Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-03
FIAT JUSTITIA.

Perhaps one of the most amusing
things, in small way, which is often
encountered, is the assumption that the
HERALD has modified its position in ex-
posing the rampant jobbery that has
characterized the furnishing of the new
court house and the Whittier reform
school. This journal believes that the
taxpayers have some rights which the
triumphant Republican spoilsmen are
bound to respect. Precisely at the time
when exposure and remonstrance are
needed the HERALD will be on hand to
do its patriotic work. 1t heartily hopes,
and has reason to believe, that the
grand jury will be heard from on these
subjects. Enough is known by the
men who pay the taxes to lead them to
believe that they have been unmerci-
fully mulcted to put money into the
pockets of Governor Markham and his
business associates. An evening paper,
which has constituted itself the de-
fender of the jobbery which is at pres
ent the subject of public speculation,
says that the Los Angeles Furniture
company is large and well
equipped organization. There is no
doubt of this fact. 1t says that
it has furnished the Redondo hotel and
other large hotels in this neighborhood.
No doubt of it. We have no doubt, also,
that it has furnished many luxurious
private dwellings. We have no doubt,
besides, that the Messrs. Ainsworth &
Thompson, of the Redondo hotel, and
the other private patrons of our enter
prising furniture company, have seen to
it that they got their moneys worth.
In their case there was no bid at one
price, and the altering of the contract
so that fancy prices could be rung in on
the buyer, as was the case with the un-
fortunate taxpayers Of Los Angeles
county. There is where the grand spoil
alton act came in, and where the board
of supervisors will be held to a most un-
sparing account by the taxpayers. The
property holders, who have seen their
taxes swollen out of all proportions-ex-
panded to such figures that paying taxes
is almost equivalent to paying rent
have a stern and set opinion about
the peculiar juggling which has
swollen the furnishing of the
court house to over $780, 600.
when the intelligent opinion is that, at
7 the outside, $50, 900 would have been an
ample figure. At every triaing altera-
ton in the original bidding, which a
compliant board of supervisors ordered,
a Pelion was piled on an Ossa in the
way OF extortion. The HERALD gave
the instance of change of desk in
Judge Wade's courtroom. This change
could have been effected, outside of the
Los Angeles Furniture company, for
$4OO. 1t was done by that company,
however, and the charge was over four
times as large. When the scandal
raised thereby was at its height, a
partizan of the board of supervisors and
of the Los Angeles Furniture company
pointed to the fact that the words "Fiat
Justitia" were outlined on the furni-
ture company's work. That counted
for $140O.
"Fiat Justititia." So says the HER
AID. Let justice be done though the
heavens may fall, and though, thereby,
| Governor Markham may be disclosed, +,
to the satisfaction of every one, to have
been as big a jobber in his public as
his "Old Pard" letter showed him to be
in his private transactions.
THE readers of the HERALD are al
ready acquainted with the fact that the
| emblazonment OF the words "Fiat JUS
titia" on desk in Judge Wade's court
room made difference of $1400 in the
price of that useful article of furniture.
That is to say, the board of supervisors
allowed the Los Angeles Furniture
company (Gov. III. II. Markham, prin-
cipal stockholder) $1400 more than an
other furniture house would have
charged for it. There was in this ap-
parently trivial matter the difference
between $4OO and $500. Fortunately
for the county of Los Angeles the full
quotation of which "fat justitia" is a
part was not employed. If it had been,
and the impressive formula Stat justi-
tia, ruat celum' had been inscribed on
that desk, the sum in which the county
would have been mulcted would have
run up to fabulous figure, and the tax
payers would be casting ashes on their
heads. Angelehos cannot be sufficiently
grateful for the abbreviation Of this
venerable Latin formula.