Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-06
Preparing Charges Against
County Officials.
Meeting Of the Taxpayers Pro-
tective Union.
1t Is Decided to Take Criminal Ac
tion Against Offenders.
A Lively Meeting-The City Government
Also Found Decidedly Faulty-The
Matter Left in the Hands of
the Executive Committee.

The Taxpayers Protective union met
in Forester's hall, on the corner of
First and North Main streets, yesterday
morning, with President Lichtenberger
in the char and Secretary Mesmer pres
ent.
The special committee ON incorpora-
ton, which was appointed at the last
meeting. reported in favor of incorpora-
ton.
The meeting elected the following trus-
tees to .hold Office during the ensuing
year; L. Lichtenberger, Jessie Yarnell,
Fred Lambourn and Joseph Mesmer, OF
Los Angeles; ]. E. McComas, of Pomo-
ma; H, G. Dillon, of Long Beach, and F.
G. Greening, of Downey.
Expert Moore read his second report,
which is quite a lengthy document. and
goes over about the same ground as
was covered by the first. According to
his report the bookkeeping is very
faulty and there have been grave irregu-
larities for years.
The first thing done in the afternoon
was to place Mr.. Moore upon the wit
ness stand and question him as to the
accuracy of his report. Mr.. Moore
stood up for his points, ,criticising Expert
Blackman's defense of the county affairs.
Mr.. Moore stated that his report is
not yet complete, but in ten days or two
weeks his work will be complete, and
then the executive committee can go to
work in earnest.
Colonel Dunkelberger was bitter in
l. = ,,I
officers. He stated that he was one of
city, and the views of the freeholders
are not being carried out.
S. A. Waldron stated that the salaries
of officeholders and their assistants in
this city are much higher than in cit
les OF the same class in other places. In
the street department it is not an un-
common thing to see well-fed deputy
lying under tree reading yellow-back
novel, smoking cigarette, and pretend
ing to watch few laborers.
Colonel Dunkelberger took the floor
second time, and moved that three in
vestigating committees of three each be
appointed, one to investigate county Of
ficers. another city officers, and the third
to look up the cost of managing cities
of the size of Los Angeles in the east.
The motion was put and carried, and
the chair appointed the following gentle
men on the city committee j. Dunkel
berger, AL Workman and l. A. Waldron.
The executive committee was instructed
to look after eastern cities, and the chair
announced that he will appoint the
county committee in day or two.
Mr.. Moore's report was again taken
up and referred to the executive COM
mittee for immediate action.
Judge Kendrick of Downey stated that
he was convinced from the investigation
so far that the executive committee was
In possession OF facts proving that there
are Irregularities in Office, and the guilty
parties should be prosecuted.
Mr.. McComas said that the principal
occupation of officeholders at present
seemed to be to overlook their deputies
and map out the campaign for the COM
ing elections. According to the report
read at this meeting Los Angeles is the
rottenest institution under the sun. He
referred to Aaron Smith in anything but
complimentary language, and said that
young man held a better position than
the governor of this state, as he is draw
ing money from number of sources.
Expert Moore stated that several Off
GERS should be arrested and prosecuted
at once. Fully twenty arrests should be
made, as the investigation SO far shows
that that many crimes have been COM
mitted.
Col. Dunkelberger claimed that one
man should be arrested at once. This
man, he said, held the key to all the
crooked work that has been going on for
some time past, and if he is arrested the
chances are that he will ''squeaP on
the other fellows and give the whole
thing away. He moved that the execu-
tive committee be instructed to arrest
this man at once. The motion was put
and carried, but the name was not men
toned.
The executive committee held meet
ing and if they decide to do anything,
will probably get to work on the COM
plants today.