The morning call., 1893-10-08
SUNDRY EXPENSES
IncidentalS for Passing a
Veterans Bill.
ATTORNEY HART EXPLAINS.
Directors of the Old Soldiers Home
Enlightened as to /" Lobbying"
in the Legislature.

The directors Of the Veterans Home
Association were progressing famously
with an uneventful session at $40 SansOme
street last night when they struck snag
in the shape of a bill from ex-Commandant
Merriman, who wanted $202 40 allowed
for sundry expenses.
When the secretary read the various
items Samuel Deal arose in fighting
mood.
II object to payment OF this BILL" said
he. II don't want to see this outrage per-
petrated. This bill was contracted and
entered into without authority. Captain
Merriman took this $500 out Of the can
teen fund without authority. He might as
we'll have gone and taken it out OF the
Bank of California so far as bis authority
for taking it is concerned"
"That'S falsew exclaimed MerrimaD,
who had listened quietly.
"Ths is the m ost outrageous thing lever
saw in my life," continued Deal. Il want
| to speak to this bill"
| AS there was no motion Attorney-Gen-
eral Hart arose and moved in the form of
written resolution that the bill be al
| lowed and two warrants drawn for 1t, and
| If allowed. STA IS be paid to Merriman, and
| SIPS SO be paid into the canteen fund.
Captain Merriman claims we owe him
this money" said Hart, while on the
other haud it is claimed he owes the ssso-
citation this S12S S2."
II want to enter my objection to paying
| this account" repeated the irresistible
Deal "On April "a Mr.. Merriman took
5000 from the canteen fund without
authority from the board. The books show
it. Here is an item for S42 70. incidental
| ot hn / oil trr hot 10 hof
| for ? tell you II you vote for this bill the
odium of the people Of California will be
upon you, and it ought to be upon you.
| This is an outrage, and l hope the board
won't stultify ITSELF"
Acknowledgement Hart threw a little
| light on the subject, which softened the
| acrimonious debate somewhat. Said he !:
Captain Merriman gave two clerks in
the Legislature $50 each and another man
So. They talked bill 14S for appropria-
tions. saying the Veterans Home wants
this thing. And they got the bill through.
1t was read three times and passed in fiji
teen minutes without a single objection,
and it would not if these clerks had not
been influenced by S45.
'The money was well spent, and it is
my opinion if 1T was not spent you would
not have got the bill through. tell you,
gentlemen, unless you do this you can
never get bill through the Legislature"
Deal replied that the bill passed by an
accident, being mistaken for bill 147. 81
say that Mr.. Hart is mistaken about
its passage. The expert who went through
our books says that after aggregating
S12S Mr.. Merriman still owed the
home S74."
Marcus Hyde declared he believed the
bill was just and legitimate, so after fur
theT desultory discussion it was referred
TO the auditing committee with instruc-
tions to report at the next meeting.
The larger amount was total of sun
dry and incidental expenses at the Legis-
lature," including clerks fees, etc. while
the smaller was for goods supplied the
home.
The treasurer reported receipts from
canteen since last meeting, S109S %; ex-
peDditures, $3.50 OF: balance on hand,
| S1076 81. Bills are all paid up to August L.
| Purchasing of supplies was a question
which created long discussion. The pur-
chasing committee stated that it endeav-
ored to buy as low as possible. but Hart
replied that supplies should be bought on
several competitive bids, which is not the
| case now. No action was taken, however.
| George W. Arbuckle made m otion that
a committee of three be appointed to ascer-
tain how much money should be retained
individually from the pensions of old sol.
| diers in the home. S. Deal, j. G. CurrleI
/ and Arbuckle ere appointed.