Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-31
POLITICAL SIDELIGHTS
WHAT Is THE MATTER WITH THE
GRAND JURY:
A Case Of supervisoral NepotIsm-A Safe
Transaction by the Supervisors
Where No Bids Were
Permitted.

1t would indeed be singular thing il
the present grand jury which has now
been in session over six weeks were to
permit the 9th day of November to pass
by without making any report ss to the
condition of the affairs of the county,
or without reporting upon the multi
plicity OF abuses which the HERALD has
pointed out during the past six months.
Certainly the grand jury now in ses-
sion has had ample time to thoroughly
investigate the charges the HERALD has
made. This being the case why is not
the result Of that investigation given to
the people? Is it the intention of the
grand jury to delay the matter until
after the November election? This
would be neither right nor fair.
At the time this grand jury was i'm
paneled the HERALD pointed out the
fact that it was peculiarly composed
that 1t had not at first been legally and
regularly drawn; that among the 19
members were men who were them.
selves interested in the very transac.
tions which they would be called upon
to investigate. This was not partisan
cry. 1t was simply statement OF facts
made to protect the people from the
hollow mockery of a sham investiga-
tion; also to have matters go fixed that
il an Indictment was found by the grand
jury it would stick in q court of Justice
and not be quashed on technically,
thereby permitting guilty man to es-
cape.
It is well-known fact that DUR
ing the past two years thousands,
yes, hundreds Of thousands of dollars Of
the money of the taxpayers of this
county has been squandered by the Re-
publican county officials. It has gone
to line the purses of pampered favorites
of the party and into the pockets of
thrifty officials like Jabez Banbury, who
desires for the third time to be elected
treasurer of this county.
This being the case, is it to be won
dered that the intelligent voter would
like to see report from the grand jury
between now and election day-the
sooner the better.
There is q we'll founded rumor upon
the street that the grand jury will make
no report until after the election. II
this is true, the people would like to
know it. Is there desire to cover up
something or to hold back information
that might prove of value to the voter
and assist him in determining his course
on the 9Th day of November?
NEPoTIsM PURE AND SIMPLE.
Supervisor A. E. Forester is wealthy
retired business man. He has seen fit
to use the position he holds to cause the
rs hsu -, ho ~ 4 1
pay roll of this county as deputy. In
other words, the son of the supervisor
has gone to assist in making up that un-
necessary army OF clerks who have been
fastened on to the taxpayers OF this
county by the Union League oligarchy.
Now in itself it is no crime for the son
of the rich and wealthy supervisor to
occupy public position. But there are
hundreds OF men in this county who
have families who would be only too
glad OF an opportunity to earn a living
in the position occupied by young Mr..
Forester y If it were not for the fact
that his father is supervisor the young
man would never have held position in
the court house. This being the case is it
right or just that the young man should
take the bread out of the mouth of the
head OF a family.
But this is not all. Young Mr.. For
reeter has been specially favored in the
way of extra work. In this way he has
been enabled to almost double his regu-
lar salary. Extra work has been given
to him in preference to other deputies
who are poor men and who have families
dependent upon what they earn.
Elect three Democratic supervisors
this year and the taxpayers can be as
sured of not only an economical admin
istration but also of the fact that nepot-
ism will be abolished.
A SAFE TRANSACTION.
Here is another instance where the
board of supervisors let contract in
volving over $1,000 without inviting COM
petitive bids. They gave it to favorite,
and it go happened that that favorite re-
sided in San Francisco. He into
the city with his valise, staid several
days, got his contract and took the ret
train for the north. No home dealer
was given an opportunity to bid on the
proposition, and thus do those five truly
good men guard the interests of Los An
geles county.
The contract in question was for the
furnishing of the treasurer's office with
safe. The local dealer in safes is John
H. F. Peck. Mr.. Peck, learning that
the supervisors were about to put in a
new safe, went to the trouble of securing
samples OF the latest and most approved
safes and locks. After examining them
all, the board informed Mr.. Peck that
they had concluded to postpone the
purchase of safe for the treasurer for
time. The information was volun-
teered, though, that when the board de-
cided to make purchase, Mr.. Peck
would be notified in time to put in a
bid.
Some time after this the board went
ahead and purchased safe from the
San Francisco man for $3.50. Mr.. Peck,
the local dealer, was never notified in
time to bid. In fact, the first he knew
of the purchase was when he read Of ii
in the paper.
The safe he bought is built on old
plans, and one which burglars, who are
up in their profession, would regard as .
soft snap. Mr.. Peck states that he will
guarantee to open it in few hours.
Mrs. william Murden, 197 Third street. Al
bany, N. r., gives 1t the need Of praise, as fol
lows: II have used DR. Bulls Cough Syrup and
fnd It has no equal. No family should b
without It."