with
a profound distrust of such bonds as he
might be identified with? In this con-
nection the public should not forget
that the whole amount of the court
house bonds had been accepted by cap
italists i'll Cleveland, at premium of
five per cent, when it was discovered
that the board had bungled the adver-
tisement, and the whole thing fell
through, entailing great expense upon
the county, and rendering it necessary
to go through the process over
again. This is of piece with the bung-
ling advertisement OF the Republican
city clerk, who managed to SO violate
the law in advertising the proposed re-
ductions in the force and salaries of the
city officials as to throw the matter over
for two years, to the great loss of the
but to the great gain of Mr..
iced and his political associates.
1t is decidedly an interesting question
as to what extent the people will per-
nit themselves to be trifed with. II !
looks very much as if Republican as
cendancy in local matters, which has
been characterized by such numerous
scandals as have been recorded in the
daily press, for now these many weary
ought to come to sudden halt.
We are inclined to think that this Smith |
affair will prove to be the last straw that
broke the camel's back. Mr.. Smiths
demand for an investigation by his next
friends, the board of supervisors, is
very unique departure. They are ready
to turn an admiring and affectionate
gaze on Aaron, and to exclaim with Ma
jor Wellington de Boots, II call you Fe-
lix because you're my best friend" In
fact, there is quite general belief in
this community that little investi-
eating wouldn't hurt the board itself,
but that ordeal will doubtless be post
poned till the next election. A bung-
ling administration of public trust is
of itself enough to evoke popular indig-
nation; but body which is known to
stand in with Statesman Smith-Aaron
Of that ilk-brings upon itself great
deal Of popular distrust.
Go to, Aaron, and content thyself
With thy salary as clerk to the commit
zee on buildings and of the Bruner in
committee, and such other
little trifles as may have |
;ome in thy way.