Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-02
LELONG in TROUBLE.
CHARGES AGAINST THE HORTI-
CULTURAL BOARDS SECRETARY.
Circulars Which Accuse the OficinI With
Plagiarism and Diveriing Funds.
Officials of the Board Exonerate
Him-He Denies the Charge.

There is speck OF war on the hori-
zon of the state board OF horticulture,
says the San Francisco Chronicle. Sec.
retary Lelong has aroused the ire OF
some scientists, as we'll as of half
dozen OF the quarantine guardians, and
they are on the warpath. They declare
that they will have his scalp, aud that
ii the commissioners persist in uphold.
ing Lelong they will persuade the legis-
lature to legslate the whole business out
OF existence.
1t appears that at the recent meeting
of the fruit-growers at San Jose a star-
chamber session was held, from which
all correspondents and other intermed-
dlers were religiously excluded. The
fruit-growers had much livelier
time over the troubles to which
reference has just been made
than the Australian coccaph hagus
has in chasing the lively scale to it's de-
struction in some of the orchards of the
state. This is shown by report that
mas been attributed to DR.. A. +. White,
member of the state board of horticul-
tune. At meeting of the fruit-growers
of Sonoma county held at Santa Rosa on
Saturday he read certain circulars which
had been distributed by the various
quarantine agents, containing charges OF
unftness and plagiarism against the
state commissioners.
In these documents Lelong is accused
of diverting funds and of ipcompetency.
He stated that it was Understood that
the quarantine agents had combined to
have the governor depose the present
board of state commissioners. 1t is also
stated that Mr.. Motherall of Tulare, for
inerly state quarantine guardian. and
who resigned at the invitation of the
state board, is the leader of this move
ment and that he is actuated by revenge
for being deposed.
When these rather startling state
ments were laid before the officials OF
the state board at 220 Sutter street they
made no attempt TO deny that some feel
ing had been engendered, but pooh
poohed the idea that Secretary Lelong
was short in his accounts. The secre-
tary himself was not at home. being ab-
sent at Sacramento experimenting the
printing Of the report ior 1892.
1T is quite absurd to charge that Mr..
Lelong has diverted funds to his per-
soDaf use," said one Of the gentlemen in
charge, land | have never before heard
any such accusation. His accounts are
thoroughly passed upon by a committee
twice year and it has always found
! them perfectly straight. He is in receipt
OF a comfortable salary and is not 2
man who throws away money like some
men. He saves something of his in
come and believe has few dollars out
at interest. I have heard privately,
once, that discharged quarantine
guardian had expressed surprise st this
and perhaps by inuendo said all things
were not straight. But there is nothing
in it. The whole trouble arises from
Jealousy which dates back seven OF
eight years. MIR. Lelong will refute
every charge made. OF that there is no
doubt"
Secretary Lelong returned home late
last evening, and when told OF the
charges made he was quite indignant
He denied all the charges.