The record-union., 1892-02-16
ANGRY ROAD OVERSEERE.
They Repudiate the Charges Made by
the Grand Jury's Expert.
Emphatic Denials That They Over
Charged the County-An Investi-
cation by the Supervisors.

summons into its presence all the Road
overseers of the county, and all hands
have a conference with regard to the
policy of the ensuing year.
The conference of 1892 was held yester-
day at a special session of the board, and
nearly every oyerseer in the county was
present. The conference was made all
the more important and interesting on
account of the recent report of Expert
Seymour of the Grand Jury, who
charged that there had been looseness on
the part Of the overseers in making out
their bills against the county. Road
Overseers very rarely make
REPORT UNDER OATH
OF the number of days they have been
employed" charged the expert, NOR of
the labor done on the road with receipts
for the amounts paid and amount and
value of material used, as required by
law. In many instances overseers have
put in claims for their own services and
Tor man and team covering the same
time. They are either making a double
and illegal charge against the county, or
have failed to get and file receipt for
money paid the man and team"
As the law allows overseers 50 per day
for their services, the expert in referring
the overseers of charging the county 81 a
Gay more than they were entitled to.
ovERsEERs INDIGNANT
Yesterdays conference was called for
some time before the Grand Jury's report
was complete, but the Supervisors took
occasion to look into the matter Just the
same at this meeting. The majority of
the Road Overseers ale old farmers, and
they all had fire in their eyes" when
tRGrr
They all wanted to talk at once in de-
nunciation of the Grand Jury and its eX-
pert, but Chairman Greer ruled that they
should be heard one at time, and that
Supervisor Jenkins Chairman ofthe Road
Committee, should act as chiefquestioner.
During the forenoon session Overseers
Phlnney, j. Heath, Herbert, j. II. Ham
1Iton, John McDermott and Strape testi-
he'd before the board. Each and every
one of them declared that the experts
deductions constituted an unjust insinu-
alton, rejecting on their integrity. For
example, MIR. Phinney said that when he
took charge of his district there was no
money in its fund. 1t had all been ex-
pended during the year oflS90 by former
overseer and he had nothing to work on.
Why had not the expert examined the
accounts during that former year? Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Phinney said that he had
never charged the county a cent more
than the law allowed, and he defied all
the experts hundred grand juries could
employ to show where he had ever done
so. His bills had all been itemized, and
the work showed for itself.
y recess was here taken for lunch.
DETAILED EXAMINATIONS.
When the board reconvened a. B.
Bryant, OYerseer of Road District No. Is
was called. In answer to questions from
Mr.. Jenkins. he said the roads and
bridges in his district were generally in a
Cood condition. He had $500 in his dis
trict and only had to pay out bills
amounting to $50. With the funds he
lad there would be no necessity of going
beyond his funds.
Have you expended any more money
in your district than was absolutely nee
essary?" asked Chairman Greer
NO, sir" was the reply. ST have
been overseer of that district nine years,
and there has never been a discrepancy
of a quarter of a doller in my bills.''
Have you ever charged cent more
for your own services than the law re-
quires ?'' again asked the Chairman.
mo, sir; not a cent"
At this juncture Mr.. Hunters of Brigh-
ton was permitted to address the board.
lie said that on Sunday night he was
called upon to arrest man who was
tramping through that part Of the coun-
try With two children, who were sick.
The man was drunk and Mr.. Hunters ar
rested him. He now had the children in
charge and wanted to know what to do
with them.
Supervisor Jenkins said that the ar
rested man had been to FIorin, and after
getting So from charitable persons there
got gloriously drunk.
Chairman Greer said that, inasmuch as
the children were in immediate need, he
would suggest that a collection be taken
for their relief. Then they could be sent
10 Ip 'py1r al for .
Mr.. Jenkins said that there was cloth
ing at the hospital, so the collection was
abandoned, although several of the Road
Overseers present insisted upon giving
something.
FOUND IT IN DEBT.
The examination Of Road Overseers
was then resumed. Overseer Marlett of
district 19 was called and testified that
when he took charge of his district it was
IN debt. AT present he was about $500
behind in his accounts. He had put up
the money himself. His roads, however,
were all in good condition and not much
work was required.
Chairman Greer asked the questions
that he had put to the other overseers,
and MIR. Marlett emphatically denied that
he had ever charged cent over what the
law allowed him.
j. II. Bryan of district u said that the
roads in the vicinity of Freeport were in
Island and Sutter Island needed consid-
cradle attention. There We're a couple of
short bridges across the drainage canal
which needed repairing. There was
tremendous travel over this bridge and
it needed constant attention. His road
tax this year would amount to about $780,
His funds were rather low at the present
time. Mr. Bryan said that he never
charged the county s. extra for oversee
ing the road when he was putting in his
own labor at So a day
c. Bartholomew of district 10 said his
roads were in poor condition simply be-
cause he could not do any work last year.
He had no money last year to do any
work with. This year he would have
about $500, and expected to improve the
roads considerably. He had never ex-
pended any money that was not abso-
lutely necessary and never overcharged
Tor his own work. During the present
year he would have to do work that
should have been done years ago.
AN oLD-TIMER.
Oyerseer Boyd of Folsom, who has been
attending TO the roads there for fifteen
years, said be had no complaint to offer
regarding his roads. His was hard dis
triet to handle, yet everything was in
apple-pie order. he had never gone be-
yond his funds.
Martin Daniels of District Is said his
roads were ali in good condition. He had
over 500 IN his fund, and could go
through the year all right.
J. Butler of District said his roads
We're better now than in years, and he
mad about $500 on hand. He, too, denied
that he had ever charged the county more
than the law allowed-S3 a day.
Philip Wise of District Is, William
BasIer of District . Arthur Webb of Dis
trict Is and NJ. Barry of District gave
testimony similar TO that given by the
others. Their roads were in good condi-
tt.,,n n,,d tIn f,,t,ds s-nIIld hold ont Each