The record-union., 1892-02-04
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
The Supervisors WrangIe All Day Over
the River Appropriation.
Chairman Greer Greatly Worried
Those Extra Deputies-The New
Bannon Slough Bridge.

The Board of Supervisors met again
yesterday morning with full attend
ance and Mr.. Greer presiding.
The session was lengthy one and one
matter occupied most of the members
attention. This matter was the proposed
appropriation of $500 to defray the eX-
penses of the delegation sent to Wash
ington to urge favorable legislation for
the Improvement of the Sacramento
River.
Mr.. GREER'S ENTHUSIASM.
Chairman Greer was enthusiastic in his
advocacy of the proposition, and it was
his anxiety alone that caused the other
members to hold back as they did. They
wanted to worry him.
Ex-senator William Johnston and DIR.
g. NJ. Dixon, of the Executive Commit
tee Of the River Convention, came to Mr..
Greer's assistance, and told the board
why the appropriation should be made.
Senator Johnston did not think that a
sum less than $500 would be adequate.
Guba and Sutter Counties had already
contributed like sums.
DR.. Dixon read a telegram from Solano
County-from which no contribution was
NShGQ OF SA DeCI6u-SdylI Ing IndI SlOO ldU
been set aside by the Supervisors there
for the purpose. The gentlemen who
had gone East were giving their time
freely and were receiving no salary
therefor.
JENKINS WANTED TO KNOW.
Supervisor Jenkins was not exactly
opposed to making the appropriation, but
he thought there was something wrong
about the whole matter. He thought that
Sacramento Comfy had aIraa6v y1oi1 ont
enough money and was still paying out
money on this matter The county was
now paying r. 7. Devlin $500 a month for
services in the hydraulic mining difficult
ties and he Supervisor Jenkins was OPP
posed to paying the $500 in addition to
This salary.
DR.. Dixon replied that that salary
would go on whether Mr.. Devlin was
here or not He continued that San
Joaquin last year contributed $500 and
this year $500, and the courts had held
that the appropriations were proper. 1t
was expected that each county would
come up according to agreement.
KICKED ALL AROUND.
Chairman Greer spoke once more in
favor of the appropriation. He said he
thought the sum asked for was reasona-
bic. Once upon time, he said, the board
was blamed because it didn't spend
enough money toward the suppression OF
dDIGAleII
that some people were kicking because it
was spending too much.
Az this Juncture Supervisor Black in
troduced q resolution to the effect that
$500 be appropriated for the expenses OF
the delegation, and Mr.. Greer seconded it.
Then there was more talk, during which
y. l.. camp, OF the Farmers Alliance,
who was present, gave his views. This
gentleman declared that the 500 would
De thrown away; that the delegation was
simply being sent to Washiugtonto to lobby
and to buy the SIX California representa-
JlYes IN Congress there to do their duty.
Chairman Greer 'riled' at this last
assertion of Camps, and went after the
latter's scalp. Il propose to resent that
charge" he said. Il do not intend to
allow such statements as that to 90 un-
answered. We are sending our delegates
with the honorable end in view of urging
the appropriation of money for our rivers
The miners have sent delegates, and this
county is only doing what its neighbors
are doing"
THE CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Jenkins kicked again. He re-
terred once more to the double payment
of Devlin, and added that there was still
another fault to find with the attorney.
The latter had left the county without the
permission of the Supervisors, and with
out assuring them that he had arranged
to have the cOunty'S business taken care
Of dnring his absence.
Chairman Greer explained that lack of
time had prevented Mr.. Devlin from ap-
Dearing before the board before his de-
parture. He had Intended to do so. but
circumstances had prevented him He
then asked Mr.. Greer to explain for him.
Mr.. Greer said he had forgotten to tell the
board about it sooner.
This quieted Mr.. Jenkins. He re-
proved the Chairman for not speaking of
M hrS
a waste of wind.'
Then the point was raised as to whether
or not the board had the right to make
the appropriation, after all, and District
Attorney Ryan was sent tor. That of1i-
cial promised to give a decision in the
afternoon.
IT WAS LEGAL.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Ryan said
he had looked at the law and was satisfied
that the board had a right to make the
appropriation.
Then the same old arguments and OBJ
jections were renewed, greatly to Chair
man Greer'S disgust He was about to
give UP in despair, when he was called
out of the room: on private business.
While he was gone Mr.. Black presided
and the appropriation was authorized by
a unanimous vote.
When the Chairman returned he started
in to make a speech in favor of the appro-
priation, but was ruled out of order 'on
general principles by MIR. Black, amid
uproarous laughter from the other Super
visOrs and the spectators.
Before the District Attorney left he was
asked regarding the extra deputies en-
ployed by various county officials by au-
thority OF the Supervisors and the law re-
Gently passed by the Legislature. Mr..
Ryan said that the Supreme Court had
decided a case from Marin County de-
claring the law unconstitutional, but as
the case of the Sacramento deputies was
still before the court undecided their
salaries could not be stopped. The Su-
pervisors had nothing to do with the
matter, and had no right to order the
deputies discharged until the Supreme
Court was heard from.
BANNON SLOUGH BRIDGE.
Chairman Greer formally reported that
the new floating bridge across Bannon
Slough, near where the latter body ct
water empties into the Sacramento, had
been completed according to contract and
was ready for acceptance. 1t was cheap
ridge for one of its kind, and was in
ajne with the other substantial structures
owned by the county.
The bridge was accordingly accepted
the board having inspected it Tuesday
and the bin was ordered paid.
The board then took up the regular
monthly bills against the county, and
after spending an hour or so auditing
Lhem, adjourned until to-day.