Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-10
THE COURT HOUSE CLOCK
ANOTHER APPARENT WASTE OF THE
PEOPLES MONEY.
How the Supervisors Let an Alleged
Exorbitant Contract-WhAt an
Expert Has to Say on
the Matter.

DuIluR bhO Popt ObA tiAC 1AEhh1D LOO
taken occasion to remark that it thought
that the present Republican board of
supervisors was running things under
extraordinary high pressure. 1t has
taken occasion to remark that the money
Of the taxpayers was being spent with a
reckless prodigality which, if continued,
would make the burden OF taxation al
ready heavy. a very great load to bear.
It has cited instance after instance
where thousands and thousands of dol
lars. while not actually stolen, were lit
orally given away without any return
being made therefor. Contracts have
been given to favorites without competi-
ton. not only not being invited, but
not accepted when preferred.
The board has seen fit to continue this
policy in defiance of protest or public
opinion. The members rely on the
heavy Republican majority in this
county, and have passed the mild criti-
cisms OF the HERALD unnoticed. The
grand work of squandering the money
OF the people has gone nobly forward,
and it has indeed been dealt out with q
lavish hand.
Among the late evidences of the reck-
less manner in which the taxpayers
colo is dispensed is the letting of the
contract for the court house clock, which
was given to Montgomery Bros. at a
total figure of $2250.
1t will be remembered that originally
the clock arrangement was to have
been furnished by Contractor Brady, oi
San Francisco, for $1100. Mr.. Brady put
in what he pleased to call clock. II
was q clock in name, and In everything
else, except action. 1t was good clock,
and it had an honest face. The only
trouble with it was it never went. The
hand were all there, and go were the
works. They were good works, too
The only trouble with them was they
would never 60.
But despite the fact that the clock
was one of the non-going kind, hand
some to look upon, but useless as time
keeper, Mr.. Brady, with a charming
and uneasy, off-hand style, for which hs
is noted, put in bill for the tritiinl
sum of $3.50 for it. Now this wal
considerably above what Mr.. Brady
had agreed to put In the clocl
for; and he had agreed to pu
in true, real sure enough
clock that would go and keep time. De-
spite the fact the apparatus he furnished
failed to run, and despite the fact thai
his bill for it was over $4,000 above the
contract figures, to wit. $3.50, he came
very near receiving the money, 30 anx'
ious were the supervisors to reward Mr.
Brady for putting in clock that was
not clock. The HERALD protested ,and
a general kick went up all along the line
against paying any $3.50 for worthless
apparatus, and the board OF supervisors
finally, with great reluctance, gave the
idea up.
During the long months that have
since elapsed, the hands on the beautifu
Brady clock in the court house towel
have perpetually indicated that it was
O'Clock. They indicate that hour now
| The board of supervisors concluded
the other day that it was time to hav,
this changed, and, as there was a larg
expense to be incurred, the natural sup
position would be that they would ad
vertise for bids. Did they do so? IL
do such q thing is not in accordance
with their policy.
They proceeded to hold one of theil
little quiet sessions. The question O
the court house clock was brought up
Some supervisor moved that the con
| tract to furnish the court house with .
clock and also the Offices with clocks b,
awarded to Montgomery Bros. at $2250
and it was done. This was the end o
it. The people will foot the bill.
WHAT AN EXPERT SAYS.
"That was an outrage" said a well
known expert to HERALD reporter
yesterday.
"What was an outrage?" was tn
query.
"Why, the way the supervisors let tn,
contract to furnish the court house will
clocks. They did not give any one ar
opportunity to bid and let the contrac
at a figure which is outrageouely exor
bitant. The idea of giving for it $2250
Why, it is at minimum calculation
$1,000 too much. Not only this. Tit
clocks are to be run by electricity. Ii
order to Keep them going and in repair
the services of an electrician will be re
quired, and this will require another
man to pe added to the vast array al
ready on the county pay roll. An elec
trician cannot be secured for less thar
$40 per month.
Now, know that the best of time
could have been put into the cour
house and kept up for $l7 per month
You can see for yourself how the tax
payers have been sweated in this case.
The gentleman who made the above
statement is an expert, and knew
what he was talking about. Further
more, he is Republican. He stands
prepared to prove every assertion he
has made, and, if necessary, will come
to the front and do 30.
The public are anxiously awaiting te
hear the details of the next contract the
present county government has to give
out to favorite, whereby the people
will once more be mulcted to the tune
of from $1,000 to $4,000.
Marine Intelligence.
QUEENSTOWN, Oct. 9.-Arrived: Ser