The morning call., 1892-04-28
LEGISLATIVE AGENTS"
Why n. z. Perine Gave Up Two
Thirds of an Appropriation.
1t Could Not Pass Unless Higgins and Buckley
Were Pald-An Assemblyman Feed
for HIS Opinion.

EX-Judge James G. Mcguire has begun to
take testimony as referee in the suit of the
Frearstone Manufacturing Company against
y. L. Perine, growing out Of q contract be-
tween the company and the State in connec-
ton with the construction Of the Napa In
sane Asylum in 1S77-7S
The appropriation was cut down and left
the FrearstOne Company in the lurch for
$4,000 Perine then endeavored through a
series of years TO have the claim passed by
the Legislature. but the company declined
TO advance money to push the claim, and
becoming Disguised with the parSimony of
the stockholders he segregated from The
$4,000 the sum Of $1,000, which he alleges
was due him personally for six pieces of
statuary and some granite and stonework
furnished by him to the State for the embel-
liShment of the asylum building.
This $1,000 claim was fna.y passed by
both houses, signed by the Governor and
ultimately paid by the Treasurer, but no
part OF 1t was ever paid 10 the FrenfSlone
Company, and hence its suit for an account
ing, although the company itself has long
ceased TO have an active existence. The
matter was recently tried before Judge Hunt,
who ordered an accounting and referred the
matter 10 Mr.. Mcguire to take testimony.
walker c. Graves. the attorney for
Perine, made a preliminary statement on
Tuesday afternoon, and his client was eX-
amlned yesterday, the inquisitiOn lasting
all the afternoon. 1t was not concluded
but will be taken up again on Monday morn
ing.
PERINE EXAMINED.
Mr.. Perine was examined at length re-
garding his services in lobbying the original
and the subsequent BILL with the assistance
Of his agents" by which term he denom!-
mated Messrs. Higgins and Buckley, the
respective bosses Of the political parties.
While in attendance upon the Legislature
of 1889 PeTine said that he had paid $3.50 TO
I. y. Stork, then member OF the Assem-
bly, from Santa Barbara County. for his
opinion as TO the cOnstiutionality of the
bin as drawn and presented.
Objection was made TO this charge as un-
lawful and the claim was dlsaliowed by
Referee Mcguire, who gave 1t as his judg
meut that no member Of the State Legs-
lature could legally receive or be paid any
compensation or fee for services rendered
as a LAWYER IN connection with a matter
which would come up before him as a legs-
lator and on which il would be his duty TO
vote in such legislative capacity.
Perine continued and testified that all his
efforts 10 have his claim passed by the Leg
islature proved vain. and finally he en-
ployed the late w. ID. Higgins for his in
fiuential services to that end.
SHOULD HAVE Two-THIRDs.
The latter at first demurred, but finally
agreement that for his services he should
have two-thirds of the whole claim that
might be recovered. Mr.. Periue said he had
no choice in the matter, and, consenting, the
bill was drawn up under the supervision Of
Messrs Buckley and Higgins.
1t was understood that Buckley for his in
fiuence over the Democratic legislators
voting for the passage Of the bill should re-
celye oDe-half of the twO-tnirds sum of the
entire appropriation. The claim was
secured to Higgins through an assignee.
man named Bright, whose first name Perine
could not remember. To make long story
short, the bill was passed, signed and the
warrant issued by the Controller upon the
State Treasurer TO the order OF Bright. who
drew the money, paid Perlne one-third and
kept the other two-thirds, acting in this
transaction under the agreement with
Higgins.
MIR Perne has a written memorandum of
this transaction. and on this subject will be
inteTrOgated at the next session.